Image by: Tony Kershaw SWNS
Meet the mum who became so fed-up with her messy teens she forced them to sign a ‘cleaning contract’ – and fines them £5 for every rule broken.
Frustrated Katrina Neathey, 36, fines her kids for failing to make their bed, drinking fizzy drinks in their room or leaving litter on their bedroom floor.
She had spent the last two decades cleaning up after her kids – and is a cleaner by trade.
But the mum-of-three got to the end of her tether when she found mud on her new £1,200 carpet, within a few weeks of a complete upstairs refurb.
She called kids Hayden, 19, Joshua, 18, and Olivia, 13, to the dining table and presented them with tailor made ten-point contacts to sign.
The eldest pair agreed they will get fined £5 per rule break – while Olivia has her phone taken away for a day per infringement.
The mum from Horsham, West Sussex, said her “harsh but fair” parenting has whipped the kids into shape – and she has only pocketed £20.
Katrina, who runs a cleaning business with her twin sister Natalie, said: “My kids are all teenagers so in my eyes they are all capable of keeping to simple rules.
“I tried to set up some basic ground rules after we did up the bedrooms but after a few days they were falling back into old habits.
“They’d hide dirty clothes or plates at the back of their wardrobe when I told them to tidy up. It’s as if they forget I’m a cleaner. I know exactly where to find things.
“I know the boys are only on apprenticeships and don’t earn that much so they’ll notice when £5 has gone out their pocket.
“We had a talk during the family meeting and I knew something needed to be done.
“When I first mentioned it to them they just thought it was hilarious.
“But I thought the only way they will listen is if I fine the older boys with money as they work and for Olivia to lose her phone.”
Katrina and husband Gareth, 41, carpenter, completed a massive £4,000 refurb on their 4 bed semi-detached home in Horsham.
All the bedrooms were redecorated and got new furniture, and Katrina told the kids it was time to step up and clean up their act.
But she said within a few days they fell into old habits, so she introduced the new rules at the start of the year.
The were given contracts demanding they put all plates in the dishwasher, only drink water in their bedrooms and put dirty washing in the laundry basket.
She said she has looked after them all their lives and it is time for them to give back.
“It might sound heavy but I just think it’s time they learn the hard way,” said Katrina, who runs Instagram page with her twin sister Twinklecleaningduo.
“When they started school they were really good because I encouraged them to put all their toys away in their rooms.
“They never ate upstairs because I was controlling that as the adult.
“It was when I started the business and begun working longer hours that things started to creep in.
“They started getting into football and dance so all of us were rushing in and out of the door.
“As they grew older and technology and phones came into play, they would just prioritising chatting to their mates than helping out with the housework.
“Plus I started doing it for them.
“Countless time I’ve told them I wasn’t their slave but that was always short lived and they would hide things instead.
Image by: Tony Kershaw SWNS
Image by: Tony Kershaw SWNS
Image by: Tony Kershaw SWNS
Image by: Tony Kershaw SWNS
“The worst was when I found a used chopping board in the wardrobe.
“I’ve also found other things like forks, bowls and milk bottles left to go off, all tucked away somewhere in the hope I wouldn’t find it.
“Pizza boxes were great as they kindly left the crumbs for me to follow them.
“To be honest the only one benefiting from their hidden gem was the dog.”
She said Josh, a carpenter apprentice, has had three fines so far – all in one day for two food wrappers hidden in a shoebox and down the side of his bed, and clothes thrown into his wardrobe.
“Olivia has only lost her phone once after I found a wrapper in her room,” she added.
“She still got to take it to school for safety reasons so I just banned it for two evenings in a row.”
Hayden, plumber apprentice, got a fine for not making his bed.
“Again I think he was testing his luck because I was going to London for the day which means I’m usually back really late but on this occasion I actually got home before him!” she said.
“Gareth and I work hard to give them the best we can be as parents and sometimes it can become easy for them to take advantage of our generosity.
“Part of growing up is learning to respect property and those you look after you. And I think the contract will help do that.
“I’ve spent years cleaning up after them.
“Since I’ve introduced them it’s been great.
“I’m really pleased with how it’s going and it’s making my life so much easier.
“I don’t have to nag either which is great for everyone.
“I’m not looking for perfect bed making and things like that.
“It’s just knowing that they are trying and for me to see evidence that they have respect for their rooms, new furniture and me.”
Olivia’s contract
– No make-up in bedroom
– No eating in bedroom
– No juice or fizzy drink in bedroom – only water
– Make bed everyday
– All clothes must be hung up or put away
– Put dirty washing in wash basket
– Keep room tidy
– Put your washing up from downstairs in the dishwasher (empty if full)
– Put shoes/trainers away
– Put bag away
Failure to follow this contract will result in your phone being taken away…for days!
Josh and Hayden ‘s contract (two separate but identical)
– No eating in bedroom
– No juice or fizzy drink in bedroom – only water
– Make bed
– All clothes must be hung up or put away
– Put dirty washing in wash basket
– Keep room tidy
– Put your washing up from downstairs in the dishwasher (empty if full)
– Put shows/trainers away
– Put bag away
Katrina and Natalie’s business can be followed on Instagram at @twinklecleaningduo.
Video by: Ashley Moran
