Your Guide to Keeping House Cleaning Under Control

Daily
Make it a ritual for kids to put their stuff away before bedtime. You may need to help the little ones, but as they grow older, they’ll learn how to do it and will do it themselves.

Weekly
Kids can put away their own clothes if their dressers are anchored to the wall and their clothing rod is at the right height. "The easiest way to do this is with a telescoping shower rod," says Cobb.

Monthly
To keep the clutter down, only allow kids to have a certain amount of toys in circulation, advises Cobb. Take some away and store them in the garage or shed. The following month, your children can have a new selection to play with while the others go into storage. "It’s almost like having all new toys every month," she adds.