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Care in the community: Charity Initiatives from Merry Maids Bromley and Orpington

How Merry Maids Bromley and Orpington support their community through charity engagement. 

Merry Maids Bromley and Orpington’s Office Supervisor, Jo, has been with the company for several years, beginning as a cleaner.

She uses her position to combine her passion for the community and background in care to support local and national charities.


Jo’s Background

Jo worked in care for eight years, running care homes and fundraising regularly through sponsored activities and events.

These have included mental health and dementia campaigns and a brain tumour charity.

Following the COVID-19 pandemic, Jo returned to Merry Maids, having worked with us as a cleaner before her time in care.

In joining Merry Maids, Jo joined a business that enables her to use her natural affinity for providing personalised care through professional and bespoke home cleaning services.


Recent Charity Work at Merry Maids

In April, Merry Maids Bromley and Orpington donated Easter eggs and chocolate to Dandelion Time, a local charity that supports children who have experienced hardship and traumatic events.

But that’s not all they’ve been up to.

Recently, Jo has been getting active and supporting charities close to her heart while at Merry Maids Bromley and Orpington.

“In February this year, I did 10,000 steps [daily] for Brain Tumour Research. And then I did 30 miles in September for dementia charities,” she says.

Her other recent activities have again supported the brain tumour and mental health charities.

Jo also completed a Memory Walk for Alzheimer’s Society, a charity that is close to all of our teams at Merry Maids UK and Jo, whose mother-in-law sadly suffered from the disease.

She estimates that she has raised £1500 from her recent efforts.


Upcoming Charity Work with Merry Maids Bromley and Orpington

Looking to the future, Jo has some ambitious charity plans for the new year.

Alongside more active fundraising for dementia and mental health charities, she is organising a charity initiative with her son to give out Christmas presents to local children in need.

Furthermore, Merry Maids Bromley will donate an afternoon tea to Southmore Court Assisted Living, one of their regular cleaning clients.

Jo says she is always looking to push her contributions and do more for the people in the local community:

“Me, myself, I want to do more volunteer work in the lines with dementia, like volunteer, maybe afternoon or a couple of hours here and there. I really like doing it,” she says.

“For my birthday, I’ve put something up for anyone to donate to Alzheimer’s instead of getting me giving me a present. And that’s what I’ll do for Christmas as well. We do cancer one, me and my friends. We don’t buy each other cards, but donate to Cancer Research.”


Want to see the value of a cleaner who cares?

If you or someone you know would benefit from a professional and compassionate home cleaning service from Merry Maids UK, find your nearest Merry Maids business today.

To schedule a visit from Merry Maids Bromley and Orpington, book online or call 01689 830000 for a free quote for our bespoke and professional home cleaning services.

From one-off deep cleans to regular visits and spring cleaning, we do the cleaning so you don’t have to.

Merry Maids’ Pre-Christmas Cleaning Checklist

Our guide to getting all your pre-Christmas cleaning done. 

Christmas is on its way!

Are you planning to host a Christmas party or spend Christmas Day with the whole family?

If you are, you may want to tidy up before the guests arrive.

But with so much to do, Christmas cleaning can feel overwhelming.

That’s why we’ve made a list (and we’ve checked it twice) of handy pre-Christmas cleaning tasks to ensure your cleaning and home can stay in order this festive season.


Guest Bedroom Pre-Christmas Cleaning

If you have a spare or guest room, the temptation may be to use it for… “storage”.

However, around this time of year, ensure your spare bedroom(s) are cleaned for any unexpected overnight guests.

Just in case a white Christmas or extra glass of sherry mean that driving home for Christmas home becomes inadvisable.

When cleaning your spare bedroom, remember to:

  • Change the sheets/bedding & duvets so they are clean and fresh for your guests. A quick tip to make them even fresher smelling is to wash them separately from any clothes
  • Vacuum and polish the guest room to ensure the room has a welcoming scent

If your guest room isn’t used that often, it may not be as welcoming as other rooms.

  • You can potentially get a few paintings or photos up in the room, maybe a houseplant or anything else you may feel is welcoming

Your guests are likely to be staying more than one night. Therefore, they’ll need space for their clothes and other belongings. So:

  • Empty the wardrobe and drawers of usually all of your summer clothes or the: “I’ll take these to a charity shop one-day” clothes. This will ensure your guest has sufficient space and will feel more at home instead of living out of their suitcase

Kitchen Pre-Christmas Cleaning

The kitchen is usually the centre of the action at Christmas.

Especially with the mulled wine brewing on the stove, it makes it feel warm and festive!

First, your oven should be clean to ensure it’s ready for the juicy turkey or tasty nut roast!

  • Buy an oven cleaning product and follow the instructions on the label, as there are lots of different products you can use
  • A clean oven will make your food taste better and won’t produce smoke that would float around the house and make it smell unpleasant.

You’ll probably have to put LOADS of food in your fridge and freezer, so it’s time for a clear-out.

A clean and less cluttered fridge will allow space for all pigs in blankets, wine and pudding!

  • Have a clean fridge for all of your Christmas food
    – Remove all food, drawers and shelves
    – Soak drawers and shelves in washing up liquid
    – Use warm water and washing-up liquid to wipe the interior
    – Wipe outer surfaces and dry inside with kitchen roll
    – Dry and return the drawers/shelves
    – Wait until the temperature has returned to 5°C

Bathroom Pre-Christmas Cleaning

The wintertime is the time of year when people get horrid colds that they can’t shake.

That’s why pre-cleaning the bathroom and maintaining the cleanliness throughout the time your guests are here is vital.

  • Clean the bathroom from top to bottom, including the bath, shower, sink, toilet, carpet, cupboards and anything else you may have in there.
  • Tidy up your bathroom to leave space for your guest’s toiletries, or if you have two washrooms, move all your toiletries to the bathroom your guests won’t be using. This will again make them feel at home.

Living Room Pre-Christmas Cleaning

Your living room is the social and board gaming hub, with the fire roaring in the background and the smell of Christmas all around. Lovely!

  • Vacuum your living room carpet before your guests arrive and during their stay, depending on how long they’re there for
  • Vacuum all of your upholstery and cushions before guests arrive
  • Have a general tidy-up and, if you have time, a bit of a declutter of things you don’t need during the winter period

Home Exterior Pre-Christmas Cleaning

Ensure the outside of your house looks welcoming for your guests and any neighbours that might pop around to wish you a Merry Christmas.

  • Clean your outside decorations just by wiping them with a dry cloth
  • Clean your windows on the inside and outside
  • Ensure, if you have a drive, you’ve left enough space for your guest’s car/s or, if it’s on-street parking, there is enough space for them. If necessary, remember to sort out their on-street parking permits.

A bit much?

All this cleaning might seem like a bit much, especially with all the extra Christmas prep.

If you don’t feel like you have time to clean your home, find your nearest Merry Maids business to do it all for you!

We carry out all the services listed above and more, so you can focus on the stuff that matters at Christmas and not do the cleaning.

To learn more about our services and how we can help you, call 0800 021 3072 today.

Age appropriate chores for children

Our tips for responsible and age-appropriate chores for your little ones. 

Teaching children to pitch in and help with housekeeping at a young age is vital.

After all, they have to start learning responsibility to succeed in life, but how do you know which chores young kids will be capable of handling?

If only you had an age-appropriate chore list to check…

Oh, look: our cleaning experts at Merry Maids UK have produced one just for you!

Use the following chart to assign chores for kids by age, whether a parent, grandparent, teacher or babysitter.

We also give you a few tips on how to keep your children motivated and chores fun.

Children Age 2 – 3

  • Pick up toys
  • Help set the table
  • Throw trash away when instructed
  • Place their clothes in a laundry basket
  • Wipe lower cabinet doors

Tip: Kids this age love to use their imagination, so think of ways to turn chores into fun and imaginative games.

Children Age 4 – 5

  • Put toys and books away
  • Set and clear the table
  • Pick out clothes for the next day
  • Sweep small areas with a handheld broom
  • Fold towels

Tip: Children aged four to five can get overwhelmed with too many instructions.

Ensure you assign one task at a time. To de-stress, consider singing silly songs as you work.

Tip: With a tiled kitchen, you can use a bit of masking tape to make a square, then get your child to sweep everything into this small square.

Children Age 6 – 7

  • Put away clean silverware
  • Help clean the bedroom
  • Wipe down bathroom surfaces
  • Unload the dishwasher
  • Load and unload the washing machine and tumble dryer

Tip: Give six and seven-year-olds plenty of recognition for how well they are doing as their confidence develops around this time.

You can make chores more enjoyable by turning them into games.

Children Age 8 – 9

  • Help prepare meals with supervision
  • Dust and vacuum
  • Feed, brush and walk pets
  • Empty trash cans
  • Fold towels and put clothes away

Tip: Consider buying kids this age their own brightly coloured, child-friendly kitchen utensils and get them to wash these up after every meal.

This will ramp up the fun factor and make them feel more independent.

Children Age 10 – 12

  • Laundry and ironing
  • Gardening jobs
  • Cook simple meals
  • Wash dishes by hand or load the dishwasher
  • Clean the kitchen

Tip: Start incentivising kids at this age.

Devise a routine list of chores for kids by age and reward them with weekly pocket money, extra screen time, and a trip to get ice cream or see a movie.

Children Age 13 and up

  • Make full meals
  • Clean the shower, tub, sink, and toilet
  • Clean out the refrigerator
  • Babysit for younger siblings

Tip: Rewards and incentives still work well.

Ensure you continue to recognise the additional responsibilities your children can take on so they know their help is appreciated.

There may be a little trial and error involved with different age groups.

Every child’s development is different, so give kids a new task if they have difficulty completing the original assignment.

Remember, when dealing with children and chores, there is no such thing as too much praise.

Let kids know you’re proud of their efforts.

It will make them feel good, and they’ll want to keep helping to get more positive feedback.

Learn More

Looking for more insights on children and chores?

Check out our post on fun cleaning games with kids.

And if you’re finding that life has you too busy to even think about cleaning your home, contact your local Merry Maids!

We’re happy to lend a hand so you can free up more time to do what you love with the people you care for the most.

Join Merry Maids of Croydon as a champion for Croydon’s children

Merry Maids of Croydon is a champion for local children, will you join us?

Did you know? There are over 27,000 children living in poverty in Croydon and up to 73% of children are in need of free school meals in certain areas.

At Merry Maids of Croydon, we are committed to supporting those in need in our local community, particularly children in need.

That’s why we are partners of the local Reedham Children’s Trust, which provides essential support to schools, families and children in and around Croydon.

Just last Christmas, we operated a highly successful food bank drive, donating enough essential items through the local schools to feed over 100 venerable families over the Christmas period.

But it’s not enough to rest on our laurels, families are still struggling.

The cost-of-living crisis is exacerbating the serious issues of the known 27,483 children living in poverty in the borough.

Children are disadvantaged by multiple issues, such as domestic violence, poor mental health, special educational needs and placement in care.

These multiple deprivations can prevent our children from accessing education and building the resilience, skills and confidence they need to fulfil their potential.

They will earn less, have increased health problems and lead shorter lives. Without support now, we risk our children’s futures.

“With the cost of the living crisis, I was feeling depressed and turned to a friend for help in finding a charity that could support us. But to my amazement, we received a food hamper and vouchers, an incredible show of support I couldn’t believe. I am beyond grateful for this support, which has truly helped my children and me.”

~ Mum of 3, Croydon.

Reedham Children’s Trust

Reedham Children’s Trust exists to improve the lives and life outcomes of vulnerable children and young people.

They work in collaboration with charities and voluntary organisations across Croydon to reach more children and young people in need and to enable the best support possible.

In light of the support Merry Maids of Croydon has provided the trust, they have named us a Croydon Children’s Champion.

Could you join us?

Reedham Children’s Trust are running a local campaign to generate awareness of the issues facing Croydon’s vulnerable children, but they need support.

Donating to this campaign can provide vulnerable children and families in the area with the support they so desperately need.

What your help could do

  • £25 could pay for an hour’s support for a child or young person in crisis
  • £50 could provide workshops on cooking, food growing and nature for young people interested in these areas as a career path
  • £100 could buy desperately needed food vouchers for four families

Contact Us

If you’d like to get in touch with Reedham Children’s Trust about the campaign, call 020 8660 1461 or 07837339113 or email events@reedhamchildrenstrust.org.uk.

If you are local to the Croydon area, get in touch with Debbie and the rest of the Merry Maids of Croydon team today by calling 020 8663 3268.

And if you would benefit from regular or one-off cleaning services from one of our teams, across the UK, get in touch with your local cleaning experts today by finding your nearest Merry Maids business or book online through our online shop.

From Merry Maids with love

Our business owners share the love this Valentine’s Day.

Happy Valentine’s Day from Merry Maids UK!

It’s a day for sharing the love, whether with your significant other, your friends and family, or just indulging in your passions.

At Merry Maids UK, we love cleaning. It’s what we do. But we know it’s not for everyone. That’s why we do it for you!

Through our regular or one-off cleans, we give you the time to focus on the things you love, not the cleaning.

And in the spirit of focusing on the things you love, we’ve been speaking to some of the cleaning experts that own and operate Merry Maids businesses up and down the country about what they love about Merry Maids.

What our business owners love about Merry Maids

Merry Maids of Croydon

Debbie Walker, the owner of Merry Maids of Croydon, says that she loves that Merry Maids is a people-orientated business, meaning that she gets to work with people all day long and within ever-changing dynamics.

She says she takes great pride in building positive relationships with staff and customers.

From celebrating life events with staff like birthdays and anniversaries to developing a rapport with clients and providing care and support to vulnerable clients with dementia and other illnesses, people are at the heart of what we do.

Through providing bespoke and top-quality services and through local initiatives like a Food Drive for a local charity, Debbie has formed a business with a heart that supports her staff and those in need and shares in the day-to-day: what life is all about.

Lynne, the Office Administrator at Merry Maids of Croydon, adds that she loves everything about Merry Maids and that it would be hard to single any particular thing out.

But she notes she loves the variety that Merry Maids brings to her routine and being amongst the company of the team’s friendly staff.

Merry Maids Fylde and Blackpool:

Having spent 30 years building a thriving cleaning business, Nicola Morris from Merry Maids Fylde and Blackpool seconds this, saying she loves working as part of a network of like-minded business owners across the UK who support one another in running their businesses.

“What I love about the Merry Maids brand is working together with a fabulous group of fellow Merry Maids owners all helping each other!”

Merry Maids Dudley, Wolverhampton and Stafford:

Tom Jackson from Merry Maids Dudley and Wolverhampton and Stafford agrees, saying what he loves about his Merry Maids business is the support from our network:

“The best thing about being a franchisee is the support and teamwork you get from the other people in your network.

Whether it’s solving a problem or just ‘how’s your business getting on?’ there is always another franchisee at the other end of the phone or WhatsApp.

Borrowing ideas from Bill in Inverness or asking Nicky in Blackpool what she is doing about a particular issue is invaluable.”

Show your home some love

Share the love this Valentine’s Day by giving your home some TLC with a clean from your local experts.

For a free quote on our services or to learn more, find your nearest Merry Maids business or call 0800 021 3072 today.

Or, book easily online in select locations through our online shop.

Happy Valentine’s Day!

The best tools for home cleaning

Five essential tools that everyone should have to clean their home.

Everyone has their preferences when cleaning. For some, the right cleaning tools could be their favourite playlist at max volume. For others, it’s a secret DIY cleaning hack.

Whatever you’re partial to, there are a few things that every household should have when it’s time to clean.

That’s why our experts at Merry Maids UK have put their heads together and devised a list of the best tools for home cleaning.

Many of these may already be in your cleaning cupboard, so we’ve included recommendations for product types in case you need a refresh or want to add to your cleaning arsenal.

  1. Microfibre cloths

If you’re a regular reader of our blog, you’ll know that we frequently recommend microfibre cloths as an essential cleaning tool.

That’s because they often leave a surface clean on their own with little more than a bit of water and elbow grease.

You’ll find that these work wonders cleaning things like windows, tellies and electronics, and bath and shower screens, as they shouldn’t leave scratches or marks behind.

And the best part? They can be purchased cheaply from most supermarkets or online retailers like Amazon or eBay.

  1. A vacuum

It’s pretty much a given that a vacuum is one of the essentials for cleaning around the house. But they have to be able to do a lot to keep your floors clean beyond removing allergen-carrying hair and dust that lingers in the dark or on the brush roll.

Therefore, many hoovers fill multiple roles and come kitted out with an abundance of extra features and attachments. But how many of these are actually up to the task?

Well, we’ll tell you. According to a recent ranking, the best vacuum cleaner in the UK this year is the Shark Anti Hair Wrap Lift-Away Vacuum.

The main draw of this vacuum is that it catches hair and dust usually missed by other models by removing hair from the brush roll and using LED headlights to illuminate hidden dust.

It’s also portable and versatile and includes many tools for a comprehensive cleaning and an anti-allergen seal to capture dust and allergens.

So, if you’re thinking about upgrading your vacuum this year, look no further than this cleaning must-have.

  1. A squeegee

You may have heard the word squeegee floating around but had little idea what it might be.

Wonder no longer. A squeegee is a helpful tool that keeps your shower free of mould and mildew.

This makes them very useful for cleaning shower screens or condensation from windows.

To keep your squeegee at its best, ensure you protect the blade from damage while you use and store it. You’ll know it is time to replace it if it leaves streaks after use.

Alternatively, you can purchase rechargeable vacuum squeegees (or window vacs) for a little extra support to defend against mould and mildew.

  1. Toothbrushes

Hear us out! Scrubbing the floor with a fine-tooth comb may seem like a medieval punishment, but toothbrushes can be very handy when you need something a little finer than a regular scrubbing brush.

You don’t even need to go out of your way to buy new ones!

Just disinfect old toothbrushes to get a helpful tool to scrub the grout, sink rims and other hard-to-clean areas.

Or, if using old toothbrushes isn’t for you, you can purpose buy scrubbing brushes online.

  1. Merry Maids

With over 30 years of expertise as leading domestic cleaners nationwide, Merry Maids UK is the most valuable tool in your arsenal when it comes to home cleaning.

We know that no matter how slick your equipment is, sometimes you really don’t want to do the cleaning.

It’s sweaty, filthy, and exhausting. Not to mention, it takes a gigantic bite out of your precious free time!

That’s where we come in. Our maids are experts in what they do. And they love to clean!

Whether it’s a one-off, intensive deep clean or regular visitation to keep on top of your day-to-day cleaning, we take care of it so you have the time to focus on what matters to you.

Whatever tools you buy, be it a vacuum, brush, cloth, or something else, they can only focus on one job. Merry Maids does it all.

Get a cleaner home today

For the best standard of cleaning, direct to your door and as often as you need us, look no further than Merry Maids.

To book your free, no-obligation quote, find your nearest Merry Maids business today.

Or book quickly and easily through our online shop in select locations now.

5 children friendly cleaning tips

Top tips to keep your home tidy, even when you have young children.

Cleaning is a chore at the best of times. But add mess created by some little tikes, and suddenly a quick tidy-up becomes a mammoth task.

But all is not lost. A little method can cut through the madness and ensure your home stays in order.

This week, the cleaning experts at Merry Maids UK have put together our top 5 tips for cleaning up around the house when you have children.

  1. Give your children a routine

Author Malcolm Gladwell coined the phrase ‘repetition is the key to mastery,’ and in this case – it’s true!

Practice makes perfect, and the best way to stay on top of your cleaning is to well… keep on top of it.

By sticking to a routine, your children will learn the value of cleaning up after themselves, and the practice will become a habit.

Establishing routines throughout the day means that your child knows when and how to tidy up the messes they make and the importance of keeping things tidy.

  1. Ensure everything has a home

Cleaning with and for your children should be straightforward and uniform.

With your routine established, ensure that everything your child needs has its place.

As with your routine, repetition will help your child to understand what you’re doing and learn to imitate it.

You to keep things organised and let your child know where to get something and put it away again.

  1. Keep surfaces clutter-free

Habit, habit, habit! That’s today’s mantra. And it applies to keeping things free of clutter too.

If your home is full of clutter, your child will struggle to know where things go and learn the benefits of organising their things.

Furthermore, mess and clutter are proven to cause stress as it signals to your brain that you still have work to do.

Keeping in the habit of ridding surfaces of clutter will help maintain a stress-free environment for you and your children.

Moreover, feeling like a failure is a common experience for many parents.

Raising children can be a hugely stressful experience and can trigger feelings of fear and stress that negatively impact your mental health.

As much as possible, your goal is to minimise opportunities where you may feel like this.

This is chiefly how to do with how you frame your own experience, your successes, and perceived failures as a parent.

But it also helps to take whatever practical steps you can, like keeping a clean and clutter-free environment.

Not only will this teach your children positive habits, but it will help to keep you feeling your best.

At Merry Maids, we regularly share tips on decluttering and organising different areas of your home. Including your desks, your kitchen, and even your garage.

  1. Rotate toys

Decluttering is one thing, but if you’re finding that you’re just constantly picking up toys, it might be time for a new system.

Thankfully, the Toy Checkout System is perfect for families who are battling against a rising tide of playthings and children who don’t want to share.

This entails having a rotating system of toys wherein a certain number are always accessible for everyone, and individual toys are under individual responsibility.

Essentially, the child who took out the toy is responsible for putting it away.

The rotation toys are organised and out of sight in a safe and out-of-the-way place.

For this to work, you’ll want a sheet of paper with two columns labelled “Name” and “Toy”.

Then think of it like a hotel checkout. When a child wants to get a toy out, they write their name and the toy they are checking out.

To get out a new toy, they first have to clean up and return the toy they checked out.

This isn’t to say that your children can’t share toys.

They can invite others to play with the toy and request help tidying, but ultimately, that toy is their responsibility.

This method keeps your home clean and tidy and teaches your children the value of personal responsibility. It’s a win-win!

  1. Stay simple!

When working with your children, it’s best to keep things simple.

Using a visual aid, as with the Toy Checkout System, works well because it’s straightforward for them to understand and stick to.

When clearing up clutter, the last thing you want to do is overcomplicate things and create mental clutter.

You might think that a 15-step colour-coded table for different toy categories is fun (we do too!) But it will just lead to confusion and inertia from your children.

Keep things as efficient as possible. Ensure you have organisational systems but keep them as simple as possible.

Don’t have time to clean?

At Merry Maids UK, we know you don’t always have the time to clean or keep things organised – especially as a parent.

That’s where we come in. For parents who struggle to find the time to do the cleaning, our top tip is to call in the professionals!

With over 30 years as domestic cleaning experts, our maids take care of the cleaning to the highest possible standard, so you have more time to spend with your loved ones and less time worrying about cleaning.

Whether it’s a regular clean or you’re just a one-off tidy-up, we have you covered. Our maids have the right know-how, equipment, and training to deliver the best standard every time.

See how we could help you by calling 0800 021 3072 or finding your nearest Merry Maids business today.

Or, for one-off cleans, you can book online in select locations for a quick and easy cleaning experience.

Fun Cleaning Games For Kids

Entertaining kids in the evenings and weekends is a difficult task, but have you thought about making cleaning fun for the kids?

We’ve put our heads together and come up with a list of fun cleaning games that your kids will enjoy!

fun cleaning kids

 

Fill Up Fun

Fill Up Fun is all about recycling, although the first part of this game may be boring for the kids so you might want to do this!

  • Wash and dry the plastic and other recyclable items ready for recycling (Do this beforehand for the kids)
  • Split all the recycling into two equal piles
  • Place the recycling bin a short distance away from the piles
  • See who can get their recycling into the bin quick enough
  • Alternatively, see who can throw the plastic items into the bin from the greatest distance

This would be fun for adults, let alone the kids! Haha!

Spot The Recycling

Another bit of recycling fun for the kids is to firstly give them two bin bags each; one for recycling and the other for general waste.

Get your children to walk around the house and put in their bags what rubbish they think should be recycled and what should be thrown into general waste.

This can help with a bit of family exercise as well, especially if you do a timed race and see who has the most amount of items in the correct bags in the allotted time period.

Fold It Fast

This one is quite an easy one, but yet fun for the kids, as it doesn’t involve much setting up.

You will need:

  • A pile of clean, dry washing
  • Two or more enthusiastic children
  • A parent to supervise

All this game involves is for you to show the kids how to fold the laundry and then time them to see who can fold the most amount of items in the chosen time.

Kids Clear Out

A good clear out of old items needs to be done completed on a regular basis, especially with growing kids in the house.

As kids grow up they go off certain toys, books or games etc, and also as adults, we love to keep things we don’t need!

  • Go through the whole house putting items in three piles
    – Keep Pile
    – Charity Pile
    – Throw Pile
  • Get your kids to go through their old items and get rid of anything they don’t want anymore (if it’s broken throw it and if it’s still intact give it to charity)
  • While they’re doing this, you can go through some of your own things that you may not want to clutter the house with
  • Once all of the items have been put into piles, check to see if the kids have put things in the correct piles
  • Let your children bag the items and anything going to the local charity store, take them with you so they can hand over the bag

We’re sure there are plenty more cleaning games that can get kids liking cleaning, so if you know of any, let us know by sharing this post on social with your game idea!

If you’ve exhausted yourself and your kids playing all these games, then give your local Merry Maids a call to help with the housework so you can live life’s moments.

5 Tips On Keeping Your House Clean With Kids

5 Tips on keeping your house clean with kids

Most parents sit down after a long day and remember how easy it was keeping your house clean before you had those precious little pains in the backside. However much you love your kids, cleaning up after them really is a chore in itself!

Child Playing

There are a few quick little tips that you can teach your kids to do that will really cut down the workload of picking up all of their toys yourself. Now I’ve got your attention! Here goes:

Make a daily chore checklist

This is one for you all to take away and implement straight away. You may not think so, but children like structure just as much as us adults do and implementing a daily chore checklist can really help.

Implementing a daily store checklist needs to have quick and easy jobs at the start and then more jobs can be added once your child gets older and used to the current chores.

For example:

Chores for young kids:

  • Put toys back in the toybox
  • Place dirty clothes in the washing basket
  • Get shoes on the shoe rack

Chores for older kids:

  • Make bed
  • Set the table for dinner
  • Get lunchbox and homework out of school bag

These small chores will make your lives that little bit easier and give you more time for a snuggle with your little one, and of course, that bit of time to yourself when the kids have been put to bed.

Reward your kids

One of the best ways for your children to get used the idea of doing their daily chores is to implement some kind of reward scheme.

For example:

Rewards for young kids:

  • A sticker chart with stars or smiley faces
  • Make them promises to take them to the park (always keep those promises)

Rewards for older kids:

  • Give them 15 minutes of time on their technology
  • Play with them in the garden for half an hour

The best reward for the older kids in the world we live in today is to change the password for the Wi-Fi every day, once their chores have been completed, give them the password to have a small amount of time on the internet.

Make cleaning fun

Yes, cleaning can be fun! Here are a quick few ways of making cleaning fun for your children:

For the younger children:

  • Put on a song like the Tidy Up Rhumba which your kids really will love and dance along to while cleaning!
  • If you have more than one child, let them compete to see who can tidy up first!
  • Let them organise their toys by colour or type

For the older children:

  • Put on their favourite songs, like a Little Mix track or something along those lines. (The Tidy Up Rhumba does work on older kids sometimes as well)!
  • Let the older ones compete as well, it may be a bit more competitive, but it will eventually get done!

Don’t let chores be a punishment

If you tell your child to do a chore as a punishment, this will turn a chore into a negative and not a positive. Instead of making them do a chore, put them on the naughty step and then encourage them to do their chores after you have let them play for a bit and take their mind off being naughty.

Make it a habit

Make sure your children get used to doing your selected chores every single day to ensure they stick in their minds. They will eventually do this on their own, without you having to tell them and also not expect a reward every time as well.

 

After all of this you don’t have time to keep the other parts of your house clean, then give your local Merry Maids a call. Find your local Merry Maids here.

If you have a quick 2 minutes – One of our franchises, Kingston Merry Maids has just celebrated receiving an award for their staff, read the full story here.