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How can I Make my Kids Clean Their Messy Bedrooms?

Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen

Messy bedrooms and kids seem to go hand in hand. Bill Cosby in many of his comic monologues used to call his mother the best judge of pigsties that had ever existed, and she would judge his bedroom as the worst looking pigsty she had ever seen. It can be difficult to make kids clean messy bedrooms; it’s easier if you establish good habits when they're young.

When children are young, you can institute several rules to help avoid messy bedrooms. Even children at the age of two or three can begin to understand certain things, though they will need help to keep their bedrooms clean. One important rule, especially when a child has many toys, is the following: Put away the current toy before you take out another. It can help to have defined places to store each type of toy like plastic bins and baskets. If a child has little storage space and a lot of toys, it’s going to be difficult to keep things clean.

Add a laundry basket to a child's room to encourage a tidier bedroom.
Add a laundry basket to a child's room to encourage a tidier bedroom.

Think of the first few years as a learning process and do not assign too many chores in these early years. Hundreds of toys littering a bedroom floor may seem overwhelming to a toddler. When a messy bedroom has really gotten out of hand, it may be too much for toddlers to clean on their own and they will need your help. Try to make helping and cleaning a fun experience instead of a negative one. Don’t forget to praise the child quite a bit for being so helpful.

Checklists may help encourage children to finish chores.
Checklists may help encourage children to finish chores.

As kids get a little older, you can add to their list of chores and rules about avoiding messing bedrooms. Children as young as four or five may be taught to make beds (probably with a little help), and you can let them know that you expect toys to be put away after use. Discourage things like eating in bedrooms, which tends to create more mess.

Establishing a work before play rule may be helpful in making kids clean messy bedrooms.
Establishing a work before play rule may be helpful in making kids clean messy bedrooms.

Another good chore to teach at this time is care of dirty laundry. If the child’s room is big enough, have a laundry basket in the room. If not, instruct children to bring dirty laundry to a central laundry basket or washroom each day. Children slightly older can begin vacuuming, and even washing windows they can reach with a safe vinegar and water solution.

It's often helpful to store each type of toy in plastic bins or baskets.
It's often helpful to store each type of toy in plastic bins or baskets.

A simple “we work before we play” rule helps children understand that privileges like TV watching, visiting parks, or having computer time depend upon avoiding messy bedrooms. When children can’t follow these rules, instead of negative incentives, merely state that privileges must be earned and the work before play rule is always in place. Practice what you preach, because children will soon learn to make a comparison between the state of your room and the house and your activities. If you play before you work, don’t expect a child to do anything differently.

If parents don't teach good habits early on, kids may be less likely to clean their rooms.
If parents don't teach good habits early on, kids may be less likely to clean their rooms.

When children won’t follow this rule, and messy bedrooms stay messy, there are some solutions to help keep them cleaner. You can, as Dr. Phil suggests, get real with kids. If they won’t clean up their toys within a specified and reasonable time, remove toys from the room and put them in storage for a while, until children can demonstrate their ability to clean up. Really stay on the work before play rule and reduce privileges, but always remember that younger children may need more help than older children. Don’t expect a pre-schooler to fully clean; instead, clean with them.

If you haven’t enforced these rules when kids are younger, messy bedrooms may be a common sight, especially among pre-teens and teens. It’s not too late, but it will take some talking and teaching of a child to help keep rooms neat. Have places to store things like important homework, toys, and books, and have a good laundry basket in the room or teach kids to clean the room of all dirty laundry once daily. Work before play applies to teens as well as younger children, and if necessary, removes play items from rooms like TVs or computers until kids get this concept.

Discourage or ban eating in bedrooms, possibly limiting kids to having a water glass in their rooms, and let them know you expect any glasses to be placed in the sink or dishwasher each day. Teach or reteach making beds, and if needed, have a checklist that children can mark off each day. You may encounter some resistance at first, but most kids are able to come up to task, especially if messy bedrooms get in the way of their usual amusements.

Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen

Tricia has a Literature degree from Sonoma State University and has been a frequent WiseGEEK contributor for many years. She is especially passionate about reading and writing, although her other interests include medicine, art, film, history, politics, ethics, and religion. Tricia lives in Northern California and is currently working on her first novel.

Learn more...
Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen

Tricia has a Literature degree from Sonoma State University and has been a frequent WiseGEEK contributor for many years. She is especially passionate about reading and writing, although her other interests include medicine, art, film, history, politics, ethics, and religion. Tricia lives in Northern California and is currently working on her first novel.

Learn more...

Discussion Comments

baileybear

@lmorales - I would probably start with when you first move in, seriously. Painting bedrooms can leave behind a lot of messes and you want to make sure you take care of that sort of basic decoration before even sleeping in the room. People who rent bedrooms or apartments might not necessarily be able to do that so I suggest investing in shelving, hooks, buckets, boxes, hangers, whatever it takes to get you - and keep you - organized. There are a lot of great creations out there.

lmorales

@baileybear - I agree on the teen aspect. As far as messy bedroom, decor can definitely play a big role in that as well... so another point I agree with. My messy bedroom usually starts with unfolded, but clean, laundry. I hate folding and it just keeps piling up. Most of the time to the point where it's all over the floor so I just have to wash it again. What would you suggest for getting organized?

baileybear

@anon78103 - I think teens might be more problematic when it comes to cleaning a room than younger children! In many bedrooms, decorations can be a big issue because papers or posters and things can always end up on the floor. Other than that, I think laundry is also a big issue. Starting and staying organized is definitely key. Oh, an a little incentive (like going out with your friends) doesn't hurt either.

anon78103

well this would work, but teens hate it (trust me i am a teen). i probably have the messiest bedroom in the world. i get grounded re-grounded: no TV, no music, no friends, no computer, but right now i am logging off line, and turning up the tunes with a laundry basket, and a trash bag so i can go out with my friends next friday (we go out to dinner and then to one of our houses; it is a routine).

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    • Add a laundry basket to a child's room to encourage a tidier bedroom.
      By: Brian Jackson
      Add a laundry basket to a child's room to encourage a tidier bedroom.
    • Checklists may help encourage children to finish chores.
      By: Arman Zhenikeyev
      Checklists may help encourage children to finish chores.
    • Establishing a work before play rule may be helpful in making kids clean messy bedrooms.
      By: Joseph Helfenberger
      Establishing a work before play rule may be helpful in making kids clean messy bedrooms.
    • It's often helpful to store each type of toy in plastic bins or baskets.
      By: Iriana Shiyan
      It's often helpful to store each type of toy in plastic bins or baskets.
    • If parents don't teach good habits early on, kids may be less likely to clean their rooms.
      By: prudkov
      If parents don't teach good habits early on, kids may be less likely to clean their rooms.