Cleaning schedule
Cleaning schedule for families
A family cleaning schedule gives parents the big jobs and children small, regular chores that suit their age. With more people at home, the kitchen, toilet and laundry come round more often than for two. Put the schedule where everyone sees it, keep the children's chores short and swap them every few weeks.
Chores by age
| Age | Chores that often work |
|---|---|
| 3 to 5 | Toys in the box, dirty clothes in the laundry basket, napkins on the table |
| 6 to 8 | Lay and clear the table, make their own bed, pair socks, water the plants |
| 9 to 12 | Empty the dishwasher, vacuum their own room, take the bins out, pack their own bag |
| 13 and up | Their own laundry, cook one meal a week, do the bathroom or toilet, go to the shops |
Sample week for a family of four
| Day | Parent 1 | Parent 2 | Children |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | A load of washing | Sweep the kitchen floor | Lay the table |
| Tuesday | Bathroom and toilet | Tidy the toys | |
| Wednesday | A load of washing, hob | Empty the dishwasher | |
| Thursday | Vacuum downstairs | Lay the table | |
| Friday | A load of washing, toilet | Tidy their own room | |
| Saturday | Mop, fridge | Vacuum upstairs, bedding | Change their own bed with help |
| Sunday | Off | Off | Off |
Toilet and laundry two or three times a week, because more people use them.
How to keep it going
- One regular chore per child per day, not five
- At a set time: after dinner or before screen time
- Swap chores every two or four weeks
- Say thanks for doing it, not for doing it perfectly
- Parents share the thinking too: who keeps the schedule up to date?
How SortYourMind does it
Each family member their own plan
With SortYourMind Family, up to five people each get their own account with their own plan, for 59 euros a year. There is no shared task list: everyone sees their own rooms, routines and free time. So a teenager plans their chore around their own timetable.
- Up to 5 accounts, each with their own plan
- Routines on their rhythm, for children too
- Works in the browser on any phone, tablet and computer
No card needed. Basic stays free. Works in the browser on any device.