The Clothesline technique is a useful tool if you have a small community of residents. The idea is that you create a clothesline with everyone's name on it and a peg that moves from name to name once you have cleaned. You can alternately use any version of this that allows an object to be moved from one name to another and is in a visible spot e.g. the fridge with a magnet, a sticky tack arrow and names on a wall. The idea is whoever's name the peg is on has to clean a dish, wipe the counters or load something into the dishwasher. Once you have completed something you can move the peg to the next persons name on the line, allowing the cleaning to rotate between members of the house.
Instructions
Space
Your house kitchen area, a highly visible area. e.g. above the sink, on the fridge.
Supplies
Can be personally funded or out of the community pocket.
Step by Step
This technique relies on residents taking responsibility for their cleaning and moving the peg along. As a newly introduced technique it can work really but, as with most techniques, once the novelty wears off it can slowly wither into nothing. Don't get discouraged! With some communities this technique is great and works well long into the school year. Possible issues that can arise from this is some people cleaning more than others or the peg stays on one person's name for an extended period of time because they never clean. Try to encourage your residents to use it and do a little bit of cleaning, because even a little moves the peg along!
Adjustments
You could look at an incentive/reward for the peg making a particular number of laps through the names on the line or if the kitchen stays clean for a week, month or even all term. Ice cream is always a hit and maybe even a house movie with pizza at Reel for a BIG success.
Instructions
Space
Your house kitchen area, a highly visible area. e.g. above the sink, on the fridge.
Supplies
- String
- Card
- Pen
- Peg
- Sticky Tack if needed
- Thumb tacks
Can be personally funded or out of the community pocket.
Step by Step
- Explain how the clothesline works to your house
- Put the string up above your sink
- Attach the names of every member of your house including yourself
- Start the peg on the left
- Intermittently check on the string to make sure it's moving
- Cross your fingers and hope for the best!
This technique relies on residents taking responsibility for their cleaning and moving the peg along. As a newly introduced technique it can work really but, as with most techniques, once the novelty wears off it can slowly wither into nothing. Don't get discouraged! With some communities this technique is great and works well long into the school year. Possible issues that can arise from this is some people cleaning more than others or the peg stays on one person's name for an extended period of time because they never clean. Try to encourage your residents to use it and do a little bit of cleaning, because even a little moves the peg along!
Adjustments
You could look at an incentive/reward for the peg making a particular number of laps through the names on the line or if the kitchen stays clean for a week, month or even all term. Ice cream is always a hit and maybe even a house movie with pizza at Reel for a BIG success.
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