Games and strategies to turn chores into playtime!
Number of players: 3+ This is a variation of freeze tag. Pretend that “it” is an ogre overseeing a mining operation. The other players are goblins working in the mine (aka cleaning). The goblins don’t like working in the mine… Read moreThe Ogre’s Clean Mine
Number of players: 3+ Materials needed: blank paper and pens or pencils How to: Divide into two teams and pick a room. Take turns having one person on each team draw an item in the room that needs to be put away… Read morePicture It Pick Up
Number of players: 1+ How to: Create a playlist of music to clean to. This can either be a single master playlist utilized by the whole family or individual playlists, or both. Upbeat music is a good choice as it will help keep up… Read moreThe Rhythm of Cleaning
Number of players: 2+ How to: My sisters and I loved reading aloud together when we were younger and this is a great way to keep everyone entertained while cleaning. Players can take turns reading aloud from a book while… Read moreCleaning Read Aloud
How to: Choose a player to be “it” first. The other players should put a box (a paper bag also works) in the middle of the room and put 10 objects that are out of place into the box. “It”… Read moreTag, You Clean
Cleaning Game: Scavenger Hunt – Each player chooses a room and creates a list of 10 clues suggesting items to be put away in the room. The clues do not need to indicate a specific item. See below for an example list. When each player has finished writing…
Cleaning Game: Musical Clean Chairs – Set up a circle of chairs (one less chair than you have players) with their backs facing each other. If you only have 3 players, set up two chairs with their backs against each other. Choose one player to be the music maestro first. This player puts one item that needs to be put away on each of the chairs. The other players then…
Number of Players: 2+ How to: Choose one player to be the “mother” first. The other players take turns asking, “Mother may I ____?” followed by a question about an object or objects to be picked up. For example, the… Read moreMother May I Clean?
Number of Players: 2+ How to: Choose a player to be the first “spy.” The spy chooses an object that is visible in the room, and needs to be put away, then calls out the words, “I spy with my… Read moreI Spy
Number of Players: 3+ (see below for rules for 2+ players) How to: The classic game of hide and go seek with a tidy twist. The first seeker closes their eyes and counts aloud to 100 while the other players… Read moreHide and Go Clean