HOW does summer fly by so quickly?  It’s been another fun year and my kids are crazy-tan, in great shape from swimming like maniacs almost every day, and sad-as-can-be that school starts next week.

While we’re having Summer’s Last Blast this week, I thought I’d report on how our Summer of Clean went.

First, let’s talk laundry.

Mondays were Laundry Days.  Not that we EVER finished all of the week’s laundry on a Monday, but I can say with confidence (based on pre-blog experience) that if we didn’t have a designated Laundry Day, I’m not sure we’d have been fully clothed most days.  As it was we USUALLY had the basics we needed.

Usually.

Did they learn how to do laundry?  Honestly, they already knew how (from previous Summers of Clean).  With a few reminders, the ones who are tall enough to reach the controls were immediately able to pick back up.  It was nice (especially when I was sick) to be able to say “_____, go change over the laundry please” and he knew how to do it.

Did we achieve Laundry Perfection?  Far from it.  Most weeks, at least one pile of the least necessary clothes stayed in its sorting pile until we had to move it out of sight because someone was coming over.

Am I satisfied?  Yes.  It was summer, and summer is crazy.  Having a designated day for laundry kept us out of total chaos and I consider that an accomplishment!  And the main goal, which was . . . teaching kids to clean . . . was accomplished.

Not that I want to send them off any time soon, but I do feel confident that the boys will be fully capable of handling their laundry once they’re on their own.

Did your kids learn any laundry skills over the summer?

(And don’t forget that you can still get my e-book, Teaching Kids to Clean, for FREE.  It will likely only be free through Labor Day, so be sure to click here to find out how to get your copy!)

Last week I shared this picture on Instagram and Facebook.  It was Dusting, Vacuuming and Mopping Day around here.  This kid (who claimed complete exhaustion and likely-devastating-disease in an attempt to get out of participating in DVM Day) changed his tune when he remembered these dusting slippers.

So he called dusting.  First . . . and loudly. 

Before anyone else remembered how fun these things are to wear.

In the end, he had miraculously regained all of his energy and made it known that his chosen task of dusting was far more fun than anyone else’s task that day.

Competitive streak?  Ummmm . . . perhaps.

Anyway, several people on FB asked about the slippers, so I thought I’d share a few Amazon links to some I found.  (Though I’m pretty sure my mother bought these at WalMart).

Do they work?  Wellll, maybe I’m missing something . . . but “dusting the floor” isn’t something that made it onto my Weekly Task List.  Perhaps that’s because I also vacuum on the day that I dust.

But whatever.  If they motivate my 8yo to do housework, they’re awesome.

Here’s an entire page of options on Amazon. There are ones for kids, ones with bows, ones for men, and more.  Just be sure to read the reviews, because I noticed a comment on the one for kids that the buyer thought they ordered another color but received pink.  I’m not sure that my son would have been quite so excited about using pink slippers to skate around the house dust.

Oh. The Amazon links? Yes, they’re definitely my affiliate links.