If you were in charge of cleaning a very messy house - Page 3

[weliveintheforest]

When my house gets bad, I do small areas first so they can be totally done, or else I feel like I got nowhere.

I always start with the bathroom, because it's a contained area and things either belong there or they don't. I also really like having a clean bathroom. Next I do the kitchen, even if I just wash the counters and load the dishwasher.
I am also willing to mop and vaccuum before things are totally cleaned up, I just move things around or clean around them. That might sound silly, but it makes me feel better immediately.

[be11ydancer]

I would three extra large boxes from Uhaul. One is labeled Trash, the other is labeled Donate, and the other is labeled Storage. Now go through your main living space when the kids are asleep and throw EACH AND EVERY ITEM except for books and furniture into one of these boxes. This includes all of their crayons, toys, papers, dolls, blocks, torn clothing, odds and ends, etc. Get it all out of the house. Put the toys that everyone likes into the Storage box and store that away in the garage. When my kids make a huge mess with toys and aren't responsible enough to clean up (almost always), that toy gets put in the garage.

It helps to remove the ability to make giant messes. And I know kids playing is great but kids cleaning up their play spaces is equally as important as the creative play itself.

Once all of that is removed from the house, you need to do the deep cleaning of everything - couch cushions, under dressers, junk drawers. Do one room each day. Don't neglect your own bedroom either. It's refreshing if that room is kept pristine every single day - you'll feel better sleeping and waking in it. I'm not sure of your kids ages but they need to be taught how to help. 10 minute cleaning sprees after each meal done by everyone can be amazingly effective.

Good luck!