I insisted that the carpet in all of the house be accessable to the vacuum cleaner. My wife told the kids that everything in their rooms that was not furniture must be picked up every Friday night for Saturdays vacuuming by me.
Anything that was on the floor was tossed into a garbage bag by me and I would put it in the outside garbage pail then dump the kitchen trash on top of it.
It only took two or three times before they decided Dad wasn't fooling when he said pick it up. The toys were put in the toy boxes, the shoes were put in the shoe racks, clothes were either hung up or put in the laundry baskets.
They did appreciate my rules when they became old enough to do the vacuuming.
Now that is a thought. Maybe they would appreciate the rule more if I made them start using the vaccuum.
Thanks for that tip.