Tips for Spring Cleaning...with kids #lgmoms

Here’s the thing, cleaning a house with children is almost as enjoyable as getting a root canal. I struggle to keep up with the ever demanding pile of dishes and laundry, so most of the time I just quit. True Story. If you can’t beat ’em join ’em. ha! But there is that fated time of year, when the sun begins to shine, the cool breeze is in the air, and the beauty of fresh blooms appear in your yard! It’s almost like the change of seasons signals off an alarm in your head begging, pleading for you to start cleaning your home. Out with the dead of winter and in with the greatness called Spring Cleaning! So how do you make this urge to clean everything in sight compatible with kids?! Well here are some tips courtesy of LG’s home economist Laura Johnson, on how to spring clean most efficiently and even find ways to involve the kids in the clean-up routine, turning a typically mundane chore into a fun family-oriented activity!

Organization Tips

· To battle feeling overwhelmed by cleaning the entire house, start with the rooms that the family or guests are in the most. Prioritize cleaning and de-cluttering common areas including the kitchen, family room, and main bathroom, as they are the best places to start.

· Focus on one room at a time. Cleaning one room per weekend is a great way to make a dent in cleaning and not feel too overwhelmed.

· Make a list to help break large chores down into smaller ones that are more manageable. For instance, if the family room needs to be cleaned and picked up, break it down into smaller parts of that task that you can hand out, or do one night at a time (organizing a bookshelf, putting blankets and pillows away, vacuuming, etc).

Involving the Kids

· To help involve kids in cleaning, it’s all about making it a fun experience. Make a list of all the items you want to accomplish, then pick the ones that are age appropriate. Display then on a table or wall so the whole family can see. Roll a pair of dice to see who gets to pick first, and have everyone (parents included) choose their chores. This will allow the kids to choose what they think they might enjoy, instead of cleaning because the parents “said so.”

· To further engage kids, you could also have an alternative goal within whatever chore they’re assigned or picked for themselves. For example, when organizing a bookshelf or kitchen cabinet, they need to alphabetize the books or spices, sort the books by color, etc.

So, bust open the curtains, crack open the windows, and get to cleaning my friend!