Spring Cleaning with Kids
They Can Help Too!
around and behind the bottom of the toilet.
If you get the heebie jeebies just thinking
about this, clean the bathroom right before
bath time so you can put them straight into
the tub once the task is done!
• Grab a kid-size broom and let your child
sweep up crumbs. Use masking tape to
make a square on the floor for her to gather
all the crumbs into for easy pick up with a
dustpan or vacuum.
• Fill a large bowl with warm soapy water and
give your child a scrub brush or sponge to
scrub the bathroom floor, then give him a
large beach towel to wiggle all around to
dry up the excess water.
• Give your child a damp washcloth and
show her how to wipe dust off the baseboards.
In the Living Room:
• Give your child a dust rag and a little nontoxic cleaner to wipe down bookshelves,
coffee tables and windowsills.
• Give your child a basket to gather up all
toys and books that don’t belong. Move the
basket to the correct room, and help your
child put away the items in the correct places. While you’re sorting through the items,
identify items that your child has outgrown
or games you no longer play, and discuss
with your child who you can give them to
who might get more use out of them.
• Let your child carry old magazines and
newspapers to the recycle bin.
• Is your child strong enough to push around
the vacuum? If yes, then let him! If not, let
him use the hose attachment on the vacuum to clean around furniture and corners
so all you have to do is push it around the
main areas.
• Children love to take the cushions off the
couches and chairs, so let them! Have them
pull all the cushions off and look for lost
treasure such as small toys and money.
• Let them use the vacuum’s hose attachment
to clean out the crevices and brush off the
cushions before you put the couch back
together.
In the Bedrooms:
• Have your kids toss all the stuffed animals
and extra pillows off their beds and help
them “rip” off the sheets to wash. Pretend
it’s a hotel, and make the perfect bed. Encourage them to put just a few stuffed animals or extra pillows to keep the bed tidy.
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• They can place books on bookshelves or in
baskets. Show them how to store toys on
shelves or in baskets, hang or fold clean