(ARA) - Now that summer is here and kids are out of school, families can make more time for summer fun by making quick work of pesky household chores. When all hands are on deck -- even the little ones -- the chores are completed faster, leaving more time for fun in the summer sun.

Finding creative ways for kids to share the workload can help them see cleaning as less of a chore. Rather than facing a season's worth of cleaning alone, parents can try these tips from the experts at Merry Maids:

Spray a gentle cleaner like Murphy Oil Soap on socks that kids wear on their hands as they attack base boards, lower cabinets or furniture.

Fabric softener sheets are not just for doing laundry. Older kids can clean mini-blinds, TV screens and computer monitors with damp used fabric softener sheets. This eliminates the static that causes dust to stick.

To trap and remove dust rather than just moving it around, clean your wooden furniture and household treasures with a reusable, statically-charged microfiber cloth.

For cleaning windows, instead of paper towels, use your favorite window cleaning product with coffee filters as they do not streak and do not leave lint behind.

Children ages 3 and up can be responsible for keeping their rooms clean. Tots can put toys in their proper places and place pillows on their beds while older children can make up their beds, take dirty clothes and linens to the laundry area, keep their closets organized and vacuum or sweep their bedroom floors.

Assign chores where treats can be hidden. Couches and bookshelves are great hiding places. Courtesy of ARAcontent

First Published June 18, 2010, 4:43 p.m.