How to Teach a Teenager to Clean His Room
Some teens are notorious for their messy rooms. A little clutter may be harmless but if your teen leaves dirty dishes, crumbs and sticky drink bottles in his room, this poses a hygiene problem. Some teens may be natural organizers; others need help developing a system that works for them. Don't expect a teen to automatically know what tasks you want done when you tell him to clean his room. Spell out your specific expectations and set a timetable for completion.
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Instructions
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Write down your expectations. Give your teen a copy and keep one for yourself in a safe place. Some teens may not see a problem with vacuuming once every six months. Write that you expect his room vacuumed once per week and, if necessary, give him a specific day of the week. This may help prevent procrastination.
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Compromise. According to Education.com, some teens may consider a chaotic room to be a "badge of honor." Allow your teen a little bit of mess, rather than unrealistically expecting her room to be constantly spotless. Keep the allotted mess to defined boundaries. For example, set aside one drawer just for junk and miscellaneous items. This compromise may help your teen feel more in control of her own space and more likely to abide by your rules.
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Provide your teen with the necessary equipment to properly organize his room. This may be in the form of storage bins, a filing cabinet or extra shelves on the wall, depending on the type of clutter he has. For example, teens who have a formidable collection of shoes may benefit from a pull-out storage bin that can fit under the bed. Some teens may be motivated by going to a store and picking out their own storage containers, according to Good Housekeeping.
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Help your teen divide her possessions into categories for the initial organization and cleaning. You may decide to go through the whole room in one day or you may decide to do clothes one day and objects the next. Set aside certain places for certain types of items--for example, one shelf for school books and another for a purse collection. Encourage her to try on old clothes and donate the items that no longer fit to a charity.
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Enforce a discipline system if your teen still refuses to clean his room. Tell him what you expect to have done by a certain day. If the work is not done, one of his privileges (such as going to the mall) can be taken away.
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Tips & Warnings
If your teen is still holding on to mementos from early childhood, ask if she'd like her own storage bin in the basement or garage for those items, rather than throwing them away.
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