Top tips for getting the *whole* family (blummin' dh's too!) involved in keeping the place vaguely tidy?

[dandycandyjellybean]

THE TIDY UP BASKET

Set a regular time each day, perhaps just before tea, when everyone has a 10 minute tidy up. Explain to all in the family that anything found lying around after the 10 minute tidy up will go in the 'tidy up basket'. In order to 'release' things from the basket, a (nominal) fine must be paid. The fine can be set according to the age of the family member. The fine money goes into a pot towards family outings or special treats. A fun way to get the whole family involved in keeping the home tidy, and funding those little extras.

Read this in a magazine recently and thought it was a brilliant idea. (The woman said she made the most money from her dh - surprise surprise!) Ds is only 2 so a bit young to implement it yet...but wondered what others did?

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Like the idea a lot. My dh is the WORST ... he is the one who'll make some toast and afterwards there will be, without fail, the bread on the worktop, the bread bin lid next to it, the bread board covered in crumbs, the buttery knife next to it, the butter still out of the fridge. He just doesn't SEE the mess. Drives me insane. Doing some home improvement at the mo so house a tip but will def implement this once we're done.

lol at the toast scenario, just exactly the same in our house, and afterwards the plate gets left next to the mess, complete with any unwanted crusts....can't even chuck 'em in the bin!!! They are total gits aren't they?

Good idea. I've just implemented Ten Commandments in an attempt to get people to clear up after themselves:

1. If you've finished with something, put it back where you got it from
2. If you create rubbish, put it in the bin
3. If you've finished something (eg toilet roll, sugar), replace it
4. If you spill something, wipe it up
5. If there's something of yours on the stairs when you go up/down, take it with you
6. When you leave a room, turn the light off
7. Put dirty washing in the basket when you take it off
8. Put dirty crockery in the dishwasher (or on top if it is running)
9. If a bin is full, empty it
10. If you take off an item of clothing (including shoes/coats) , put it where it belongs

Your idea sounds more fun though (and lucrative )

Oh that sounds a good idea!

We are normally pretty good, and everyone mucks in, but I've been very busy lately on some studying, and the whole think has collapsed utterly; the entire house is a complete, filthy tip! So clearly I am the lynchpin, and without me prodding and cajoling, prompting and reminding nothing at all happens.

wishing chair/cubby - same in my house, except that the plate would also be left in some random place too, though usually at the side of the computer keyboard

Super monkey- you should run a 'boot camp' for dh's!!!!!

It doesn't mean anyone sticks to it, just gives me another reason to fall out with them

DH is the worst offender in our house too. I've taken to putting all the stuff he leaves out on his pillow.

If you really want a lovely house, have a look at flylady.net. Over the top, but it's addictive and it works!Been discussed on here before - that's how I found it.

Oh I'm on FLYlady, just finishing babysteps. It's working really well but unfortunately doesn't deal with useless family members who work hard to undo your efforts!

DH isn't too bad. The way I get him to put his clean clothes away is to leave them on his computer keyboard.