One of the best ways to increase your cleaning efficiency (and your efficiency in almost any area of life) is to find ways to enjoy the task. If you can find ways to transform cleaning from a chore into a game, you're halfway there. One time-tested pick-up game involves choosing a certain number of items, setting a timer, and racing against the clock to get these items picked up.

Race Against the Clock

Many people feel that this kind of game can make cleaning a lot more enjoyable and manageable. If you know you're going to set the timer and only clean for a designated amount of time, you're less likely to feel overwhelmed by the scope of the task. It is always easier to take on a five-minute project than it is to attempt to tackle a two-hour one. Another benefit of transforming cleaning into a game is that it is much easier to get children involved in a fun game or race than it is to try to get them involved in household “work.”

Cleaning with Kids

If you're tired of cleaning up after your kids, challenge them to join in. Visit any well-run preschool room and you'll see many ways that teachers integrate the work of cleaning into the school day. In some preschools, children sing a song as they clean. In others, children are just reminded to clean up after themselves after meals and snacks. While kids may balk at these kinds of directives at home, they generally obey their teachers because they understand from the beginning that cleaning is part of the arrangement.

If you want to make clean-up fun for your children, there are a few things to keep in mind. First, just as you need not (and should not) demand perfection from yourself in the domestic realm, don't expect perfection from your kids. Think of every cleaning effort on their part as “training” for them. If you encourage and point out the good work they're doing, they'll be more inclined to keep going. If you criticize and correct, they're likely to become discouraged and quit. Either ignore their failings so that they can develop a long-term positive association with cleaning or offer suggestions in an encouraging way, such as, “You're doing a great job folding the towels. Would you like me to show you how I roll socks?”

You can also get really creative with children and cleaning. Try making sock puppets for dusting and have a contest to see who can pick up the most dirt in a set amount of time. Or put on a CD and every time a song ends, switch to the next chore. Especially in your child's bedroom, allow him to take part in organizing the space in a way that is logical to him. If you always do the organizing for him, you may often find the room in chaos because the child does not understand your system. Help him develop his own kid-friendly systems. It's also a good idea to invest in kid-sized cleaning implements when children are small so that they can mimic you as you sweep, vacuum, and dust. This way, cleaning might feel less intimidating to them as they grow older.