Spring Cleaning with Kids – tips to get the whole family involved

The sun is shining, the birds are chirping, and that familiar urge to refresh and renew your home is bubbling up. Spring cleaning is upon us! But for many parents, the thought of tackling a deep clean with a house full of energetic kids can feel less like a fresh start and more like a Herculean task.

It doesn’t have to be a solo mission. In fact, getting your kids involved in spring cleaning can be a fantastic way to teach them valuable life skills, responsibility, and teamwork. Here’s how to turn a chore into a fun, family-wide event.

Family Spring Cleaning

1. Make It a Family Event, Not a Chore

Instead of announcing, “We are spring cleaning all day,” frame it as a special project. Put on a family playlist with upbeat music, make a batch of cookies for a mid-day break, and declare it “Family Fun Clean-Up Day!” A positive attitude is contagious, and your kids will be much more likely to participate if they feel like they’re part of something fun.

2. Break It Down into Bite-Sized Chunks

A whole house can feel overwhelming for anyone, especially a child. Don’t try to do it all at once. Create a simple plan for the day or even the week. Focus on one room or one type of task at a time. For example:

• Monday: “Today we’re tackling the toy overflow!”
• Tuesday: “Let’s make our bedrooms sparkle!”
• Wednesday: “Kitchen cupboard clear-out day!”

This approach makes the goal feel achievable and prevents little ones (and you!) from getting discouraged.

3. Assign Age-Appropriate Tasks

Give each child a role that matches their age and abilities. This gives them a sense of purpose and ensures they can actually contribute.

• Toddlers & Preschoolers: These little helpers can be fantastic “finders.” Give them a small basket and ask them to pick up all the stuffed animals or find all the red blocks. Wiping down baseboards with a damp cloth or dusting with a feather duster can also be fun and manageable tasks.
• School-Aged Kids: They can take on more responsibility. Assign them to sort their own clothes, fold laundry, make their beds, or vacuum their own rooms. They can also help with sorting through books and toys they no longer need.
• Tweens & Teens: This is a great opportunity for them to take ownership of a larger project. They can deep clean their own bathrooms, organize their closets, or help with tasks like washing windows or vacuuming under the furniture.

4. The Three-Bin System: The Ultimate Decluttering Hack

Introduce the “keep,” “donate,” and “trash” bins. Explain the purpose of each one. For toys and clothes, this is a brilliant way to teach them about letting go and helping others.

• Keep: Things we still love and use.
• Donate: Items that are in good condition but we don’t need anymore. Explain that these will go to other kids who might need them.
• Trash: Broken toys or items that can’t be used again.

Make a game out of it! “Who can fill their ‘donate’ bin first?”

5. Gamify the Process

Turn cleaning into a game to keep the energy high.

• Scavenger Hunt: Give them a list of items to find and put away. “Find 5 puzzle pieces and put them in the box!”
• Speed Clean: Set a timer for 10 minutes and see how much everyone can get done.
• “I Spy” a Spotless Room: Once a room is clean, play “I Spy” to appreciate their hard work.

6. Celebrate Your Success!

After the hard work is done, celebrate! This is the most important step. Acknowledge their contributions and praise their efforts. Go out for ice cream, have a family movie night, or simply enjoy a relaxing afternoon in your clean, refreshed home.

Spring cleaning with kids might not be perfect, and it will likely be a little messier at first. But by involving the whole family, you’re not just tidying up your home—you’re building character, fostering teamwork, and creating lasting memories. So crank up the tunes, grab your cleaning supplies, and get the whole crew involved. Your future, organised self will thank you for it!

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Do you live in Brisbane? Before investing your time in cleaning, try our cleaning service. Our spring cleaning, including apartment spring cleaning can help out by cleaning, decluttering and organising your home to prep it for a more regular cleaning service. We also provide house exit clean, pre-sale cleaning, professional carpet cleaning, upholstery cleaning, leather cleaning, mattress cleaning, rug cleaning, apartment cleaning, builders’ clean and many other domestic cleaning services in Brisbane.

If the thought of cleaning is just too much call our Nest Cleaners and we would love to help!

BOOK NOW:       Call 0438 079 996 OR Online Estimate with Nest Cleaning in Brisbane, Australia