Did you know there is one habit that once incorporated into your family’s daily routine, can make the biggest impact in your home’s maintenance?
It’s what I call a “Courtesy Cleanup” and it’s a real game-changer!
What is a Courtesy Cleanup?
Years ago, when my husband and I were newly married, he would sometimes say, “Let’s do a quick courtesy cleanup before we leave.” Since then the term ‘Courtesy Cleanup’ just stuck and we’ve been saying it ever since.
A courtesy cleanup is a daily act of putting every item that is out of it’s designated “stored” location back to its proper location. Ideally this task involves all family members participation. For many families, they can complete a courtesy cleanup in about 5-10 minutes. That’s it!
Anytime our kids hear us say, “Time for a courtesy cleanup,” they know that they need to stop whatever activity they’re doing and come into our living room. We then give each child an assigned room or task to do. They have learned that if they want to return to their toys or video games, they must complete the task assigned and make sure items are stored back where they belong.
A courtesy cleanup is not a difficult chore, it is a simple once a day, or for some families with young kids, a few times a day task of gathering items that are out of their “stored” location and simply putting them back to their “stored” location. When every item in your home has a place, it makes this task easy and simple.
Incorporating daily courtesy clean-ups is essential in maintaining your home’s order and its organizational system. By designating a time in your family/or personal daily routine to do a courtesy cleanup, it allows your home to re-stabilize and gain its center again. The peace and joy we feel in our homes come from maintaining that center of order.
Furthermore, this daily task builds positive family habits and helps establish a stronger memory for where items belong in your home. Over time the repetition of courtesy cleanups will influence your children’s skills of how to properly put items away.
When every item in your home has a place, it makes this task easy and simple.
To begin creating this powerful change in your home and family routine, start Incorporating at Least ONE Courtesy Cleanup Each Day!
Here’s a Few Tips to Keep in Mind:
Start with one courtesy clean-up a day.
Encourage all family members to cleanup together.
Try doing a courtesy cleanup after meal times when the family is all together.
Assign kids’ simple rooms or tasks that are age appropriate.
If the family needs some motivation, make it a game! Set a timer and pump up the music.
Keep it short and sweet. Try to limit the cleanup time to 5-10 minutes.
A Few Side Notes for Parents:
Remember this isn’t a deep clean. This is a quick pick-up of items that are left out and putting them back where they belong.
When family members put an item away in the wrong place, show them where it belongs for next time.
Be creative and have fun with courtesy clean-up times.
Set higher responsibilities as your children get older and gain more skill in their organization habits. Positive rewards and encouragement goes a long way.
Lastly, discuss as a family how courtesy cleanups have helped maintain the home better and why they’re important.
By designating a time in your family/or personal daily routine to do a courtesy cleanup, it allows your home to re-stabilize and gain its center again.
Furthermore, this daily task builds positive family habits and helps establish a stronger memory for where items belong in your home.
Over time the repetition of courtesy cleanups will influence your children’s skills of how to properly put items away. Talk about awesome!
The peace and joy we feel in our homes come from maintaining that center of order. It’s a simple daily act that really packs a punch and makes a huge impact on the home’s day-to-day maintenance.
Establishing Courtesy Cleanups May just be the Best Thing you ever do for your Home’s Maintenance.
Go get em’ Team!
-Katie
For FREE Courtesy Cleanup Hands-on Worksheets, go to https://yoursimplyhome.com/courtesy-cleanup/
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