From Chaos to Clarity: Our Family’s Chore Chart Makeover
If your kids are anything like mine, asking them to clean their rooms can feel like shouting into the void. You walk in afterward and find socks in the toy box, books under the bed, and enough snack wrappers to feed a small army. Sound familiar?
I knew we needed a better system—one that didn’t rely on vague directions like “make it look nice.” So, I created a simple, visual chore chart and deep cleaning checklist system that holds everyone accountable (without me having to nag).
When my kids were little, we loved picture chore charts. They were a game changer for teaching responsibility in a fun way. (You can still grab those printables [HERE] if you’ve got little ones!) But now that my crew is older, they needed something a bit more grown-up and detailed.
The Problem: Vague Chore Expectations = Shoved-Under-the-Bed Chaos
If you’ve ever asked your kids to “clean their room” only to find every random sock and Lego shoved under the bed, into the closet, or jammed into drawers…you know the struggle. I needed a system that was crystal clear. No more “I didn’t know I had to wipe the baseboards!” excuses.
The Solution: DIY Deep Cleaning Checklists + Magnetic Chore Chart
We call them “deep cleaning jobs” in our house. Each child is assigned a room to deep clean once a week—ours is Monday. The rest of the week? They’re just in charge of keeping it tidy.
Here’s how it works:
- I reused my DIY magnetic key holder and repurposed it into our chore chart. Learn now to make it HERE.
- Each child has a magnet (we’re still short a couple—note to self: add magnets to shopping list). I think I’m going to grab these magnets from amazon. They look like the perfect size to use a permanent marker on to write my kids names.
- The magnets get rotated clockwise each week by me only—so there’s no arguing about who had what room last week.
- When the child see’s which room they are in charge of, they grab the checklist for that room and get to cleaning.
I actually made our magnetic chore chart from a DIY magnetic key holder project I shared a while ago. It turned out to be the perfect base for this cleaning system! If you want to make your own, you can check out that tutorial [HERE].
The Rooms We Rotate:
We don’t include every room in the house, just the main ones the kids help maintain. Each child also gets a personalized Bedroom Cleaning Checklist so expectations are crystal clear there, too.
Mom Tip: When kids know exactly what’s expected, they’re so much more likely to do the job right the first time. Checklists are magic.
How to Make Your Own Chore Chart System
Ready to make your own snazzy DIY family cleaning system? Here’s how to get started:
Supplies You’ll Need:
- Printable Deep Cleaning Checklists (download them [HERE]—be sure to unzip the file before using)
- Laminator – you can get one for only about $30. I use mine a lot and I t’s been worth having my own.
- Hole punch
- Colorful key rings (mine are from Walmart, but these Amazon ones open up easily!)
- Dry erase markers
- Tiny drill bit
- That DIY magnetic key holder (tutorial [HERE]) Or you can use your fridge and hang the checklists using these hooks to place under your room chart.
Step-by-Step Instructions:
- Print and laminate your checklists.
- Punch a hole in the corner of each laminated checklist.
- Attach a key ring to each one.
- Use a small drill bit to make a hole in the lid of a dry erase marker.
- Thread the lid onto the key ring. Now the marker stays put!
Boom. Done.
Hang everything up, assign deep cleaning day (we love Monday), and stay consistent. Your future self will thank you.
Bonus: Use With My “Brain Box Binder” Cleaning Printables
If you already use my Brain Box Binder printables, this system fits in perfectly. It makes your whole home feel a little more organized—and your kids a lot more responsible.
You’ve got this, mama. And hey, if your kids still try to sneak junk under the bed, at least now you’ve got a checklist to call ’em out with. 😉
Comment below if you’re going to try this in your home—or share your favorite chore hacks!
You might also like:
🧩 Chore Cards {Chore Flip Charts} For Young Children
These handy chore cards are laminated, hole-punched, and easy to customize. Great for teaching kids step-by-step expectations in each room. tipsfromatypicalmomblog.com
🎉 10 Tips to Make Cleaning Fun for Kids
Need some creativity to keep chores lighthearted? This post is packed with games, timers, and rewards to turn cleaning into a kid-friendly experience. Check out this post HERE.
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