Dads clean up, but just in case Merry Maids can too #ad

We were compensated for this post. All thoughts are our own and the stories, regardless of how dirty are true. The fabulous house cleaning debate varies from house to house. In our house we do a fair job of splitting the cleaning duties. Overall, I do most of the cleaning, but that’s just because I’m the stay at home parent. Most is relative because there are still many periods when my wife starts cleaning something or asks me to get on it. The Merry Maids Father’s Day Program did a study that has results that might surprise some folks, plus they’re giving away a house cleaning and other groovy prizes.

The 2015 Merry Maids Father’s Day Survey stated that 96% of dads said that they split the home cleaning responsibilities. 96%! That is much higher than I would’ve expected. While I can’t verify all of the respondents, I bet that people were stating the number that they thought they did, as opposed what they actually do. That is just based on my friends and what they do around the house, vs. what their partner says they actually do.

Well that infographic spelled things out nicely didn’t it? The fact that we split house cleaning duties in the house could surprise anyone who knows me. For that I totally credit/blame my wife.

Shortly after we got married we went to my father’s house to visit………and clean. “Son, what’s gotten into you?” my dad sarcastically said. Well, his house was filthy, love him, but it needed a massive clean down and as it was before we had children we could focus on that task 100%.

Merry Maids is giving away a house cleaning and other prizes, just in time for Father’s Day. Enter quickly and don’t dirty your house in advance, just in case you don’t win.

Now that I’m a dad I’m making sure that our children know that it is cool to be clean. There are certain areas of the house that are a work in progress. The office and garage are not counted in the above category. However, the kitchen, living room, dining room and their bedrooms are in a permanent state of semi-clean.

Previously we touched on how the kids get in on the act of cleaning. They really do help. This is not passive helping just to keep them busy, it’s actual, moving ball forward help.

In the summer they continue those tasks but take the show outside too. Much to their chagrin, they’re too young to operate most of the power tools or the lawn mower. However, there are some simple things that they do to help out in the back yard.

1. Pull weeds. It’s not as glamorous as using a tool, but it helps them learn the weeds from those darker green border plants that you don’t want them pulling up.
2. Use the leaf blower. This is the fun one for them. Our 5YO loves using this, and though his direction isn’t great yet, it’s a payoff for the work that he does elsewhere.

There are more basic chores that they can do outside, but those two are my go-to ones to get them interested. I’m confident that our sons won’t be the slob that I was in my 20’s and 30’s. They may not be able to make a quarter jump off of their bed after they make it, but they won’t be cleaning out the living room with a leaf blower either.