Setting Up 3 Basic Rules for a Clean Home

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Day 6 of #Write28Days Challenge

Before I start sharing practical tips on managing housework successfully, you need to set up these 3 basic rules for a clean home. You need to set them up so that everyone knows what to expect and what is expected of them.

Rule #1: Everyone Chips In

And I mean everyone. After all, everyone who lives in the house creates a mess. So why should this mess be cleared up by one person only? And if everyone cleared up their own mess, there would be very little mess to manage.

Besides, the saying, “Many hands make light work” is accurate and true.

The earlier this rule is implemented, the easier it is for you. But don’t worry if you didn’t get it set up from the get-go. You start wherever you are.

Even Toddlers

Big and small, old and young. Everyone can and should help.

Yes, even toddlers can do their part. (see age-appropriate chore chart at end of the post). They are more capable than you think AND they actually love to help at that age.

Unfair?

However, if you have older folk living with you, you will have to decide if it is possible for them to contribute. If not, just leave them out.

A husband with irregular working hours? Leave him out.

Yes, it may seem unfair. And if you have teenagers in the house I am sure they will tell you that it is unfair. But choose your battles wisely. It is for your sanity that I advise not to fight this battle.

Rule #2: Set Boundaries

Set boundaries for certain activities, especially for activities that generate a lot of mess. Even if you have a small space, you can still do this. In fact, it is highly encouraged that you do this especially if you have a small space.

You can set boundaries by room if your house has that many rooms. Or you can demarcate the boundaries with bookshelves (make sure it is stable!), tables or even a rug.

You can choose to make the boundaries permanent or temporary, ie they are only there for that activity.

Here are three areas you need boundaries for.

a)     Eating Area

In my opinion, this is THE most critical boundary to set. Limit the areas in your home where you allow eating or you will end up cleaning the whole house daily to avoid stickiness and crumbs everywhere. Think ants and cockroaches!

If you have a big enough kitchen, you may want to limit eating only in the kitchen. It cuts down the mess big time. Also, that is where the sink is so they can eat their messy food and wash their hands immediately instead of them wiping their hands on the walls of handles of doors.

When the children were very small, I only allow them to eat at the dining table. Nowadays when they can actually clean up the mess they make, I allow them to eat in the living room or the study for certain occasions.

But not in the bedrooms! And if they are eating biscuits or crackers or any food that is crumbly they have to eat it from a bowl or plate.

b)    Play Area

One rule that I commonly read of is to “pack away one toy before you take out another”.

It never worked for us because my children liked to mix up their toys. It got very tiring to police this because most toys don’t occupy their attention that long when they were younger.

So how?

Instead, I limited their play area in the living room, to between the tv and the sofa. They could empty out all their toys and games there and mix things up there and only there. I do not allow them to play in their bedrooms. Bedrooms are for sleeping and reading.

Because…allergies. I do not want them bringing dirt and dust onto their beds leading to congested or running noses and itching skin.

When they were done playing or when it was time for naps or bedtimes, they had to pack all the toys into the correct boxes.

I instituted a pack up before lunchtime because they took a nap right after lunch. And they had to pack up before bedtime so that we do not wake up to a mess of a living room the next day.

c)     Study Area

We used to homeschool at the dining room ala¢ those nice pictures one sees on blogs and now, Pinterest.

However, it did not work out well for us. It led to many missing pieces of stationery. And if they dawdled, everyone’s lunch got delayed.

So while we would start the day with Bible at the Dining Table, I would dismiss them to their own study desks to do their own work once that was done. This way, all homeschool stuff is contained in the Study Room.

In our previous 2-apartment flat with 4 children, I designated a corner of the house as the homeschool corner and schoolwork would be done mostly there.

I didn’t mind them doing their work wherever they wanted but I did mind them losing their stuff all the time and then leaving their books wherever they did their work. So, this is my solution.

If you are more tolerant than me, an alternative rule would be that all schoolwork must be put away by a certain time each day.

Rule #3: Nightly Pick Ups

When the children were younger and had fixed bedtimes, I instituted a pickup time 10 minutes before bedtime. They had to go around the house and put away all the toys and books that were out of place.

Then we would do our bedtime prayers and they would go to sleep.

This helped me a lot as I could then do a quick vacuum or magic mop the uncluttered floors while they slept. This daily ritual kept the house clean.

When I told my friend this, she did not understand why I bothered to mop the floors at night. I told her that it is because I liked waking up and walking on clean floors in the morning.

Whether you vacuum or not, this nightly pick up will help improve your mood. Imagine waking up and walking unhindered from your room to the kitchen to prepare breakfast. Or even better, waking up in the middle of the night to get to a crying child without stumbling over toys or stepping on Lego pieces.

3 Basic Rules for a Clean Home

Setting up these 3 basic rules for a clean home works is because it helps to contain and corral the mess in one place and one place only. Otherwise, the mess is spread out all over the house. Also, since there is less mess, cleaning the house is easier now.

See you tomorrow for Setting Up A Place for Everything.

Related Links

Age Appropriate Chores for Children
Decluttering the Playroom

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