What cleaning tasks can kids help with?

Kids can help with simple, age-appropriate tasks such as putting away their shoes, backpacks, emptying lunch kits, and putting away their school supplies. Giving everyone in the family a small job can help prevent after-school messes from building.

How long should an after-school cleaning routine take?

An after-school cleaning routine shouldn’t take too long, maybe 10-15 minutes. We say this because that amount of time is enough for backpacks and shoes to be put away, lunch boxes and water bottles to be washed, and supplies to be put away. By having a shorter routine, you are more likely to incorporate it into your daily routine, making cleaning feel less daunting.

What things should I clean first when I get home?

Start with the areas that tend to get messiest fastest. For most households, these spots typically look like the entryway and kitchen. Deal with dishes, wipe up crumbs or spills, and put away shoes and jackets before you move on to other areas in your house.

Alicia’s After-School Cleaning Checklist

August 14, 2026

Back-to-school season brings busy mornings, packed lunches, homework, and of course, plenty of new messes that somehow make their way into your home.

The good news is that keeping your home clean throughout hectic school weeks doesn’t have to mean a deep clean every afternoon. Being parents of two, we quickly realized that cleaning is more manageable when it becomes part of the day-to-day routine. And when the kids are old enough, it helps to get them involved in small ways too.

Below, we have broken down our five-step cleaning checklist to make a quick after-school reset feel more attainable and part of your family’s routine rather than a daunting chore. Depending on how old your kids are, certain age-appropriate tasks can be delegated to them as well.

1. PUT AWAY BACKPACKS, SHOES, AND JACKETS

Most after-school messes tend to begin at the front door. Children get home, backpacks hit the floor, shoes get kicked off, and for some reason jackets are found anywhere but on the coat hook. So before you get settled into your afternoon, take a minute to return those items to their homes quickly!

ENTRYWAY CLEANING CHECKLIST

Hang up jackets and sweaters
Put shoes away
Empty lunch kits, water bottles, and homework from backpacks
Return backpacks and activity bags to their designated spots

To make this task slightly easier and more organized, we started using labeled bins, baskets, and hooks.

2. TACKLE WATER BOTTLES & LUNCH KITS

Nobody wants to discover and deal with yesterday’s half-eaten lunch the next morning, so it’s always easier to empty out and clean lunch boxes as soon as the kids get home. Not only does this make mornings more pleasant and streamlined, but it also prevents food containers from piling up.

LUNCH BOXES CLEANING CHECKLIST

Empty lunch boxes
Wash reusable lunch containers and utensils
Rinse out water bottles
Wipe down lunch bags
Make sure everything completely dries

If you have a dishwasher to speed up the process of cleaning lunch containers and utensils, use a natural dishwasher pod or, if you prefer, natural dishwasher powder. Both pods and powder are extremely simple and effective at cleaning dishes without leaving behind any streaks or toxic residue on your dishware. However, if you are left hand-washing your dishes, fear not; our natural unscented dish soap cleans just as well!

If your kitchen needs a little more than just a quick afternoon tidy-up, check out our guide on how to clean your kitchen and keep it clean.

3. RESET AFTER SNACK TIME

After-school snacks always have a way of leaving crumbs, dishes, and sticky fingerprints behind. Fortunately, we have come up with a quick kitchen reset that can handle the mess before dinner prep gets rolling. Putting aside a few short minutes now can make all the difference when you go to start making dinner.

POST SNACK CLEANING CHECKLIST

Return snacks to the pantry or the fridge
Load or wash any dirty dishes
Wipe down the table and kitchen countertops
Sweep or vacuum any visible crumbs

To help you tackle food splatters and greasy fingerprints, use a natural kitchen cleaner, and for tougher messes that might need a little more of your attention, reach for a scouring powder.

4. TIDY THE HOMEWORK AREA

Pencils, notebooks, and worksheets can quickly take over a homework space, whether it be a desk or common area table. Once homework is done for the evening, make it a habit to do a simple reset!

HOMEWORK CLEANING CHECKLIST

Toss out any scraps and wrappers
Put pencils and other school supplies away or in backpacks
Organize books and notebooks
Clear unnecessary clutter
Wipe down the desk or table

A damp microfiber cloth is a great way to help you pick up any pencil shavings, eraser dust, and other crumbs off of desks and tables. You can even have an All-Purpose Cleaner and cloth on hand near the workspace so that kids feel empowered to take care of their own areas.

5. FINAL RESET BEFORE TOMORROW

Before the day winds down, spend a final few minutes getting the house and the rest of the family ready for another school day ahead. For this final step, we recommend that you focus on the little jobs that can make tomorrow morning feel less chaotic!

END OF DAY CLEANING CHECKLIST

Check any important school paperwork
Double-check lunch kits and containers are clean and dry
Put away any lingering items on the floor
Set out any must-haves for tomorrow morning

That’s it! To us, a short after-school cleaning routine can stop small messes from turning into a much larger weekend cleaning job. Getting the whole family involved will help make the cleaning feel like a normal part of coming home rather than another chore.

With that being said, we know that some weeks can be much busier than others, leaving less time for cleaning. If you need that extra bit of support to help you make it through your week smoothly, hire one of our professional cleaning teams!

For more simple ways to keep your home clean and green, explore more of our cleaning tips.

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