What I generally ask is this:
When i've washed, dried and ironed for hours that ds (the eldest) takes the pile upstairs for me and they both put their own clothes away.
That they dont leave, cups/plates etc all over the place and put them in the sink.
That they put wrappers/rubbish etc in the bin and not throw them on the floor.
If they spill something, wipe it up.
Put toys away (applies more to dd than ds).
Last week I cleared out dd's room, tonight I go in to put her to bed and it was wrecked. Not only this but there was poo on the carpet (yes i'm fully aware of how bad that sounds!). We have a six month old puppy who is not quite housetrained (nearly, but he has an accident now and again) and he's not allowed upstairs but does occasionally sneak through the stairgate when the kids are coming and going. Instead of telling me it was there dd had obviously stepped over it, ds must have noticed it in her doorway on his way to his room and ignored it too.
I told dd how disappointed I was in her that she had messed up her room again, I asked ds how on earth he expects me to allow his friends around and asked him what they'd think if they saw dog shit on the floor. He shrugged and mumbled they would "understand, he has a puppy". wtf?
They just dont have any respect for this house AT ALL...and since when was it acceptable to be so dirty? They've not been brought up to be dirty. In other people's houses they are fine, I get glowing reports about how well behaved and polite they are, the same from school....yet they come back, throw rubbish on the floor and generally use the place as a dumping ground. I'm at my wits end with them.