By: Jessica Hartman
Typically, my kids handle the responsibility of cleaning their own rooms. I firmly believe this chore helps cultivate a sense of responsibility and ownership. It builds character and imparts valuable lessons that will aid them in becoming independent adults. Plus, if I’m honest, it saves me from having to deal with their mess.
However, there are occasions—perhaps once a year—when I have to step in and take matters into my own hands. These moments arise when:
- A significant portion of my kitchen utensils and all of my bowls have mysteriously vanished.
- The unpleasant odor coming from the room has become so familiar that we’ve nicknamed it. “Rotten Room” is a phrase often uttered in our household.
- We’ve repeatedly been late to school or events because I’ve been digging through what can only be described as a landfill to find a missing item.
If you’re a more organized parent than I am and can persuade your tween to clean their own space, kudos to you. But if you find yourself needing to intervene, here’s how to tackle the situation:
- Wait until your tween is at school, camp, or spending time with relatives. You’ll need uninterrupted time without a protesting teenager questioning their rights.
- Gather your cleaning supplies: trash bags, recycling bins, cleaning spray, cloths, a vacuum, gloves, and maybe even a shovel and a hazmat suit for good measure.
- Open the door and windows to let in fresh air. No matter how chilly it is outside, you’ll appreciate the ventilation.
- Identify and eliminate the source of the unpleasant smell. This may involve washing dirty socks, removing spoiled food, or tossing out questionable shoes or “crusty” clothing. Be warned: there may be multiple sources of the odor.
- Collect all clothing from the floor—even if you suspect some might be clean. If it’s been on the floor, it needs a wash.
- Next, tackle the trash. You might find used tissues, snack wrappers, and stale leftovers. Prepare for the worst, and if you encounter anything stuck to the floor, scissors can help. Rearranging furniture might be necessary to hide any disasters.
- Reclaim your kitchen items. Decide if the grimy cups are worth saving, and if not, toss them. Soak the salvageable ones in the sink before giving them a thorough wash in the dishwasher.
- It may seem overwhelming, but pull everything out from underneath furniture like the bed and desk. After resisting the urge to set the entire pile ablaze, follow steps 4 through 7 again.
- Discover your tween’s hidden candy stash. Indulge guilt-free (after a quick hand wash, of course).
- Sort through the remaining items into two categories: essential and non-essential. Put away what you’re keeping and hide the rest until you can donate it. (Make sure to hide it well.)
- Wipe down surfaces, then dispose of the cleaning rag when you’re done.
- Vacuum the floor and revel in seeing the true color of the carpet again.
- Take pictures to capture this moment of cleanliness—because it will inevitably revert to its previous state within a day.
When your tween returns, consider putting on headphones and playing your favorite tunes. If possible, arrange for the neighbors to be out so they don’t hear your tween’s dramatic exclamations about how “MY ROOM IS UNRECOGNIZABLE! I CAN’T STAND THIS!”
A word of caution: if you stumble upon your tween’s journal, resist the temptation to read it. Respect their privacy; some things are better left unseen (not that I speak from experience).
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This article serves as a lighthearted reminder that keeping a tween’s room in order can sometimes require a parent’s intervention, but it can also lead to a cleaner, more organized space and a bit of fun along the way.