How to Raise Cleaning Machines: An Epic Household Chore List

In this post you’ll find an epic household chore list and some tips designed to help you teach your children how to clean, contribute, and learn the value of hard work.

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“I just don’t want to do anything that I don’t want to do.”

My eyes nearly rolled back in my head as I tried to ponder this statement from my child.

“Yes, I know, “ I said calmly, “humans are made to just want to do what we want. But that doesn’t mean you can get by without helping.”

Sometimes, bless ’em, our kids make huge messes and don’t want to clean up. They would rather wallow in squalor than spend 30 minutes doing chores. To be honest, many adults would prefer this as well.

However, our role as parents is not to let them engage in behaviors that aren’t helpful, but to help give them the encouragement and motivation to do what’s best for them.

Sure, cleaning isn’t rocket science and won’t make you a millionaire… but a clean and de-cluttered environment is good for the brain.

Research says so. 

How to Get Kids To Help With Chores:

So, before I get into the household chore list, here are some helpful ways to get your kids involved.

The Quick Guide To Getting Started With Chores

How to Work Your Way Out Of A Job (Step By Step)

Chores Toddlers and Preschoolers Can *Actually* Do

An Epic Household Chore List

Alright, now we have got a handle on how to get the kids involved, here’s how we can start teaching our children to contribute around our homes. It won’t always be easy, but it’ll totally be worth it.

Mealtime and Kitchen

We’ve got a lot to do to keep our families fed and the kitchen at least fairly tidy. Here are some kitchen chores.

• Set the table
• Sort silverware
• Clear kitchen table
• Organize junk drawer
• Dry and put away dishes
• Load dishwasher
• Empty dishwasher
• Put groceries away

Here are a few more…

• Wipe off table
• Clean counter tops
• Help deep clean kitchen
• Organize pantry
• Help write grocery list
• Fold napkins or paper towels
• Clean refrigerator
• Wipe down kitchen chairs

Bedroom and Playroom

These chores pertain to each bedroom in the house and any specific play areas including playrooms, corners, cubbies, or even outdoor areas.

• Put toys away
• Restock diapers and wipes in baby’s area
• Make the bed
• Straighten bedroom
• Vacuum under beds

Sometimes these will take supervision.

• Organize clothes in dresser drawer
• Put books away on shelves
• Organize books
• Organize toys
• De-clutter toys

Laundry and Clothes

Laundry… the bane of mom’s existence at times. But never fear, you can get a system and keep it.

• Match clean socks
• Put dirty clothes in hamper
• Separate whites and darks
• Fold washcloths
• Fold towels

It might take some training sessions for your kids to get these right!

• Sort clothes out to return
• Organize coat closet
• Wash laundry
• Hang and fold clean clothes
• Wash bedroom sheets
• Put detergent in washing machine

Bathroom

You may have one or quite a few, but bathrooms can get dirty quick. Before or after bath time is a good chance to do some of these chores, and it makes for a much more relaxing night bath when you’re staring at a clean bathroom. :)

• Replace toilet paper rolls
• Clean bathroom counter
• Clean toilet
• Wipe out bathroom cupboard
• Empty bathroom garbage cans
• Clean toilets
• Refill tissues in bathrooms
• Clean tub

Food Related

Our children eat multiple times a day (multiple!) so let’s get them involved in helping.

• Prepare snacks
• Peel fruits or vegetables
• Make salad
• Scramble eggs and serve
• Make toast and serve
• Prepare simple meal
• Make sandwiches
• Pack lunches

Printable chore cards for kids

Pets

Got an animal or a few? Here are chores relating to pets in the family.

• Feed and water pets
• Walk dog
• Clean up litter boxes or cages
• Brush pets
• Give pets bath

Floors

Throughout the home there are various things that need to be done to keep the home up.

• Wipe the baseboards
• Use hand-held vacuum
• Dust mop floors
• Vacuum rugs
• Mop floors

Outdoors

If you have an outdoor area, you’ll know there are chores aplenty that kids can really help with.

• Carry firewood
• Water outdoor plants
• Weed garden
• Rake leaves
• Hose off patio
• Sweep porches
• Mow lawn
• Bring in mail
• Put away yard toys
• Wash bike

Car and Garage

The car… we don’t want ’em driving it, but we can help them learn to to take care of it.

• Sweep out garage
• Wash the car
• Wash car tires
• Vacuum inside car
• Get rid of old things that aren’t used

Walls, Windows, and Surfaces

What every home is made of! Here are some chores you can get your little ones involved in.

• Spray and clean window glass
• Wipe window sills
• Spray and wipe glass surfaces
• Polish furniture
• Dust picture frames
• Wash walls

Miscellaneous

Here are some chores that may happen all around the house or don’t have a specific category I could give them.

• Throw any loose trash away
• Water houseplants
• Take out trash
• Change light bulbs
• Dust furniture
• Change overhead lights and lamps
• Shake out small rugs
• Take out recycling
• Flatten cardboard boxes
• Crush cans
• Remove labels from recycling

If you want your child to learn the value of hard work… the best thing you can do is to get them involved. This means they can tag along with you, have some type of chore system of your own, and simply to get busy doing it.

They may whine and complain, but children love to feel needed and part of something larger than themselves. If you would like a copy of these printable chore cards to be used in your own home, you can find them here.

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