Visual Chore Cards Cleaning Routine
I got the idea for creating individual flash cards to create a chore cards system for my cleaning routine because I love checklists. I love being able to feel like I have really accomplished something without the only sign of a completed job just being a wiped down toilet seat. However, I wanted something more visual and more flexible to change as it might need to then a list. I also didn’t want to have to write a new checklist all the time with all my different cleaning routine jobs that needed to be done.
Creating the Chore Cards
I had decided to make a list of all the jobs that needed to be done around the home over a week, month, even tasks during the year like air filter replacements and rotating clothes from the closets for the seasons. Once I had my list, I assigned each weekday a specific room of the house. For example, Thursday would be my day to clean the bathrooms.聽I grouped together similar rooms as I work better when I’m doing the same job together. Then, instead of having to wash a toilet-a-day I could do it just one day of the week and thankfully be done! Plus, it makes it easier to gather together all the supplies I need for the area I’m focusing on and not have to worry about. I also included cards for my everyday reminders like wiping down the kitchen counter and taking vitamins, weekly reminders including taking out the trash to the curb, jobs for specific months such as replacing air filters, and so on.
I then organized my chore cards into a card box and created simple dividers separating my jobs out by categories such as day or frequency. When a cleaning day began, I’d pull out all the jobs I needed to get done that day and challenge myself to see how quickly I could complete them all or give myself reward incentives (yeah, those work for adults too!) if I finished all the jobs for the day. I’d start the day with 5 or so tasks specific to the days cleaning assignment and file them back away when I finished off the jobs for the day. It was so nice to see my chore cards dwindle away until I finished my last job and felt great knowing how much I had already accomplished!
Since I wanted the chore cards to be something that would last for a long time I also decided to laminate my cards with a home laminating machine. It was a bit of a task and definitely something extra but I love how beautiful my cards look and they stay clean, too. You could also fancy up your cards by writing with colorful markers or using colored index cards like I used on my kids chore cards. If you’re going to laminate your cards, try index card sized laminating pouches so they all end up uniform in size.
Chore Cards with Kids
I have four little boys ages 6 and under and sometimes it can be hard to motivate my kids to help me around the house. They LOVE their chore cards, though, and get excited to file them away and be able to show off all they’ve done! I included fun jobs along with their regular chores such as “Play with Daddy” that’s a great reminder to both my husband and my kids to spend some quality time together. Which, in this house that usually means wrestling, tossing kids onto a bean bag, or some kind of superhero action. I also chose colorful cards with a specific color for each of my boys so their cards are bright and fun for them and also easy for them to quickly notice which cards are theirs even if they are not yet reading. Also, come and print my free printable Age-Appropriate Chores for Kids list! Also come see my tips on how to聽clean your home聽quickly and easily!
What are your tips to help you remember all the cleaning jobs that need to get done around your home?
This chore cards system looks very useful. Thanks for sharing!
I like your idea! I usually make a list and try to do it all, or start again the next day!This is more do able and organized as well! Plus I like that your system can be stored and is permanent!
I pretty much just remember everything in my head, and I unfortunately don’t have any chore system in place for my 5 yr old. This is an excellent idea, and I definitely want to try it!!
Nathansmommy619(At)aol(dot)com
nice idea, you are so organized! I hate cleaning, but I love checklists and finishing tasks so this might actually help me
I like this idea! It’s so hard to get the kids do their chores sometimes.
What a great way to get motivated and see that you are actually accomplishing something when you are doing all these little jobs.
This is a great idea, whoever thought about it, is a genius.
That’s a really good idea.I had a chore chart when my daughter was younger,she’d get a sticker to put on each chore she did all wk then I’d take her to get herself something at the store. I can just look in a room and see what needs to be done.Lol! I have a 1 bdrm so it’s easy.My daughter comes over and helps me do things I can’t do myself due to back issues. I really like your idea with the cards and lamenating is good too. Thank you 馃檪
I really think these are a great idea!! I think this would be fabulous for getting my kids to help cleaning.
This seems like a great idea, but I’d be afraid I’d be overwhelmed by the number of things I have to do and become unable to do any of them. (And I wonder why I’m ashamed of my house…)
this is neat!!! (no pun intented) ill have the boys decide what color they want their cards to be
I really like this idea! I like how visual and concrete it is. Smart!
What a great idea! I think I might use this organizational tool for myself:)
what an awsome idea, when my teen gets home from school she calls me and says what do you want me to do, i telkl her just do your regular chores, she says ok, well when i get home nothing was done, so she says i have to write it down for her so she remembers so this would be awsome for her,lol, thanks so much for the great idea
Such a good idea. I have tried several chart systems over the years. Now, things are simple because they are pretty much assigned the same chores for a long time.
no really. do you want to come to my house and organize us! and show me how to impliment all this? this is fantasitc! and thank you for such great ideas!
That is such a great idea! It seems to actually motivate and actually look forward to the chores.
I just assign each day one area of the house.. mondays are clean the living room day, tuesdays are clean the bathroom day, and so on. But this is much better and organized!
What a great idea!
I no longer have children in my home, but I have aroutine and I try to stick to it. I do like the idea of rewarding myself if I can get the chores done more quickly. Ithink that most kids would like the chore cards especially if there are incentives and rewards attached to doing the chores.
I don’t have children but I do have a routine I try to stick to.
hahaha the kids would love to leave chore cards for us, wouldn’t they??? “READ TWO stories” “Give us chocolate milk and a cookie”. Now, if only someone would tell me the secret to getting a husband to actually DOING anything? That would be great.
I’ve tried stuff like this and it never seems to work for me…unfortunately.
This is a great way to have everyone pitch in and it can be fun for all. The kids would never get bored having to do the same “job” every day or week.
This is a wonderful idea!
What a great idea! I might try that myself-thanks
i dont have kids, so i dont have any chores for them to do, however, it would be good to keep track of personal and finanacial things as well as my girls health information (dogs)
These chore cards are great! I love how you laminated them so they will last!!
This is such a great system. I modified it for myself and just use one sheet of paper, but it is totally working for me when everything else failed. My home was a disaster, and I couldn’t keep up with it! The first week was hardest, getting everything started, but after 3 days sticking with it, I knew it was something that would work for me. I’m now on my 3rd week I think, and my house has never been so organized, clean, and uncluttered! THANK YOU!
This is a very organized way to attack your chores. I would have liked to have done this with my kids when they were younger.
ok,that is great,I wish I had done this when my kids were still at home
I think chore cards are a great idea! I love this, I have to bookmark it for later.
This is a great idea! I just got a laminator so I will definitely copy this idea!!! 馃檪
I do them by rooms per day too, but your idea of using cards for repeated tasks is so smart!
Wow! I love this. I am a visual person too and think something like this would be perfect for me. Thanks Janel!
That is really a good idea, Janel. I am a big list maker so I have chore lists. 馃檪
This is a really cool idea. I think that many people, myself included, feel overwhelmed about cleaning, but this is a really nice way to break things down into smaller tasks that feel more doable. I’m excited to try this out.
Yes, for me I needed to break it down to really see that I was getting a lot done and even just to stay focused on my task!
I write my to do list on my iphone but this is an amazing way to get the kids involved in house work!