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During busy seasons, just giving my house a once-over is good enough to keep the dust bunnies away. When I know that I cannot get to the deep cleaning, I relax.

No need to worry and stress over a spic-and-span house since it just isn’t going to happen right now. However, I can enlist helpers to assist in a quick cleaning.

In part 1 of this 3-part series, I shared how to make cleaning fun for children by creating a game. Games are fun, but if the older child is winning every time, then the younger ones get discouraged.

To add variety to our household, we give our children a cleaning tool.

Part 2: Provide a Tool

To assist in cleaning our home, I keep a broom, mop, Scrubbing Bubbles, sponges, steam cleaner, buckets, disinfecting wipes, and numerous other items. These tools increase my efficiency which helps in using time wisely.

To make cleaning fun for children, I empower them with a cleaning tool and a responsibility. Armed with their tool, they own their job and enjoy getting our home looking nice. Three of the tools my children use are duster, magic eraser, and vacuum cleaner.

Duster

I keep 3 Swiffer dusters in my cleaning closet. Usually if one of my three children wants to dust, so do the others. To eliminate the “I asked Mom first,” I just keep three. When all three are dusting, I either assign them to a room or to a task.

If assigned by room, then they are not to invade each other’s space. If assigned by task, then they need to work together. My toddler loves to dust the baseboards. She can reach all of them and enjoys getting behind the furniture and under the tables.

Giving my toddler a task and my older two a room, the job gets done quicker. However, my toddler does not always hang in there as long as the other two. By combining the options, I have more flexibility. My choice one day will differ from another day depending on how my children are working together.

In keeping the cleaning fun, Paul jumps in to dust the ceiling fans as he reaches just fine. I, on the other hand, would need a chair. 🙂 I usually manage the cleaning routine and help as needed during the entire process.

Magic Eraser

My favorite cleaning tool ever is the Mr. Clean magic eraser! When I get that broom scuff on the wall or the crayon scribble on the table, the magic eraser restores the wall and table back to normal.

Though a bit tough to scrub, I allow my children to clean up the messes that require the magic eraser. My girls do a great job using this sponge to eliminate the crayon from their desks and craft table.

Vacuum Cleaner

Where my toddler runs from the “loud” vacuum cleaner, my older children love to vacuum the floors. With an upstairs vacuum and a downstairs vacuum, I can accommodate both of them. Of course, there is no quiet for my 2-year-old, but she survives. 😉

With a special tool like a duster, magic eraser, or vacuum cleaner, children want to help clean. For them, the use of a special tool is cool.

Now, my children are young, so these tools are big deals. If you have older children, then maybe a pressure washer, steam cleaner, or Swiffer mop might encourage them to do their chores while having fun (though they probably won’t admit it :-)).

As you work smarter rather than harder, make cleaning fun for your children, and they will ask for more ways to help. In using time wisely, a little planning for fun really pays off. Enjoy these times with your family while maintaining your home. Happy playing!

Question: What cleaning tools do your children want to use?