If
you think that your home is clean, you may want to check again. In a recent
study of over 1,000 U.S. households, it was found that the average home has
more than 2,000 different species of fungus and 7,000 species of bacteria.
While some of these microbes may cause no harm to your health, common household
germs such as staph, mold, Salmonella, E. coli, and fecal matter can make you and your family sick. As these
germs can affect your health, it is important to get everyone in your family to
pitch in when it’s time to clean up your home.
Reasons why your family won’t help
you clean up
Many
people feel that their partners and children don’t do enough to help out in the
house, especially during cleaning up time. However, there are valid reasons why
your family doesn’t want to pitch in. It could be that they don’t know how to
clean, or they don’t know what methods you use for every chore. They may also
not be aware of the health repercussions and inconveniences that your family
will experience if they don’t do certain tasks. But perhaps, the most common
reason why your family won’t help you clean is that nobody has the time to
clean up. If you want your family to pitch in once and for all, here are some
tips to get everyone in your family to clean up.
Assign tasks
Everyone
can do something around the house - in fact, even the youngest member of your
family can contribute if you assign age-appropriate tasks. For instance, you
can teach your teenager your best vacuum technique while your toddler
can pick up toys and books and
put them back in their proper places. Your partner can clean up and disinfect
the refrigerator while you work on the bathrooms. The idea is to get everyone
to do one task by himself so the cleanup process gets done as soon as possible.
Have a home cleaning schedule
While
sweeping, dusting, and taking out the trash can be part of everyday tasks,
you’ll also want to designate certain days to tackle heavier tasks. The key is
to create a realistic cleaning
schedule that works for you and your family. Teach your
children that they should make their beds, put dirty clothes in the hamper, and
return toys where they belong every day. Other tasks such as cleaning out the
garage or organizing closets can be done once every few months or as needed.
Teach them how to clean
It’s
important to teach your partner and older children how to do certain tasks,
especially if they involve numerous steps to achieve the kind of clean that you
want for your home. For instance, cleaning the bathroom requires using different
implements and cleansers for disinfecting the area, so do a side-by-side
cleaning tutorial the first time around. Next time, they can do the chore by
themselves. Remember to not be too critical when you’re training your loved
ones to clean in order to encourage them to help out more around the house.
Offer family rewards
While
some kids are motivated by treats or monetary rewards in exchange for helping
out in the house, you can do even better by extending the reward to include
your partner and yourself. For example, you can offer a night at the movies for
everyone once you’ve all accomplished the weekend cleanup. You can also
motivate your loved ones by promising to order a pizza or a favorite takeout
dish for dinner once everyone has completed their chores. It’s a good incentive
for everyone to work as a team as they can only get the reward if everyone
finishes their tasks.
Getting
your loved ones to pitch in during clean up time may be difficult at times, but
with a little patience, organization, and some creativity, you can surely get
them to help you clean up. Not only will your home be spotless, but a clean
home will also help to keep everyone healthy.
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