Fun Chore Ideas That Actually Work: Make Cleanup a Game

Fun Chore Ideas That Actually Work: Make Cleanup a Game

Getting kids to help with chores doesn’t have to mean nagging, bribing, or endless reminders. When you turn cleaning into a game, “family laundry” time and room clean-ups suddenly feel more like play than work.

In this guide, we’ll walk through 10 fun chore ideas that actually work — including how a basketball hoop laundry basket like LaundryHoop can turn a messy room and overflowing laundry basket into a daily game kids ask for.

Why Turn Chores Into Games?

Before we dive into the ideas, a quick reminder of why gamification works so well for kids:

• Kids respond to clear goals and instant feedback

• Points, levels, and scoreboards tap into their natural competitiveness

• Visual tools like a wall mounted laundry hamper or over door laundry hamper give them a target they can see and aim for

• Short, repeatable games slowly turn into habits and routines

Now, let’s get into the practical ideas you can use at home.

1. Laundry Basketball: Turn the Hamper Into a Hoop

Instead of chasing dirty clothes off the floor, turn the laundry hamper into a game.

How to play:

• Hang a basketball hoop laundry basket (like LaundryHoop) on the laundry room door or bedroom door

• Use a “free throw line” on the floor (piece of tape or rug edge)

• Each successful shot = 1 point

• Missed shots? Kids must pick up and try again (no clothes left on the floor)

Why it works:

• Uses a space-saving hamper that hangs on the door instead of living on the floor

• Converts “put your clothes in the laundry basket” into a fun challenge

• Great for small rooms where a tall laundry basket or big laundry cart takes up too much space

2. The 10-Minute Cleanup Race

Set a timer for 10 minutes and turn tidying into a sprint.

How to play:

• Each child gets a laundry basket, laundry bag, or small cloth laundry basket

• Start the timer and shout “Go!”

• Kids race to pick up toys, clothes, and books and place them in the right spot

• At the end, give points for:

  • Clear floor

  • Clothes in the dirty clothes basket

  • Toys back in bins or storage

Make it a daily routine: one 10-minute race before dinner or bedtime.

3. Chore Points Shop (Rewards Based on Score)

Create a simple points system that covers all daily chores, not just laundry.

Example point list:

• 3 pts – All dirty clothes in the laundry hamper

• 3 pts – Making the bed

• 2 pts – Putting toys back in storage bins

• 1 pt – Bringing laundry bag or mesh bag for laundry to the laundry room

At the end of the week, kids can “spend” points in the Chore Shop:

• 10 pts – Choose movie night

• 15 pts – Extra screen time

• 20 pts – Stay up 30 minutes later on Friday

The key: simple chart + visible tally. Hang it on the fridge or near the laundry room door.

4. Color Missions: Sorting as a Game

Sorting clothes doesn’t have to be boring.

How to play:

• Use 2–3 laundry bins or hamper baskets:

  • Whites

  • Darks

  • Colors

• Turn sorting into “missions”:

  • “Find 10 dark items and put them in the dark laundry basket.”

  • “Who can fill the whites laundry basket first (correctly)?”

Kids learn laundry instructions (what goes where) and feel proud when they see the washing machine full of clothes they sorted themselves.

5. The Room Reset Challenge

A great Sunday evening ritual to reset for the week.

How to play:

• Give each child:

  • 1 laundry basket for clothes

  • 1 small box or bin for “belongs elsewhere” items

• Set a 15-minute timer

• The goal: bring the room back to “reset mode”:

  • Floor clear

  • Clothes in dirty laundry basket or wardrobe

  • Books and toys back in their place

Use a score card or checklist so kids can physically mark off each step. Over time, the “room reset” becomes a habit.

6. Sibling Laundry League: Weekly Tournament

If you have more than one child, turn chores into a mini league.

How to play:

Track points during the week for:

• Using the basketball laundry hamper (LaundryHoop) correctly

• Zero clothes on the floor at bedtime

• Helping carry a laundry bag to the laundry room

• Emptying a laundry basket into the washing machine with supervision

Create a weekly scoreboard:

• Monday–Sunday columns with daily scores

• Small prize for the weekly “Laundry League Champion”:

  • Picks dessert

  • Chooses family board game

  • Gets naming rights for the family laundry team for the week

This works especially well when the hamper itself is fun — like a basketball hoop over the door hamper that feels like a toy, not just storage.

7. The “Clean Shot” Combo: LaundryHoop in Action

LaundryHoop isn’t just a cool laundry basket — it’s a behavior tool.

Why parents love using it in chore systems:

• Door hanging laundry hamper = no floor space needed

• Deep, durable laundry bag handles extra large laundry basket loads without looking bulky

• Acts as a clear visual target: kids know exactly where dirty clothes go

• Works in small bedrooms, dorm rooms, or next to the utility room

How to integrate into your game system:

• 1 point per “clean shot” (clothes scored inside the hoop)

• Bonus points for:

  • Zero clothes on the floor for 3 days

  • Filling the laundry hoop and bringing it to the washing machine independently

It ties together laundry storage, room organization, and fun chore ideas in one simple product.

8. The Dice Chore Game

Make a list of simple chores and numbers from 1–6:

1. Put all dirty clothes in the laundry hamper

2. Pick up toys from the floor

3. Wipe desk or nightstand

4. Bring laundry bag to the laundry room

5. Put clean clothes from laundry basket into drawers (with help)

6. “Helper’s choice” – they pick a chore they want to do

Kids roll a dice and complete whichever chore they land on. Do 3–5 rounds for a full room refresh.

9. Treasure Under the Laundry

For kids who resist starting, add a little surprise.

How to play:

• Hide a small reward under the last item in the pile:

  • Sticker, note, or tiny toy

• Tell kids: “There’s a surprise hidden under the last piece of laundry or clutter on the floor.”

• They clean the room and discover the reward when the floor is completely clear.

You can do the same with a laundry basket for room or laundry storage bins: surprise at the bottom when it’s fully and correctly used.

10. Weekend Power Hour: Family Chore Game

Once a week, turn cleaning into a family event instead of an individual struggle.

How to play:

• Put on music

• Everyone gets a role:

  • Parent 1: manages washing machine and laundry unit

  • Parent 2: guides toy and book organization

  • Kids: laundry shots into the basketball hoop laundry hamper, toy sorting, wiping surfaces

• Use a simple scoreboard:

  • 5 points – bedroom floor clear

  • 3 points – laundry in correct laundry basket

  • 2 points – helping load/unload laundry cart or laundry basket

End the Power Hour with a shared reward: snacks, movie, or a walk outside.

How LaundryHoop Fits Into All of This

Throughout these games, one thing makes everything easier: a visual, fun, space-saving laundry hamper kids actually like using.

A product like LaundryHoop is:

• A door hanging laundry hamper that saves floor space

• A basketball hoop laundry basket that turns cleaning into a game

• A practical laundry storage solution with a deep, durable laundry bag

• A daily reminder and target that gives kids a clear action: “See dirty clothes → shoot into hoop.”

It helps shift chores from repeating verbal reminders (“Pick up your clothes!”) to automatic actions triggered by a visible, physical goal.

Final Thoughts: Make the System Do the Work, Not You

The real secret of fun chore systems is this:

The more the system does the motivating, the less you have to nag.

By combining:

• Clear visual tools (like a wall mounted laundry hamper or over door laundry hamper)

• Simple point systems and scorecards

• Fast, repeatable games kids enjoy

…you create a home where chores feel less like orders and more like mini challenges.

And when a product like LaundryHoop doubles as both a laundry hoop and a game, it becomes more than a laundry basket — it becomes the anchor of your family’s new, playful routine.

You can plug any of these ideas directly into your Shopify product page or blog, then link naturally to LaundryHoop as the “game-changing” (literally) hamper that makes it all possible.