Cleaning Checklist for Kids’ Rooms
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Hand your kids this printable cleaning checklist for kids’ rooms. They’ll stay on task while getting the job done, so you can be proud of their work.
Does this sound familiar? You tell your kids to clean their rooms. They disappear for a while, then come back to say it’s clean. You check, and their room looks no different. It might even look worse. You tell them their room is still messy. They say, “But I did clean it!” And then the tears start.
The problem with telling kids to clean their rooms is that they have no idea what’s involved. In their minds, putting away a few toys and pulling the bed cover over rumpled sheets is enough. You know it takes more than that, though.
Why Use a Cleaning Checklist for Kids’ Rooms?
No one wants to micromanage kids when they’re doing chores. It’s demoralizing for them. It’s time-consuming for you. Plus, it doesn’t help them remember the steps for themselves. They’ll continue to rely on you to tell them what to do next. That’s why I came up with a cleaning checklist for children’s bedrooms. (Related: Printable Cleaning Checklists for Every Room.)
It Frees Up YOUR Time
Sure, you could tell them step-by-step. If you don’t mind getting interrupted every five minutes, that is. But then you have to keep track of what step they’re on, too. Meanwhile, you’re busy trying to get stuff done or maybe even trying to relax for a change.
It Helps Them Learn and Remember
You know from experience that doing a task the same way every time, several times in a row, helps you memorize it. That’s true with cleaning checklists, too. Once your kids start following this bedroom cleaning routine, they start remembering it.
Ready to love your home again?
That’s when they’ll know that cleaning a room involves more than hiding messes. (Not just their bedroom, either.) They’ll also have learned the best order for cleaning things. So they’ll know to put things away before they dust and to dust before vacuuming.
Work Together the First Time
It’s best if you work with your child on this bedroom cleaning routine the first time. That way, you can answer any questions they have. Working together lets you see if any step is too hard for them, in which case you might need to make adjustments.
Or, if your child is old enough, let them read the steps below for themselves. (It’s written for kids.) It helps explain all of the steps they should take. After they’ve done it at least one time, give them the printable checklist at the very end of this article. Then do something you enjoy while they clean!
Cleaning Routine for Kids’ Bedrooms
What you need to clean your room:
- Two bags or boxes
- Cleaning cloths
- Furniture polish*
- Glass cleaner*
- Fresh bedsheets and pillowcases
- A vacuum cleaner with attachments
* Find my non-toxic homemade cleaning recipes here.
Here’s what to do:
1. Get your bags ready to sort stuff: Mark one box/bag “Trash” and the other “Return.”
2. Pick up all trash: Start at the door and work to your right. Pick up all trash and put it in the “Trash” bag. Open drawers and look for stuff to throw away. (Close them afterward.) Once you’ve gone around the room, look under your bed for more. Look in your closet, too. Now, set the bag outside your bedroom door.
3. Find everything that belongs in another room. Things that belong elsewhere include dishes, water glasses, and towels. Put these in the bag marked “Return.” Do this in the same order you followed with the trash. Start at the door and work to the right, then under your bed and in your closet. Put this bag outside your bedroom door, too.
4. Put away things that are on the floor. Toys left on the floor look messy. You might trip on them and get hurt or step on them and break them. Put them in the toy box, on shelves, or wherever they belong. Pick up dirty clothes and put them in the hamper. Put clean clothes away in the closet or dresser. Put your shoes in your closet, too.
5. Put away things on your desk, dresser and nightstand. If you like to keep homework or books where you can find them, arrange them in stacks. Things look much cleaner when stacked nicely instead of sprawled all over. Continue working until all flat surfaces in your room are neat and tidy.
6. Dust your furniture. Get one cleaning cloth very lightly wet. It should not be dripping water everywhere. Use this cloth to clean up the dust. Start at your door and work to the right. Wipe each piece of furniture like your desk, dresser, and nightstand. Don’t just wipe messes you see — wipe the whole surface. Clean the windowsills, too!
7. Clean the glass. Spray the mirror with a little glass cleaner. Use a fresh, dry cloth to wipe the mirror from top to bottom.
8. Change the bed. Pull the cover and sheets off of your bed. Take the pillowcase off the pillow. Now, put on clean sheets and a fresh pillowcase. Smooth the bedspread with your hands and make it look tidy. Put the dirty sheets outside your bedroom door.
9. Time to vacuum. Remember: never use the vacuum to pick up coins, puzzle pieces, Legos, or other objects. It’s only for dirt, dust, and pet hair. Begin at the door and work your way around your room. Go slowly to help the machine get up the most dirt. Get every spot, not just the dirt you see.
10. Almost done! Take your dirty sheets to the laundry room. Take the trash to the garbage can. Go through the bag marked “Return” and put everything where it belongs. Put the vacuum away. Good job!
Printable Cleaning Checklist for Kids’ Rooms
Click on the image below to open a .pdf for printing, or right-click to save it to your device.
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