Let’s be real, moms. Getting kids to help out with chores can feel like dragging a boulder uphill while juggling flaming swords. But with a little creativity (and maybe a sprinkle of unhinged genius), you’d be surprised how quickly you can turn things around. Recently, I got a peek at some of the wildest hacks moms are using to make cleaning fun for their kids. These ideas are equal parts clever and chaotic, and I am HERE for them.
Kids Cleaning Motivation Hack #1: Toys That “Run Away”
@Sasha shared this absolute classic move that’s equal parts savage and genius. “My mom hid all my dolls and stuffed animals and said they ran away because my room was dirty. They even ‘sent a postcard’ from another kid’s clean room. I cleaned it, and once my room was spotless, they returned.”
This hack is so elaborate, I almost want to applaud her mom for the sheer commitment. However, I feel like this would have traumatized me as a kid!
Cleaning Motivation for Kids Hack #2: Go Shopping… in Their Own Room
@Mamaslittledreams shared her sneaky solution for messy floors: “I gave my daughter a bag and told her to go shopping for toys at her own house. Five minutes later, she picked up everything off the floor and put it in her bag.”
This is such a simple way to tap into kids’ imagination. You could level this up by turning it into a “shopping spree” where they “buy” their favorite toys by putting them in those cute shopping bags I know you’ve been saying. You could even let them pretend to record a “haul” video where they put everything away as the show their pretend audience what they got.
Kids Cleaning Motivation Hack #4: Fairy Tale Cleanup Magic
Cas’s house might as well be Disney World. She said, “We play Cinderella. They clean while I yell in a funny voice. They love it, and my house gets clean. We also do Sleeping Beauty, where they have to go lie down with their eyes closed for 10 minutes. And guess what? 99% of the time, they fall asleep!”
I mean, who doesn’t want fairytale vibes while scrubbing the countertops? Add some magic by playing songs from their favorite Disney soundtracks.
And if you’re feeling really extra, try Cinderella Sundays like @TrixR4kidz does. “We clean all morning, then they wear their princess dresses to a fancy candlelight dinner followed by a dance party ball.”
Honestly, I’m tempted to make this a weekly thing for myself! I love the live action version of Cinderella that Disney did (arguable the only live action they did right!) but I digress. This would be so much fun.
Kids Cleaning Hack #5: Gamify the Laundry
Marlene’s mom turned laundry into a game. “She dumped all the socks on the floor and sat us around them. Whoever found the most pairs won. We had so much fun, and she didn’t have to sort them!”
Moms, if you dread folding endless piles of laundry, incorporate some friendly competition. You could even create silly sock awards (Best Matchmaker, Speediest Sock Folder, etc.) for added fun.
Teen Cleaning Motivation Hack: Creepy Crawlies for the Win
When it comes to messy teens, Sasha (yes, another Sasha) takes no prisoners. “I sprinkled black rice here and there and told them they were attracting mice.”
If you want some other versions of this prank, you could try cotton balls stained with tea (fake “spider eggs”) stashed in corners, or enlist plastic bugs for guaranteed shrieks and motivation. But…please don’t traumatize your teens! All in good fun only y’all. ;P
Kids Cleaning Hack #6 The Trash Man Cometh
Vanessa shared this scare tactic “I told my kids a trash man comes into the house at night to get our trash for the day. If there are toys on the floor, the trash man will think the toys are trash and throw them out.”
Pro tip from the internet mom vaults? Keep an “underground toy jail.” The toys that the “trash man” supposedly collects go into the toy jail and can only be bailed out with a chore or a clean room. Kids love earning back their toys, and you get a cleaner house in the process.
Hack #7 Laser Toy Patrol
That’s right, we’ve entered high-tech territory thanks to Life’s a Glitch, who said, “I used a laser pointer to slowly scan for missed toys as a robot. Any toy I found with my laser got confiscated unless the kids cleaned it up before I did.”
This idea is gold. Not only does it turn pickup time into a race, but it also adds giggles when moms put on their best robot voices. Extra points if you search for toys in the dark with a flashlight beam for extra drama.
Hack #8. “Guny Sack Is Watching”
Multiple moms chimed in with some version of “The Gunny Sack Is Coming.” Whether it’s toys being eaten by the sack or simply taken away forever, kids seem to freak out just enough to make pickup time quick and efficient.
Hack #9 Motivation for Moms and Kids
Getting your Kids to do Chores Just Got Easier (and Way More Fun)
Tired of the tantrums and battles over cleaning? Wrangling kids into chores feels impossible, but what if they actually wanted to tidy up? That’s where my Cowboy Cleanup Kids Podcast Cleaning Routine comes in.
Meet Your New Secret Weapon
Part of my Domestic Daydreams Radio Shows, Cowboy Cleanup turns tidying into a Wild West adventure. Featuring Wild Bill Hickok, this 1950s-style audio program transforms chores into “adventures” for your kids, teaching them good habits (and getting them into a cleaning routine!) while making cleaning genuinely enjoyable.
- No More Nagging: Kids jump into a cleaning routine with a smile.
- Make It a Routine: Goodbye chaos, hello consistency. The built-in structure keeps your home organized.
- Free Time for YOU: While they clean, you can actually relax (or tackle your own projects!).
Bonus for Moms
Domestic Daydreams Radio also has audio shows just for you, pairing cleaning routines with the drama of old Hollywood or thrilling suspense stories. You’re guided through a 30 minute cleaning routine while listening to old time radio shows!
Get your free episodes!
Grab your free Cowboy Cleanup episodes here, and see how fast the mess disappears.