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Step 1
Use a common sense approach. While the chances of the common sense approach working is pretty slim, it should be the first line of defense. Explain to you teen that a clean bathroom is sanitary and pleasant to use. Encourage him to help you keep it clean. If this works, then there’s no need to continue reading.
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Step 2
Offer an incentive. It’s obvious that the common sense approach didn’t work since you’re still reading this article. Time to try non-monetary incentives. You don’t want to pay your teen for cleaning the bathroom. Instead of offering money, offer to cook one of the your teen’s favorite meals or, promise not to sing in the presence of your teen’s friends.
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Step 3
Stop cleaning the bathroom. If you stop cleaning the bathroom, eventually the teen will get so fed up with the bathroom that he will make an attempt to clean it. The only problem with this method is that the parent usually gets more disgusted by the dirty bathroom and ends up cleaning the bathroom before the teen does.
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Step 4
Play the martyr. While this method has proven to be ineffective, it makes the overworked, harried parent feel better. The martyr gets to go on and on about how she does all the work around the house, does all the laundry, vacuum all the rooms, cook all the meals and wash the dishes afterwards. The least the teen could do is clean the bathroom. Before you play the martyr card, make sure that your teen removes the earphones from the ears so that she can hear your martyr’s rant.
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Step 5
Quote from the Bible. For those of you who are not quite sure which Bible verses to use, here are a couple: “Honor thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.” (Exodus 20:12) “Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord.” (Colossians 3:20), "My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother," (Proverbs 1:8).
Bottom line is, your teen should clean he bathroom because you asked him to.
Comments
Tidbits said
on 10/14/2008 They work for my son because he loves food. All I have to do is threaten not to cook anymore and viola...the bathroom is clean!