Teenagers can be wayward, we all know that, but with some patience and commitment, they can be made to help with cleaning around the home, even if it is rather begrudgingly!
Check out these teen cleaning tips:
Be prepared to settle for less than you might expect, or want from them
There probably won’t be any miracles when you ask your teen to help with a few cleaning chores, but anything is better than nothing. While expecting them to clean the entire house from top to bottom might be a step too far, you can reasonably expect them to clean their room, or any designated room, at least once a week, or help with one or two daily chores.
Give your teen some room for negotiation
If your teenager isn’t happy about your proposal, give them the opportunity to negotiate a little until you both agree on a cleaning plan that will work. It might not be what you originally expected, but again, something is usually better than nothing when it comes to teens!
Give clear instructions that can’t be misconstrued
You might know what you expect from your teenager, but make sure that they do, too, otherwise you’ll never be satisfied and your teen becomes disheartened.
There must be consequences to not fulfilling what’s asked of them
If they continue to clean to their own standards, while never meeting yours, there has to be a motivation for them not to continue doing so. Think about how you can reasonably punish your teen for not complying.
Lead by example
How can you reasonably expect your teenager to keep things clean and tidy, if you don’t? If you want to make sure your kids have a positive role model when it comes to cleaning, be sure to practice what you preach!
Set them a task, and leave them to do it
Nobody wants a supervisor watching over them while they clean, least of all a teenager, so set them their task(s) and leave them to get on it. Be clear on how you want the task carried out, and when you want it finished by, then once they’ve done, you can check their handiwork.
Don’t let anger rule you when dealing with your teen
You might be seething inside because your teen has refused to do what you’ve asked of them, or has carried the task out with reckless abandon, but the minute you start reacting angrily, you lose all control over the situation, and your teen.
One way of showing your teen exactly how good cleaning is done, is by bringing in the pros! However, even if you do decide to hire a cleaner (which is a great decision and one few regret), make sure that your teen still has some cleaning tasks of their own to fulfil, otherwise they’ll make terrible housemates and partners later in life!
