Easy Chores for Kids {Plus a Kid-Friendly homemade Cleaner!}

Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Kimberly-Clark and The Motherhood. All opinions and #SpringClean16 tips are my own.

It’s Spring! I guess I should clarify. The CALENDAR states it’s officially spring, but the weather didn’t get the memo. Maybe someone CC’d the person in charge of Winter instead.

Yesterday, I walked around our house and took note of everything that needs to be done to get it back in check after winter. We have piles of misfitting clothes, papers from school, homework tools scattered around the living room and absolute chaos in our basement with books and toys. Since Spring Break starts on April 1, I need to get myself prepared!

Letting your kids pitch in with the cleaning is more than just a couple of extra hands helping out, it teaches them responsibility. I have also found that my girls…well, the twins at least…are much more likely to keep things clean if they help organize. Since our house is bursting at the seams, having a spot for everything is essential.

Last spring, we started giving the twins allowance ($1/week) for their extra help around the house. Obviously, the amount you give your kids is up to you, but we found it was a perfect way to get some things done in the house. We have a magnetic responsibility chart that we use to keep track of chores. Aside from personal care like brushing teeth, reading and homework, here’s an example of what my 7-year old twins do:

• Feed the dogs in the evening
• Put clothes in the hamper
• Help put the dishes away (usually just silverware, sans knives)
• Keep folders in backpack
• Keep books on shelves, library books in book bag
• Run the sweeper under the kitchen table

There are other cleaning things they help with, also, but you get the idea! Gabby, who is 4, helps during the day while her sisters are at school, but she’s more of a mess maker than helper. Ha! Another great way kids can help is by organizing socks or putting their clothes away. The best thing to remember is that it doesn’t have to be perfect! I cringe sometimes when I see how they fold their shirts, but they are SO proud. Sometimes you have to pick your battles, right?

Gabby and I trekked out to Walmart last week to refill our cleaning caddy and I kept the kids in mind while I was doing so.  Since I’ve started to use castile soap for cleaning, I know it’s safe enough to put in a water bottle for the kids to spray. If it accidentally goes in their mouth, I know it might taste gross, but there aren’t any harsh chemicals.  I’ve been using the soap for a couple of months now and I am LOVING how great it smells and gets everything scrubbed clean. The tiny scrubbers on the Viva® Vantage® paper towels are a lifesaver too. I have never been much of a fan of washcloths–I find paper towels get the dirty jobs done better!

For our bathroom, I got some containers to organize our hair ties, plus more caddies to keep our products in under the sink. The girls can simply take out a caddy after showers to have their lotion, detangler and more all in one spot. When they’re done, it goes back under the sink! No more searching for items at bedtime.

Anyone else feel like they fly through toilet paper? We enforced a four square rule and I still swear we go through a roll a day. Cottonelle® is our go-to. It’s frequently on sale, plus with coupons it’s super budget friendly. I love the clean ripple texture and how soft it is! With three little bums to keep clean, I like know that we’re covered.

Now that we’re all stocked up, it’s time to actually start CLEANING! Who wants to help me?! I’ll trade for tasty food 🙂

What’s on your #SpringClean16 to-do list? Do your kids help with chores?