Don’t get stuck doing the chore you hate every week or drowning under a to-do list. Share the load with your family by creating a cleaning schedule that works for everyone. Keep the house tidy and the workload balanced with a little pre-planning to get you started.
Here’s a cleaning chart the whole family can follow without (too much) arguing …
1. Make a List of Household Chores for Adults and Children
Start by creating a list of chores that need to be done in your home. Every household has to deal with dishes, laundry, and dirty bathrooms, but don’t forget the other chores too! Add picking up after any pets, wiping down an outdoor kitchen area, and other relevant to-dos.
Next, divide the chores up by the age of your family members.
- Very young children may only be expected to put away their toys and keep their rooms neat, but many toddlers are surprisingly interested in cleaning. Gauge your children’s interest and let them get involved with more chores if they’re excited. Some younger kids can do more complicated chores with help, or under adult supervision.
- Elementary age children can handle larger chores, like picking up common areas, collecting and sorting laundry, helping put away groceries, and clearing the table.
- Preteens can help put away folded laundry, load the dishwasher, or collect the trash, along with basic cleaning tasks like sweeping and wiping down counters.
- Teenagers can take turns doing slightly more involved cleaning tasks, like vacuuming floors, doing loads of laundry, handling basic meal prep, and mowing the lawn.
- Adults should take care of more dangerous or strenuous tasks: cleaning up high, handling chemical cleaners, and shopping out of the home.
Keep in mind that some members of your family may have limitations based on physical ability.
2. Separate Daily, Weekly, and Monthly Cleaning Tasks
Once you know what tasks each family member can tackle, it’s time to figure out how often you need to do each chore. Make sure everyone gets a mix of daily, weekly, and monthly tasks to take care of.
For example:
Daily Cleaning Tasks
- Make the beds
- Wash dishes/load the dishwasher
- Wipe down countertops
- Bring in and sort the mail
- Tidy up clutter
- Put laundry in the hamper
- Take out the trash
Weekly or Biweekly Cleaning Tasks
- Vacuum and mop floors
- Dust your main rooms
- Wipe down bathroom counters
- Clean the toilets and sinks
- Clean out the fridge
- Wipe down the stove
- Mow the lawn
- Wipe down glass shower doors
- Change bed sheets
Monthly, Quarterly, and Occasional Cleaning Tasks
- Deep clean the kitchen and bathroom
- Wash plastic shower liners
- Dust low-touch items like ceiling fans, light fixtures, baseboards, and blinds
- Throw away expired food from the pantry
- Clean windows
- Change your HVAC filters
- Deep clean appliances like the washing machine and dishwasher to avoid mildew and odor
3. Build a Realistic Cleaning Schedule
Figure out how you and your family clean best without feeling overwhelmed. You may want to dedicate one day to being the chore day (at least for weekly and monthly chores), or you may find it more helpful to spread tasks throughout the week.
Pay attention to your family. If one way of handling the chores doesn’t work out, try switching things up. One person may enjoy taking care of their whole to-do list at once. Another person may need reminders to check the chart throughout the week.
Chore charts for families include a healthy amount of compromise. Unless someone really loves washing the dishes or folding the laundry, it’s usually best to rotate chores every so often to make sure no one gets stuck doing something they dislike.
4. Keep Everyone on the Same Page
Post the cleaning chore chart somewhere that everyone can easily see it. A whiteboard in the kitchen or mudroom can help family members keep track of what they have to do and when. Use fun magnets to mark off who’s done their tasks, keeping the daily to-do list top of mind. They also let you easily change people’s chores around as necessary.
If you’re a tech-focused family, there are many apps to keep track of a digital chore chart! Try them out until you find one that works for everyone. A digital calendar invite also works well for families with older or no kids. You can also set up your smart home system to give you verbal reminders to complete chores on certain days!
5. Keep It Flexible
Sometimes, the chore chart isn’t going to work, and that’s okay! A hectic week at work, an upcoming recital, or vacation travel can all throw off your cleaning plans. Don’t be afraid to edit things on the fly, as needed. You can always return to your regularly scheduled cleaning next week.
We're Happy to Be Your Chore Chart Backup Plan
Know your limits; the best chore chart is one your family can actually follow. If the one you have is too busy or takes too much time, consider hiring a regular cleaning service to lighten the load. Whether you’re having a hectic month, you need someone to deep clean before a party, or you just don’t have the energy to keep up with cleaning tasks lately, it’s okay to need help! Call (888) 658-0659 or request an estimate online today to let The Cleaning Authority take some of those chores off your plate.