Cleaning your house while you have kids living in it can be about as effective as brushing your teeth while eating an Oreo. Getting them to help clean can feel like more work than it’s worth. However, just as you have learned to clean like us, so can your kids. Ideally, you should start teaching your kids how to clean while they are young, so they learn that cleaning is just a fact of life, and something you do to be a good human. But if your kids are older, it’s never too late to start!
While teaching your kids to clean, you may need to set your standards aside for a moment so that they don’t walk away defeated. Give them a small task to start with, show them how, and then let them complete the task. Depending on their age, you can gently point out how they could improve, or you can wait until they are distracted and then you can fix their work to your standards later. Progress over perfection is the name of the game here. And before long, your kids will have the skills to REALLY help you out around the house! (Now if only this worked on our partners….)
Kids Chore Charts
We’ve busted our butts creating @GoCleanCo chore charts for all ages of kids. You can get that here. But we are all about giving you great, free info so we wanted to help you think of some ways to motivate your child (of course there’s even more good stuff in there – hint hint!).
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Kids’ Cleaning Caddy
One way to motivate your kids is to make them their own, mini cleaning caddy. Allow them to add their favorite stickers to the caddy as you build it out together. We’ve put together some ideas to make cleaning fun here. (Canada) (USA)
Safety Pit Stop: Depending on your kids’ age, you may not want to add some of the cleaning chemicals, of course. Start safe and slowly add items as you trust your child to use them safely. As an example, a 7 year old should be able to manage vinegar and Blue Dawn in a spray bottle but we’re probably going to hold off on a bleach bottle until their mid-teens.
Safe for 2+:
- Swiffer® dusters
- Microfiber cloths
- Polish cloths
- Spray bottle with water (for pretend cleaning)
- Cordless Vacuum (watch the walls though)
- Spin Mop (with supervision)
Use caution:
- Spray bottle with white vinegar and blue Dawn® dish soap
- Windex®
- Powdered Tide®
- Scrubbing Bubbles®
Preschoolers (ages 2-5):
Motivating toddlers can be a puzzling task, but we have a few tricks up our sleeves. Sometimes, it can be as easy as turning cleaning into a game. Turn on some music and have a dance party while you clean together! Preschoolers are very visual, so a chore chart (even though they may not be able to read yet) is a super fun task for them to work through. Grab a pack of stickers for filling it out to make it more of a game.
A few tasks that toddlers can do includes dusting, feeding pets, setting the table, and making their bed. Give them a stack of cloths or socks to match, and you might be surprised at how stellar of a job they can do folding and matching! As your shadows, they love to be included in whatever mom or dad are doing, so it can be as simple as allowing them to follow you as you clean. Give them a cloth and a spray bottle of just water, and they can learn to spray and wipe just like you. (Make sure they aren’t creating a pool of water where damage can happen!) Preschoolers love buttons, so have them involved by turning on the dishwasher or washing machine, and helping pour in the detergent or tossing in the pod (just make sure it’s safely put away after).
Elementary Kiddos (ages 6-10):
Elementary-aged kids. Their brains are being filled at an incredible rate; why not throw some cleaning knowledge at them, and see what sticks? A little motivation also goes a long way with this age group so don’t underestimate the power of a reward for a job well done. Maybe they are working toward a toy, a sweet treat, or even screen time. Cleaning can still be a game at this age, so make some memories and take pictures along the way using funny filters.
Your kids can do a lot more with less supervision here. Think wiping the table, washing dishes, cleaning up their toys, and wiping down sinks, counters and mirrors. You may need to walk them through each task to ensure they are doing it properly and safely, but with enough repetition, they will learn. They might even start to enjoy certain jobs (the spin mop is FUN for kids this age)! Helping with laundry is the best way to teach them how to do it. Have them help by sorting by color, loading the washing machine, dumping in detergent, and helping to fold.

Tweens and Teens (ages 11-14):
Tweens and teens. Somewhere around this age they start to resemble trolls that hide in their bedrooms, only to emerge for food or cell phone chargers. It can feel like pulling teeth to get them to bring their dirty dishes to the kitchen, let alone the dishwasher. Motivation at this age is often financial which makes it a great way to teach your kids some basics about spending and saving. Another great option to motivate your preteens is to save up for an experience like movie or arcade tickets.
Preteens have the ability to do most cleaning tasks on their own. By now, they can clean their whole bedroom and bathroom. This includes bringing dishes to the kitchen (bonus point if they make it all the way into the dishwasher). If you are still cleaning their room for them at this age, STOP. All motivation will fall by the wayside if they know that mom or dad will come and clean up for them if they put it off long enough. It’s time to start teaching them how to do laundry if you haven’t started already. You won’t be there to do it for them forever so teach them early on. Have them sort laundry into colors, show them how to use the washer and dryer, and have them fold and put away their own clothes.
Teenagers (15+):
At GoCleanCo, we know just how capable teenagers are. That’s why the vast majority of our cleaners are hired straight out of high school and are still technically teenagers themselves. Again, motivation is often financial at this age, so maybe their cleaning tasks are tied to their allowance, or you can consider paying them on a per-job basis to start teaching them the value of a dollar earned. If you’d rather not go the financial route, there are other ways to motivate them of course. The reward could be time with the car if they have their driver’s license, or bus passes if they don’t. Another option is to hold out on rewards until certain tasks are complete, like they can’t go out with friends until the table is clear, for instance.
Teenager’s rooms can be downright terrifying. How is it possible for one human to collect so many cups and mugs?! As tempting as it may be to jump in and rescue them, taking care of their belongings and personal space is a life skill they need to learn. If you are still cleaning their room for them it’s time to stop. Same goes for laundry. Nothing will motivate your teen to do their laundry like having no clean clothes! They will thank you in the future. Who knows, maybe mopping the floors will convince them to take off their muddy shoes outside or doing their own laundry will help curb the 97 outfit changes in a day. Seasonal tasks like shoveling snow or mowing the lawn (yes, they can handle that) can teach them important life skills while taking them off your plate. If they have a car, make it their responsibility to keep it clean.
If you want more details, head on over here to purchase your very own copy of our @GoCleanCo chore chart(s).
Pro Tip: the bundle of all 4 age groups is a steal of a deal!
If you need a refresher on GoCleanCo cleaning methods, sign up for our Basic Training Course. You can take it with your kids! Our interactive e-course will have Sarah teaching you the ropes in the #cleaningarmy (including safety – because kids) and they’ll be polishing the faucets in no time.
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- Becky @GoCleanCo
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gocleanco
Nov 18
I circled rollerblades in the Sears Wish Book every year…and every year my mother would patiently explain that we lived on an acreage with gravel roads and rollerblades do not work on gravel…and every year I would be so disappointed when they didn’t show up under the tree. 🤣🤦🏼♀️ #nostalgia #christmastime
gocleanco
Nov 15
PSA: A lot of people don’t know you can do this when you order a gift off of Amazon. At check out, you can select that the item is a gift and then choose the option to add a gift bag and a custom message and this is how it is delivered! You don’t have to worry about the surprise being ruined if they open the box because it’s already wrapped and they can plunk it under the tree. Perfect if you have family far away that you won’t be seeing this holiday season. Saves ya time and energy in the chaos of the season. 🎁🎄🎅🏻🕰️🕰️🕰️ #christmastime
gocleanco
Nov 13
Nostalgic Christmas!!!! Bring on the tinsel and the garland. I can handle it. 🤭We have some fun things planned to take you back to the days when we made ornaments outta fishhooks, so STAY TUNED ya filthy animals! 🎄🎁 ⛄️ 🎅🏻 🤶🏻❄️ ☕️
gocleanco
Nov 12
Best part of getting my hair done is hanging with sister @hellohairhouse the results aren’t too shabby either
gocleanco
Nov 9
Just out here doing the lords work. meganrreed_
gocleanco
Nov 4
Okay my DM’s are full of people asking for this to live on the feed. Brew a cup of coffee. I use a @nespresso pod but any regular cup java will do. Add in one scoop of your fav protein powder (or do half if you find this too sweet). This-is-a-wing-it-to-how-you-like-it-recipe as most cups of coffee are. I used vanilla protein powder here with a sprinkle of cinnamon, tastes a Christmasy! My go to is usually chocolate protein because it tastes like a mocha. Froth it with frother and drink it hot or over ice. This gets me 26 grams of protein right in the morning which helps cause I’m not a breakfast person. I’m trying y’all. 💪🏻 🍑
gocleanco
Nov 1
You asked and I delivered! You have been requesting I test the viral Tineco floor washers forever so here they are! Full break down of the S5 and S3 model in my stories plus they are both on sale at Canadian Tire and Amazon! @tinecoglobal #sponsored #floorcare #evolutionofclean
gocleanco
Oct 28
Best one yet. 🤣😂🤣🤣 I told you guys he looks like @mrclean
gocleanco
Oct 25
I have shared my new BLANCO sink and faucet but let’s talk about accessories, did you know BLANCO also has under sink organization systems? I completed my BLANCO UNIT with the BOTTON II, it tidies up the mess under your kitchen sink and it pulls out like a drawer; you can store your cleaning supplies in it and also has a handy dandy little handle so you can take your supplies with you around the house. I have a post up on their blog that goes into depth about BLANCO maintenance and care, and more tips in my stories so make sure you check them out. You folks had lots of questions about BLANCO last round and I am happy to help. Plus BLANCO customer service can answer any maintenance questions you might have. #sponsored @blancoamerica1
gocleanco
Oct 22
You can’t win them all. 🐷🩰
gocleanco
Oct 20
Ghosts have chores too! #happyhalloween
gocleanco
Oct 13
It’s a blessing and a curse, really. #housework
gocleanco
Oct 11
Me for the last 24 hours straight 🥴😵💫 What didn’t you snag that you had on your heart set on for Prime Big Deals Days? Drop ONE THING you didn’t nab in the comments below and maybe we will do some surprise Amazon deliveries! 🥰 The only thing I have had time to buy for myself is a Home Alone Pillow with Kevin’s face on it and some Tide Rescue 😂 Swipe to see ➡️➡️➡️
gocleanco
Oct 9
It is the final week of the Fall Cleaning Challenge which means we are cleaning the Common Area’s in our homes (that’s hallways, closets, mudrooms, porches and laundry rooms) we are ALSO taking our buckets, Aquablades, power washers and shop vacuums outside to clean up our outdoor spaces before the ❄️ hits. This is a big week. What’s the biggest disaster area that you need to tackle this week? I’ll go first. It’s my scary linen closet which currently it has a sign on on it that says CAUTION ⚠️ 😂 I also got a new leaf blower that I am very excited to blast some dirt and 🍂 with. Pace yourselves, WE GOT THIS! 👊🏻 #cleaningtips
gocleanco
Oct 8
If you are sick of doing dishes, we got this off Amazon for Stella’s apartment cause she didn’t have a dishwasher and she would not stop complaining about it. The little window is so cute, you can watch everything that happening in it, it’s almost as dramatic as and episode of Love is Blind. 5 stars ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️ from Stella! #amazonfinds
gocleanco
Oct 7
Hiiiii 👋🏼 Sarah here. I’m the one behind the cleaning hacks, motivation, business tips, home design, decor and sometimes fashion advice and sassy commentary. Oh and I wrote some books in the early days too 🤓 How long have long have you been following along for the ride? Thanks for sticking with me 💕💕💕
gocleanco
Oct 6
Takes me just as long to pick a blanket as it does a pillowcase. 🫠🤣 Everything is linked up in my Amazon Store front! Link is in my bio. Reminder it’s Prime Deals Days next week so expecting lots of stuff to be on sale next week! My rug is from @ruggable and is 9x12 and called the Kamran Hazel. #falldecor
gocleanco
Oct 4
Entering spooky season but it’s just a regular Wednesday for us. Today I learned not everyone pronounces it 👻—GUR 🤣🤣🤣 #happyhalloween
gocleanco
Sep 24
Heya. 👋🏼 Sarah here. We are wrapping up Week One (Kitchen Week—the most overwhelming) of the Fall Cleaning challenge. How is it going? What have you got done? My job during these Challenges is to motivate and help educate you on the most efficient and effective ways to clean so you feel confident about moving onto the next week with us! The Cleaning Challenges get easier each time we do them as it’s a scheduled, routine deep clean that helps you stay on top of things before they get out of hand. If you deep cleaned in the Spring Challenge with us, I know (based on the hundreds of DM’s🤣) that this week felt easier because you lined the tops of your cupboards with parchment paper in the Spring! I find it hard to put into writing how cleaning can make you feel SO GOOD, satisfied and proud of your home. I can’t explain the feeling feeling until you roll up your sleeves and get to work and feel it yourself. Once one room is done, please stop and stand back and survey your work. Take a minute to feel the accomplishment in your bones. This is hard but rewarding work and you CAN do it—I will cheer you on the entire way. Keep sending me your before and afters! They make me so happy and proud of each you, I feel like I am helping clean millions of homes around the world and that’s honestly pretty cool. 😎
gocleanco
Sep 22
It’s Kitchen week of the Fall Cleaning Challenge and I can finally share my new kitchen sink from BLANCO that everyone has been asking about. I am very excited to be working with @blancoamerica1 they are THE kitchen experts and a global brand with over 95 years of experience. Head to my stories to see how I care for this beauty on the daily and how easy it is to treat stains. BLANCO is more than just sinks; they also have faucets and organizational systems (like the BOTTON) that work together as an integrated UNIT. #ad