With a small bucket or caddy and some kid-friendly cleaning supplies, you can create a cleaning kit for kids to help motivate them to do their chores!
If you’re motivated to get your kids to help out around the house, be sure to grab one of our printable chore charts – Chore Chart Punch Cards, Chore Chart List, and Magnetic Chore Chart.
Cleaning Supply Bucket
I like to keep all of our cleaning products in one cupboard, but when you have several people using those items each day, things aren’t always put back where they belong!
To alleviate some of our frustrations, I decided to make each of my kids their own cleaning kit, complete with everything they need to get their chores done – minus the broom, mop, and vacuum!
Last week the mere sight of cleaning supplies would make them wince with dread! This week our chores have been finished with a whole lot less whining!
Did I just discover the secret to getting kids to clean up after themselves?!
I will let you know if this excitement continues longer than a week… so stay tuned! 🙂
Whether their excitement stays or dwindles, a child’s own cleaning bucket is a great way to make the task of doing chores a bit easier on them and you! Doing chores creates confidence and good habits, and it provides teaching opportunities for all your little helpers.
Here’s how to make your own cleaning kit for kids-
DIY Cleaning Kit for Kids
SUPPLIES –
Everything for our buckets was purchased at the dollar store!
- small bucket or caddy
- baby wipes
- lint roller
- spray bottle with water and/or vinegar
- small duster
- washcloths
- cleaning chore cards (download below)
Optional cleaning tools – sponge, hand broom and dustpan, toilet brush,
DIRECTIONS –
- Gather your supplies and put them in a bucket. You can label the buckets with their names, or grab different color buckets. Just pick a way that makes it easy to distinguish whose bucket is whose.
- Keep these buckets where the kids know exactly where to find them, so when it comes time to do chores, there are no excuses! I have my kids line them up in an extra cupboard by the laundry room. This way, I can wash their washcloths and refill items in their bucket as needed.
- Once your buckets are filled, it’s time to start cleaning!
Kid’s Cleaning Tips –
- You’re Never Too Young. A cleaning bucket can be great for kids of all ages! My two youngest kids are given “chores” that make them feel like they are helping, though they will mostly wipe surfaces with a baby wipe. This gives them a sense of pride in our home, even at their young age. It’s never too early to start helping around the house, in fact, the younger they are, the more fun they think cleaning can be! Come up with some easy tasks for them and adapt their chores as they get older and can handle more responsibility.
- Daily Chores. Each day, all five of my kids are in charge of making their beds, tidying their rooms, and picking up their bathrooms.
- Weekly Chores. In addition to their rooms and bathrooms, each child is given a daily responsibility that rotates weekly. Cleaning, dusting, vacuuming the family room, taking out the trash, etc.
- No Harmful Chemicals. Since even my youngest kids help clean the bathrooms, it is important to note that we do not use chemicals in our cleaning products – we use baby wipes to clean the hard surfaces – counters, toilets, bathtubs, etc. The floors and mirrors get a deep clean each week by the older kids, or with my help.
- Lint Roller Magic. A simple lint roller can be used to dust surfaces like lampshades, throw pillows, and bedspreads. My kids LOVE using this roller on their neatly made beds!
More Cleaning Ideas –
Do the Huggies wipes leave a sticky residue? How do you clean mirrors?
I’ve never had them leave a residue. And I use glass cleaner and a microfiber rag to clean the mirrors – my little kids don’t do that themselves. 🙂