Teenagers and cleaning don’t the best marriage make! However, there are a few simple ways to get your teenager to do more cleaning than you might expect of them, and the following tips should help you achieve this with minimal stress (fingers crossed!):
Understanding your teen and finding balance:
A few simple cleaning tasks such as helping to wash the dishes or putting their laundry away, can be an ordeal for some teens, and it’s important that as a parent, you try and see the bigger picture before striking a balance. They’re on the cusp of adulthood and desperate for some independence, but they’re under your roof and therefore should contribute towards keeping it clean and tidy. Respect your teenagers desire for independence and their individuality, while setting a few fair but firm cleaning ground rules.
Tip 1.
Don’t raise or lower your expectations, simply adjust them.
Your teenagers will never clean your home from top to bottom, and it would be churlish to expect that of them, so decide upon some cleaning tasks that they really must carry out, and leave the rest for someone else to do (probably you!).
Tip 2.
Negotiate
If there’s no room for leeway on either side, you’ll just reach a stalemate. Be prepared to negotiate appropriately.
Tip 3.
Make your instructions crystal clear
Expecting your teenager to have the same idea as you about what level of cleaning you want from them, is a little foolish. If cleaning their room means making the bed, putting their laundry away and taking dirty dishes down to the kitchen, make sure they know that so that they can fulfil your needs. If you want their room to spotless, while you might never get this, you can at least be specific in your instructions and you’ll be closer to a cleaner home than you were!
Tip 4.
What happens if they don’t comply?
There has to be consequences if your teen doesn’t clean to an appropriate standard, or omits the task altogether; think about appropriate punishments before setting the tasks and stick to them.
Tip 5.
Set a good example
You can’t expect your teenager to clean up after themselves if you don’t; practice what you preach at all times.
Tip 6.
Let them clean without hanging over their shoulder
Supervising them while they’re attempting to clean is off putting for them and more than a little condescending. Entrust them to do the task, leave them to it, and assess the work done afterwards.
Tip 7.
Don’t lose your (cleaning) rag!
Be prepared for some disobedience and a few uncompleted tasks, and try not to lose your cool if they repeatedly don’t do what you’ve asked of them, since this rarely motivates them moving forward. Keep calm and collected, and reason with your teen wherever possible.
If you have more than one teenager in your home, you could be pulling your hair out at the end of each week and find yourself praying for a miracle! Fortunately, there are angels on Earth to answer your prayers, and they’re called professional cleaners! Hire them, and bingo, no more stinky rooms and no more arguments.
