Cleaning a home is a requirement, no matter how large or small the home is or how many people live there. And making a schedule to facilitate getting the cleaning job done is a good idea even when only one person will be doing the cleaning. A schedule will outline exactly what cleaning jobs are required and how often each job should be done. And, when more than one person lives in a home, a schedule will show who cleans what and when. In many homes, all those who live there except for infants and the infirmed should be willing to do their part in keeping their home clean and sanitized. Here are some tips to help create a workable schedule for all ages.
- Have one person oversee keeping a home clean and sanitized. This person will make up the cleaning schedule and help to see the jobs are carried out effectively. Jobs can be divided according to difficulty, frequency, and age appropriateness. It will be important to ensure cleaning supplies and equipment are kept ready for use and easy to obtain.
- Starting with the overall persons living in the home, it needs to be emphasized that picking up after themselves and doing such individual jobs as making their bed, putting their dishes in the sink or dishwasher, and putting dirty clothes in the hamper are done immediately when appropriate.
- The first age group to consider when making a cleaning schedule is the children under school age. Keeping their toys and clothes picked up can be encouraged, and they can also have simple scheduled jobs. These jobs can include dusting large surfaces with no breakables, wiping counters, wiping baseboards, and helping vacuum if the vacuum is not too big or heavy.
- Next comes the elementary-age children. Cleaning is still somewhat fun for them, and they like to wash lower walls, clean light switches and doorknobs, wipe tabletops and counters, clean the bathtub, dust, help with vacuuming, empty wastebaskets, and sweep.
- Teenagers generally prefer not to help with cleaning, so it is best to ask them what chores they would prefer to do and make it so the job can be done quickly and without messy details. Such chores as sweeping, vacuuming, shaking rugs, wiping counters, mopping floors, and cleaning the outside of appliances usually work well for this age group.
- Adults will usually do the heavy, monotonous, and more difficult jobs such as cleaning the kitchen and bathrooms, washing windows, emptying large garbage cans, cleaning out the fridge and oven, vacuuming furniture, and washing drapes and window coverings. Porches and garages are also usually cleaned by adults though teenagers can be of help too.
- Senior citizens will want to be a part of keeping a home clean based on their physical abilities. Light jobs such as dusting, drying dishes, wiping surfaces, and caring for inside plants are jobs they usually can enjoy doing.
Once it is determined what jobs need doing, how often, and who will be able to do the jobs, a schedule can be made. It is usually best to take each room and determine what needs doing, how often, and what age can accomplish what task. The schedule should be printed in large letters for all to see and posted in a prominent area or even in each room. At a family meeting, the schedule should be presented and discussed along with what consequences will happen if the work isn’t done satisfactorily and on time and what rewards will be offered for jobs well done. Weekly consequences and rewards usually work well. Keeping a home clean can be a unifying as well as a necessary experience for all who live in a home.
