Share with Cif your top tips for getting family members to clean up after themselves - you could win a £250 voucher NOW CLOSED

[AnnMumsnet]

We know that sometimes getting the family to clean up after themselves can be a difficult task, so Cif would like to hear about your top tips.

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Check out the MNers review video here (and check out their feedback here):

So, what are your top tips for getting your family to clean up after themselves? Do you give your DCs pocket money for doing their chores? Or maybe you try to make cleaning fun by starting a 'who can clean the fastest' contest?

Whatever your top tips are, Cif would love to hear about them.

Everyone who adds a comment will be entered into a prize draw where one lucky MNer will win a £250 voucher for the store of their choice.

Please note comments on this thread might be used by Cif on their website or on their social media channels: please only add a comment if you're happy for your comment to be used.

Thanks and good luck,
MNHQ

I give each ds a sock to put over their hand and then they have to go on a dust quest. I pay 10p for each sock they return covered in dust. I have given helpful hints about where they might find some dust to collect

Set the kitchen timer and make it into a game to see how much you can clean and tidy in 5 minutes - if several people join in, you'd be amazed how much you can get done !

We bought a 10 minute sand hourglass which gets turned over at tidying up time. Our 2 and 4 year olds love rushing around tidying up before the sand runs out!

They also love joining in with cleaning (own bucket and cloth); loading, unloading and hanging the washing; and vacuuming - long may it last! We don't insist on any chores, or lunk it to pocket money, but we do emphasise the importance to all of us of living in a clean, relkativeky tidy environment; and that it's all of our responsibility.

By showing them how to do it when they were little and make it fun - sometimes a 'race' is the best option. So doing it together :)

Just seen the new cif ad where sleeping beauty wakes up to clean the floor before Prince Charming comes to kiss her.

Really cif, what were you thinking? Do you really think this rubbish appeals to your demographic?

We set my 4 yr old a time challenge and count to 10 slowly having said we're not sure if he will manage to tidy up in time. He hates 'losing' so tidies furiously.

He loves using gadgets and tools so begs to be allowed to use the Hoover... Don't think this phase will last long!

Teenagers here, so I know they are capable of doing a great job of cleaning and tidying for money!

The most effective way to get them to clean up is to notice when it happens and say thank you, give a big smile and tell them it really does make a difference and show that it is a really valued task.

Things have got a bit slack through exam time though! I generally leave the mess to be tidied by the person who made the mess, up to a point. If they have a good reason for not getting back to it, I just remind them the next time they are available. If the mess is a hygiene issue, I'll let them know it needs doing before they do something else. if I find myself cleaning up after them a lot, I'll remind them every few days with a smile and a polite request.
If it is untidiness in a back room somewhere, I'll remind them to do it before they expect a friend round/for me to take them somewhere and that usually works. If not, after a few weeks, I disturb them from doing something they like doing and insist it is done right away.

I've got younger kids plus one who is disabled but they can be great at helping out when the mood takes them. If they help without me asking they get a token in the jar. This works well as I'm trying not to get into shouting matches which is very easy when you're tired and the house is a mess!

I try and play on their strengths too - one is good at hoovering and the other one clearing up so a good combo!

I'm a horrible mum "For every toy left on the floor I'll throw that one and one out of the cupboard in the bin" that shifts 'em :)

I used incentives, reward charts and punishments with varying degrees of success on my children when they were younger and they were mostly willing just perhaps forgetful or would need reminding and encouragement but oh the teenage years are absolutely awful. What's worse though is if they are young adults and still living with you, you can hardly use such tactics on a 23 year old or a 20 year old. My youngest daughter is 14 and plays up from time to time about her chores and I've found the best way to ensure co-operation is to take her laptop away for a set time, I've only had to carry it out once and the threat now produces a complete turn around of attitude when she's being unhelpful. I just wish I could find a similarly effective way to motivate the older ones!

my top tip now my kids are older ( 11) is to talk to them about what it will be like living with friends from work or uni, and how they need to be able to contribute to their house/flat. I tell them its my job to prepare them for life on their own, so its not fair if I do all the jobs without letting them learn how to do it.

They get the principle, but if there is day to day resistance, I give them 20 minutes and then say anything left on their floor will do into a bin bag for charity shop.

Daily tasks eg clearing their plates/putting cereal away after use etc, I point out that they are not living in a hotel, and then return to my point above about communal living.

Write childs name on sweet wrappers then you know who couldn't find the bin!

Get every member of the family a medium sized basket ; when tidying up/putting away washing put in each basket and make each person take responsibility for their own basket.

I do most of the cleaning around the home but my daughter of 16 cleans her bedroom from top to bottom sweeps the floor steamcleans it cleans the windows also does her own clothes washing as she knows i do the other general cleaning around the home so she feels she has to do something herself which she is old enough to help out also there always has to be discipline

With my 5year old we get him to make his bed. Move his empty plate into the kitchen when finished dinner, he'd even asked to wash up. We will give him penny's to put into his jar or will give him a little treat like playing the iPad for a bit. My partner on the other hand is a lost cause, doesn't know how to tidy up after himself, so I've had to start not washing his clothes and things that he needs to make a point, and that sometimes works and he will do a bit of tidying

For my son I try to be really enthusiastic and make tidying up into a game. We usually sing while doing it which he likes.

I've almost given up with my husband but I do try show him how being tidy takes the same amount of time as being messy.

Each of my children (and my husband!) have one of those plastic trugs in a different colour. When the house needs tidying up, everyone sweeps through and makes a game of filling up the baskets with abandoned items with most of them making it into the right trig! It's then the owner's responsibility to put them away. Mostly works, sometimes doesn't!

No one leaves a room empty handed.

I have two teen girls. I used to do everything for them and then when I was tired or stressed I used to get upset and angry at them. They used to look confused as most of the time I was happy to do it. I eventually realised that this was a ridiculous way to live and stopped doing it all for them....it was a shock to them but they got the hang of it. I refuse to mop or vacuum any room which has stuff lying on the floor.
I don't get angry If they refuse to help......I look disappointed instead and this seems to be much more effective.

Both girls work part time and they don't get pocket money but when they help out we go out for lunch or coffee and cake. They have started to realise that if we all pitch in we then have more time to do fun things together.
I do like a clean tidy home and I have hopefully passed on this to my girls

I have a reward chart for my youngest, and my oldest gets pocket money. I sometimes set a timer and they like to race each other to see who can tidy away their toys quickest.

Looks like I'm doing the cleaning on my own,i can't lie. No matter how hard I try to get my boys to help with the cleaning,I've got no chance! There lazy little boys and they no they've got there mum wrapped around there little finger! It's just me and the Cif I'm afraid haha!

Fill the kitchen sink with soapy water & do all the surfaces & cupboard fronts while you're coming & going

Each of the children have a specific set on task that they carry out. They are age appropriate both in terms of frequency required and difficulty! The four yr old lays the table for meals and puts out salt / sauce etc. The eldest washes up and makes drinks for dinner and so on. It works well as everyone knows what there role is.

My dd helps me in washing, By picking up all the clothes from washing bag and load them up in washing machine. She helps me with hoovering, by tidying up the bits in the floor before vacuuming, and even hero me while washing dishes, by wiping the plates, cups and spoon with dishclothes, bless her!!!! She cleans the glass and surface using wet wipes which she loves the best, My hubby hoovers the whole house, clean the bathroom on sundays as mostly sunday evening will be our family cleaning day.

Thanks for all the tips etc!
Madlizzy is the lucky winner of the £250 voucher - well done!