Ok to make 13 year old daughter clean the bathrooms?

[CourtyardDeniedFumble]

Hi, I just wanted to check if people think it's okay to make my 13 year old daughter clean our 2 bathrooms once a fortnight as it is pretty much only her and her friends that use them, and they have been getting much dirtier recently, not to mention that she probably should be learning to clean bathrooms by now anyway.

As for her other chores: she walks her dog and is responsible for picking up it's poo at home as well; cleans her room; empties the bins; do some of the dishes; and help hoover once a week. (Just in case this seems like I'm overworking her).

She has not been overly in favor of this change (They weren't overly pleasant to clean so I certainly am not going to miss doing it, and I get that she won't be thrilled to do it either), but I just wanted to check that this seems fine to all of you just in case I am being unreasonable.

Given the other jobs she currently does I would not expect her to clean the bathrooms yet.
As long as a young teenager is taking some responsibility in a household then it’s fine. I’m amazed at the amount of parents who wait on their children/teens like servants and have no expectations re responsibility. It’s good she is not palming the dog duties onto her parents as that seems a common theme amongst my friends’ children.
She sounds sensible and helpful.
I would expect bigger jobs such as cleaning the bathroom to be undertaken as she gets a bit older. Maybe nearer 15. It’s the potential mixing of chemicals that concern me and contamination.
Can she help with meal prep/cooking with supervision if using the oven in the meantime?

Up to you OP, she is your child. Personally, while my DD keeps her room tidy and occasionally hoovers or whatever for extra pocket money, I am of Lyn Scavo’s view that my daughter’s job is to be a child. So bathrooms are a No for me.

Interesting that these threads involving children cleaning bathrooms never seem to feature sons cleaning bathrooms. Just daughters.

Yea it's fine, I'm assuming you have an en suite that you clean?

Seems a bit unfair to make her clean it every time if it's the family bathroom though

Of course it is.

My 7 and 9 year olds clean the bathrooms in their rooms. 9 year old often responsible for downstairs loo as he pees all over it and I refuse 🤷‍♀️.
It’s important to me that they grow into capable teenagers and adults. (They also take responsibility for some meals).
they are responsible for their own rooms and bathrooms, and general tasks like emptying a dishwasher. however I do pay them for other chores like cleaning a car for example.

No op. Cleaning the bathroom is your’s and your partner’s job. Children should only have the job of doing well at school and learning to be decent people.

I can’t believe people trot out this ‘learning skills’ bollocks. They have a lifetime to ‘learn’ cleaning - it’s not rocket science.

Exactly - makes me very twitchy when people are resolute about teaching daughters to be expert little domestic slaves by the time they leave school. Depressing.

I posted about my 9 and 7 year old. If it makes you feel better my eldest is male. BUT I agree with you to the extent that I keep seeing posts complaining about mummy’s boys that don’t seem capable of looking after themselves in any way.

It's fine to make a 13yo clean one bathroom but not two. Declare one bathroom off-limits to teenagers (except in emergency) and let her and her friends use the other one, and she is responsible for keeping that one clean. You (and any other adults in the house) use and are responsible for the non-teenager one.

If it’s not rocket science can you explain why we see so many posts about incapable husbands…….

My 11 year old daughter has been cleaning the family bathroom for a couple years now. And my 8 year old son and I work together on the other one with the goal of him doing it on his own at 9 like his sister. They also have other chores as I feel very strongly that a family should work together - I spend almost every evening driving them to clubs and play dates while also working full time so on the weekend all 4 of us get the house cleaned up together.

I would only have her do one bathroom - the one she uses. And encourage her to do it more frequently than fortnightly, just to keep it clean as she goes.

Do you have other DC? Do they do similar levels of chores?

Dont think this is right shes only 13

If it’s not rocket science can you explain why we see so many posts about incapable husbands…….

They're not incapable, they just don't want to, and don't need to, because women will happily do it for them. Guy I know, married for 20 years, did jackshit around the house because his wife cooked, cleaned and shopped. They divorced. He now keeps his house spotless and cooks all his own meals. So he's perfectly capable, and always has been. Just as any man is.

I think she's doing too much for her age.

She's 13, far too much housework for her to do. Get a cleaner if it's too much for you.

Tbh the bathroom should be cleaned as and when in general. . Some things should be done straight after use such as replenishing toilet roll, wiping down shower and picking up and removing as necessary any wet towels. I think all members of a household should be responsible for these things bar any little ones.
If I left my bathroom for two weeks it would be disgusting. As a daily minimum I empty the bin, spray and bleach toilet, wipe round sink and change the hand towel. I expect others to spray shower after use and replace loo roll. It takes a very small amount of time.
Weekly I bleach the entire room including all the tiles. I also scrub the floor with Zoraflora, clean mirrors and shower screen and get rid of empty bottles and tubes.
I think a 13 year old wouldn’t know where to start with a bathroom that hadn’t been touched for two weeks. The grime and dirt in the shower, bath, sink and toilet would be hard to remove. It would take a couple of hours to do properly.
Little and often is easier and of course your daughter can be involved in this as it’s basically tidying and cleaning up her own mess.

I was about to ask how long are people taking over their bathrooms as I can literally do mine in about 20 mins for a deep clean but @Thequeenofwishfulthinking explained. I definitely don't scrub all my tiles ever! 😊.

I think she should be responsible for general upkeep and cleanliness of the bathroom she uses, so Chuck bleach down the loo, wipe around sink and shower after each use. And then a quick hoover at the weekend. If you have cleaning standards like thequeenofwishfulthinking (no criticism at all, I just don't really do that level of it) then I think you should do it.

My 10 year old and 3 year old have chores. I think it’s important.