Editable Cleaning Checklist For Kids – Free Printable

Raising responsible and independent little humans is no easy feat. If you’re in the “I’ll take whatever help I can get” phase, try this free editable cleaning checklist for kids. It’s a fantastic free tool to help your kids learn essential life skills while keeping your home looking spick-and-span.

Cleaning with kids doesn’t have to be a battle. So maybe they won’t LOVE to clean but they still have to learn how to do it. If they are to turn into functional adults, they will need to eventually find out that life will have them doing many things they don’t enjoy. Better start early!

This kids’ cleaning checklist is of real help. In just a few seconds, you can print out this chart for your child and have them mark off the items one by one as they complete them.

Having a cleaning checklist is a great way to give them expectations and let them feel that sense of accomplishment when they mark a specific job off their list. We feel great when we mark off our to-do lists, and kids will feel the same.

✨ Cleaning Checklist For Kids

This free printable kids’ cleaning checklist is not only adorable (if I do say so myself!), but it’s also super practical. It’s organized room by room, so those little ones can easily see what needs to be done. Plus, it’s editable, so you can customize it to fit your family’s needs and your kids’ ages.

✏️ How to Edit

To edit this cleaning checklist, you’ll need to open it with a PDF reader (like Adobe Reader, which is free!). You’ll see that some of the lines are highlighted in blue – those are the editable fields. Just click on them and type in your own text. Easy peasy!

📝 How to Use

Now, for the fun part! Here are a few tips for using this kids’ cleaning checklist:

👉Laminate and Reuse – It’s true, our little ones keep growing and their chores need updates but that only happens every now and then. I always laminate repetitive chore lists. You can check off the items using a dry erase marker and after a quick wipe it will be as good as new!

👉Starting Small – Start with simple tasks that your kids can easily handle. As they get older, you can add more challenging chores to the list. (We’ll talk more about age-appropriate chores in a bit.)

👉One Room at a Time – Don’t overwhelm those little ones! Begin with just one room, like their bedroom or the playroom. Once they’ve mastered those tasks, you can expand to other areas of the house.

👉Make it Fun – Turn cleaning into a game! Put on some music, set a timer, or even create a reward system. A little friendly competition never hurt anyone, right?

👉Be Patient – Don’t forget your child is still learning. Be patient and encouraging, and celebrate their successes. Even if it’s just remembering to put their dirty socks in the hamper!

👉Teamwork Makes the Dream Work – Get the whole family involved! Cleaning together can be a fun bonding experience.

🧺 Age-Appropriate Cleaning Chores

It’s important to choose chores that are appropriate for your child’s age and abilities. This not only helps them succeed but also keeps them safe.

Here’s a handy guide to get you started:

Toddlers (2-3 years old)

At this age, it’s all about learning to pick up and put away. Think of it as a fun game of “everything in its place!”

When Spencer was little, his favorite ‘chore’ was putting away his stuffed animals. He’d line them up on his bed and have a whole tea party before finally tucking them into their basket. It wasn’t exactly efficient, but at least, he was learning! 😉

⭐Kitchen:

• Put toys and books back in their bins.
• Help wipe up spills (with supervision, of course!).
• Put napkins on the table.

⭐Bedroom:

• Put stuffed animals back in their homes.
• Help make the bed (it might not be perfect, but it’s the effort that counts!).
• Put dirty clothes in the hamper.

⭐Living Room:

• Put toys back in their bins.
• Help fluff pillows.

⭐Bathroom:

• Put bath toys back in their containers.
• Help put dirty towels in the hamper.

⭐Outdoor:

• Help pick up toys and put them away.
• Help water plants (with a small watering can).

⭐Miscellaneous:

• Help dust with a soft cloth.

Preschoolers (4-5 years old)

At this age, little helpers are ready for more responsibility! They can start tackling slightly more complex chores, with a focus on self-care and contributing to the household.

⭐Kitchen:

• Set the table.
• Clear the table (with help).
• Help unload the dishwasher (with supervision).
• Wipe down counters and tables.

⭐Bedroom:

• Make the bed.
• Put away toys and clothes.
• Dust furniture (with a soft cloth).

⭐Living Room:

• Put away books and games.
• Tidy up pillows and blankets.
• Help vacuum or sweep (with a child-sized vacuum or broom).

⭐Bathroom:

• Put away toiletries.
• Wipe down the sink (with supervision).

⭐Outdoor:

• Sweep the porch.
• Wipe down outdoor furniture
• Pick up toys and debris.

⭐Miscellaneous:

• Wipe down doorknobs and light switches.
• Help sort laundry.

Elementary School (6-9 years old)

Time to step it up! These kids can handle more independent tasks and pick up some extra household chores.

⭐Kitchen:

• Wipe down kitchen cabinets.
• Sweep and mop the floors.
• Empty the trash.

⭐Bedroom:

• Make the bed and change the sheets.
• Fold laundry.
• Organize their closet and drawers.

⭐Living Room:

• Dust furniture and electronics.
• Vacuum or sweep.
• Declutter.

⭐Bathroom:

• Wipe down the sink and counter.
• Clean the toilet (with supervision).
• Change out towels.

⭐Outdoor:

• Help with yard work (raking leaves, shoveling snow).
• Take out the trash.

⭐Miscellaneous:

• Wipe down baseboards.
• Set and clear the table.
• Empty all trashcans in the house.

Tweens/Early Teens (10-13 years old)

These almost grownups are ready for more complex chores that require greater responsibility and attention to detail.

⭐Kitchen:

• Unload the dishwasher and put away the dishes (or wash and dry dishes by hand).
• Clean the kitchen (counters, sink, stovetop, oven, microwave).
• Clean the fridge and discard expired items.

⭐Bedroom:

• Change sheets and make the bed.
• Organize their closet and drawers.
• Do their own laundry.

⭐Living Room:

• Dust furniture, electronics, and décor.
• Vacuum or sweep and mop the floor.
• Clean windows and mirrors.
• Tidy up the living room.

⭐Bathroom:

• Clean the bathroom (toilet, sink, shower, mirrors, shelves).
• Descale faucets and showerheads.
• Wash bath mats and shower curtains.

⭐Outdoor:

• Clean out the garage.
• Wash the car (with supervision).

⭐Miscellaneous:

• Wipe down walls and baseboards throughout the house.
• Wipe windows and windowsills (with supervision, using appropriate cleaning solutions).
• Clean light fixtures and ceiling fans.
• Help with other household tasks, such as cleaning out the pantry or organizing the linen closet.

Remember, these are just suggestions! You know your kids best, so adjust the chores accordingly. The goal is to create a cleaning routine that works for your family and helps your kids learn valuable life skills.

🖨️ Grab It Now

✔️Enter your name and email in the box below and click the ‘Grab It Now’ button.

✔️We’ll email you the download link to the editable cleaning checklist for kids in just a few moments.

✔️Open it up in a PDF editor (like the free Adobe Reader) and type in the key information if you don’t want to handwrite the jobs.

✔️Then, hit the Print button and show it to your precious offspring. The rest is up to them!

More Free Printable Cleaning Checklists

One thing’s for sure: most of the cleaning is done by the grown-ups. Unless you’ve got some seriously motivated kiddos! 😄

Having a set cleaning schedule is good for us too. I’ve created a few more free printable cleaning checklists to help you tackle those chores and keep your home sparkling clean.

All of them come with an editable version so you can create your own cleaning routines. Feel free to use more than one: whatever gets the work done!

Daily Cleaning Checklist – Are you the kind of person who likes to tidy up a little bit each day? This daily cleaning routine includes tasks for every room in the house, so you can keep things neat and organized without spending hours cleaning.

Weekly Cleaning Checklist – If you prefer to do a more thorough cleaning once a week, this is the schedule for you. It includes tasks for every room in the house, plus some extra chores for those often-forgotten areas.

Monthly Cleaning Checklist – Use this checklist for the deep-cleaning chores that need to be done less frequently. It includes tasks for every room in the house, plus some extra ones for those often-forgotten areas.

With these free printable cleaning checklists, you’re already halfway to a tidy and organized home! Ok….maybe not halfway, but close enough so you can’t back down. 😉