I posted my cleaning schedule last week when I shared my cleaning closet redo and some of you were curious if my girls help with the household work.
Evie helps out too, but my two older girls are old enough to do some real cleaning as part of their weekly chores. To make their chores a little more exciting (a stretch, I know!) and to give them more ownership, the girls and I decided they needed their own cleaning kits. So we went to Home Depot together and shopped for some supplies to make the kits. We found a huge display with duct tape in all different colors and we thought that would make a cute (and waterproof!) decoration for simple white buckets.
We also picked up some colorful nylon cording.
The girls and I worked together to wrap the buckets in layers of the duct tape. If you roll the bucket while pulling the tape really taut, there won’t be any air bubbles or wrinkles.
Then we used a hot glue gun to wrap the handles in the nylon cording.
It’s surprising to me how putting in even a little extra effort to make something beautiful gives a household item so much more importance. My girls love these buckets and they’ve been diligently doing their chores lately! Success!
The Home Depot and P&G want to give away a few things today so one of you readers can kick start your own cleaning and organizing project! To enter to win a $200 gift card to The Home Depot along with some cleaning products including Febreze Air Effects, Bounty Select-A-Size and Charmin Ultra Soft, simply leave a comment on this post and share what project you have in mind. Or share what you do to help get your kids excited to help cleaning!
Your cleaning closet turned out great; I understand how opening the door to a mess can be so discouraging and that happy new cleaning closet (it's so large!) looks great. I need to do a similar project in our Laundry Room.
I'm in the process of moving in with my boyfriend. His apartment is so old and has very little closet space. The bedroom closet isn't even deep enough to hold hangers! So I will be organizing/superman-ing a way to store all our clothes!
I would have never thought to do this but it's so true that these small things make cores seem so much more doable! I would love to make my husband's and my closet more organized.
I would like to clean and organize our garage, we need to add shelving to get everything put away, and clean the floors because winter has been tough on this space.
Kellywcu8888ATgmailDOTcom
We just bought a huge old home to use for a variety of ministries, but first it needs a little cleaning and painting love (bright orange 70s bedroom anyone?). We are sowly working room by room and the next up is the laundry and the master bath that is the same orange as the 70s bedroom.
I would use it to clean our basement we just finished and to help get my children more motivated to help out
I'm in the middle of turning a hideous junk room into my studio. I could definitely use a Home Depot gift card!
The closet in our nursery is currently a giant dark black hole. I need to find a way to utilize the space before our baby is born in April!
I want to make cleaning baskets for each room my kids clean, so everything they need is right there
We are doing a major, if superficial, redo of our dated 90's era home…new doors, board and batten, painting cabinets, etc. A gift card would certainly help out! Thanks for the giveaway, and I LOVE those buckets!
Retiling project-only way to make my bathroom feel clean!
we just made a list of house projects: 25 items and still going! hard to know even where to begin…
I'd like to tackle my basement laundry area! We have a half finished basement with a wood workshop, a laundry area, storage, and our TV area all in one open room… I think it needs a little paint and some dividers and a little bit of organizational help! I love your closet redo! It's inspired me to work on my house too.
Definitely painting the kitchen! I've been looking at the torn-down-wallpaper yellow grossness for too long.
It would go toward the moulding I need to buy to trim out my great room.
I recently remodeled my studio and I am DETERMINED to keep it clean and organized! It is so important because it keeps things running smoothly and keeps me inspired. Thanks for the constant inspiration to "push it!"
Lots and lots of paint!
We're about to remodel our master bathroom and have a big painting project in the works, too. We can always use more cleaning products!
I have a storage room that desperately needs a good cleaning and painting.
I have learned that what helps my kids the most is when we all clean together. I can't be asking them to clean when I'm all done and have to relax. I'm cleaning my room while they clean theirs. It seems more fair in their eyes :) casidyanne at hot mail dot com
I would repaint my living room–a brighter, prettier white. For my kids, I tried a similar cleaning bucket idea but used cheap plastic baskets that didn't really hold what they needed to. I think this bucket idea is much better–looks like it would actually hold spray bottles!
new year, new projects! update outside lighting and paint the cabinets in office
We are working on upgrading our shelving situation as I am a huge lover of books and am constantly needing more room to store them!. I also don't have a dedicated "office" space (tiny house!) so we are planning a floor to ceiling bookcase with a built in desk surface that can also function as a serving area when we entertain. We are asking a lot of just one unit so the planning stage is very important. We have yet yo hit on just the right design, but we are getting close and I'm excited to whip our space into shape!
I love this! I am inspired by this to finally paint my clean supply room/laundry room and create a version of your bucket! Cheers! Debbie
We would use it for painting our new place! Time to move yet again in NYC…
You inspired me to be better about getting my girls to help with chores. I made a sticker chart to inspire them. It is kind of working. Their "prize" is all sleeping in the same room and making the other room into a playroom.
I Love this! I am inspired to paint my cleaning supply room/laundry room. I have a painting in there which I will refer to for the color – It's going to look great!
The list is long…we're about to move! But I love the ideaof individual cleaning kits for my boys. Thanks, and wishing you continued good spirits and health in 2014!
Andrea ( aorzoff at n m s u dot e d u)
I really need to clean, organize and spiff my laundry room and storage room in the basement. (This is where the Febreze will be a lifesaver!)
I'd love to organize under the sink of all of the bathrooms in my home, as well as a few closet spaces!
I would use it to clean and get organised for our move to our new appartment
My big cleaning project for the spring will (hopefully) be to restore the finish on my hardwoods. They've taken a beating with the ice and snow this winter.
Alice – alicepaul1913@gmail.com
I'd love to organize under the sink of all of the bathrooms in my home, as well as a few closet spaces!
Where to start? The huge cabinet under our kitchen sink and the hallway linen closet!
Cute buckets, and your storage closet make-over is looking great! We're midway through a complete remodel of our guest bath, and the master bath is up next.
Really fun, loud music helps our kids when we clean. Helps me, too!
There's always cleaning to do. I just try to stay ahead of it. I think we'll have a renovation project when the warmer weather hits, so there will definitely be clean-up from that.
I'm dreaming of spring… CLEANING! Can't wait for the weather to warm up and to totally scour the house. New products would help!
Love your cleaning closet!
My project is to add sewing storage to laundry room/closet.
I have some large built in book shelves that need regular attention (all that dusting!) I would love the jump start!
Oh for sure I need to clean and organize my laundry room. It has so much potential, but is so poorly organized, poor thing!!!!
So cute! I'd put buckets in each bathroom, so I'd have supplies ready to use!
Need to move by boys back together and get the nursery ready!
I need to organize the space under our kitchen sink and my sons room.
Love this project! I wonder if I made my boyfriend one of those buckets if he would enjoy cleaning more…?
I would use the money to de-clutter and organize our laundry closet!
Love this project! I wonder if I made my boyfriend one of those buckets if he would enjoy cleaning more…?
I would use the money to de-clutter and organize our laundry closet!
Awesome idea! We are just starting to paint our small hallway with five doors and 4 cabinets..Sandpaper central!
Need to tackle our mud room
I need to tackle our mud room
Great idea! I'm totally doing this! My kids clean their rooms and their bathroom but I need to get some more regular chores on the list!