I have 4 kids and ahusband how do i keep the house clean when no one wants to help?

Answer 1

I would sit down with your husband and let him know how it hurts to know that no one wants to help. Then ask for his help in certain areas and also helping to get the kids to help. It will be easier when you are both a team. It might help to think of a word picture in an area that he has an interest (ie. Nascar - ask him if he was part of a pit crew and he was the only one that gave 100% when the car pitted how he would feel?) After he answers; tell him that's how you feel keeping the house clean. You feel like a nascar driver losing every week because some on the team aren't giving 100% and you don't like the losing feeling you have to live with every week. Once you get his buy in, be ready with specific ideas for getting everyone involved. I better quit my wife just saw the question I was answering and she is laughing at me like I don't help around the house. I do take care of the yard, and I do all the vaccuming because of her allergies. And I help in the kitchen. Anyway good luck.

Answer 2

I've known women to use this tactic and sometimes it works. Go on strike. Don't clean, don't pick up their stuff, don't wash the dishes and don't do the clothes. Give it a length of time, but just do your own. When they start to complain, tell them that you're not going back to housemaid status. The cleaning starts again when they will each take on a job and help you. Then, give them each a list of tasks that you would like them to do (including hubby - men are sometimes thick in the helping out area...they have a tendency to wait until asked...or just to hide out). As each family member starts to help, you can start doing the cleaning involved with that person.

For the kids, try to make their cleaning chores fun. I saw one idea in a magazine where a woman had her kids put on a pair of socks she kept only for this purpose. She let them wear the socks and skate about the wood floors helping her dust them and have some fun at the same time. When they were done and the floors were clean, she simply popped the socks in the wash and kept them for the next cleanskate. Kids will help if you can be creative enough to make their chores a little more fun.

Picking up their toys. How about a basketball hoop over a toy box (if you've got boys). The one who scores the most gets a star, treat, something like that. Anything to keep them engaged in the idea of becoming neater.

Answer 3

Not possible, keep things picked up as best you can. Teach the kids now, seriously, that when done playing with something or at end of days where the toys go etc. This can be taught - but don't make it a nagging thing. I use to get my kids to pick up by stating. I bet I can put more blocks in the bucket (where they belong) than you can - ready set go. And we'd race. I'd let them win, barely. The blocks got picked up.

Answer 4

YOU DON'T! Don't even try, if your not getting any help from anyone, just do what you can, when you can. I wasted alot of years trying to keep up with everything, its not worth it, and you need to be happy, just like anyone else. Do the things you like to do after picking up the house, or washing dishes, or laundry...etc.. Treat yourself. All of the work will be there tomorrow, so whats the rush? If the family don't like living that way, then tell them your going to give each person one chore a day to do, so other things can get done.

Answer 5

Hun, I'll pray for you!!!!! Cause you are in the same boat as me....

As for as washing clothes & picking the trash off the floor....this is what I do.....

Rule 1:::I don't wash clothes that are NOT in the basket....If they can't at least put the dirty clothes in the laundry..they wont have clean clothes......

Rule 2:::the trash don't take itself out & I don't get paid....so they pick their own trash up. If I don't mess it up....I don't clean it up.

I am a house wife....My husband works & is hardly ever at home....so the house is my kingdom...not his....he don't make the rules...I do.

The way I see it....the rules are made by the person that is at home, the most....& thats me.....the last time he didn't pick up his dirty clothes....they were on the front door steps when he came home from work.....who do you think washed them, that day.....NOT ME.

Answer 6

STOP, doing some of the things they need, like clean clothes. When they dont have clean socks or underclothes, they might appreciate you more and start helping out. I would start with clothes and if they dont get the point try some other things.

Answer 7

Don't do anything, let the house become a mess. The husband and kids will then realize how much you really do. Then delegate jobs to each person--put up a board with their names and chores, and give points to the child/person who does it on time. Person with most point gets to choose reward--movie, dinner, etc.

Answer 8

Make up a chore list and have the chores divided up equally to each appropriate member. For example, have your husband take care of the lawn (if you have one) while your children set the table, take out the garbage, pick up after themselves. Reward them with a treat every week, like a family outing.

Answer 9

just enforce the law of cleaning up after them selves,even at a early age they can do this..then all you have to do is give everyone certain chores..if you dont enforce this then they wont help out at all,,,i make my son clean his room take trash out and clean the family room everyday..and believe it or not this does help out tramindisly..make one child take trash out make one child clean the living room make one child straighten the bathroom..make one child vaccum they wont do a good job but when you have to go back behind them it wont be so hard for you..and hubby never does any thing anyways..hehehe..so dont expect him to change..hope this helps some

Answer 10

Omigoodness it is impossible to do that. I suggest you temporarily stop cleaning, doing laundry, cooking dinner, ironing, moping, everything!! Eventually they will be like, "man this sucks" and they will start cleaning because they can't stand it! Tell them if you guys won't help on a regular basis, more "cleaning strikes" will come.