A Fair Cleaning Routine | Learn Chinese in English

Sentence explanations

1. 我们的清洁安排不起作用，厨房总是变得很乱。

   Our cleaning routine is not working, and the kitchen keeps getting messy.

   我们的

   our

   清洁

   cleaning

   安排

   arrangement; routine

   不起作用

   does not work

   厨房

   kitchen

   总是

   always; keeps

   变得

   become; get

   很乱

   very messy

   More detail

   我们的 means “our.” 我们 is the first-person plural pronoun “we/us,” and 的 marks possession or association: 我们的 + noun = “our + noun.” Chinese does not mark gender in this pronoun. Example: 我们的房间 means “our room.” 清洁 means “cleaning” here and is placed before 安排 to describe its type. It can also be a verb meaning “to clean,” as in 清洁房间 (“clean the room”). 安排 means an arrangement or plan; in this sentence, it naturally refers to a cleaning routine or plan. The reusable pattern X 的安排 means “X’s arrangement/plan,” while 清洁安排 means “cleaning arrangement/routine.” 不起作用 means “does not work” or “is ineffective.” 起作用 is the positive pattern “to work; to have an effect,” and 不 negates it: 不起作用 = “does not work.” Example: 这个方法不起作用。 — “This method does not work.” 厨房 means “kitchen.” It is a noun and can be used directly as the topic or subject of a clause, as in 厨房很小 (“The kitchen is small”). 总是 means “always” or “repeatedly, every time.” It modifies the following situation and does not itself mean “become.” In this sentence, it emphasizes the recurring result. 变得 means “become” or “get” before a resulting state. 变 means “change,” while 变得 + adjective presents the change as reaching a state. Example: 天气变得冷了。 — “The weather became cold.” 很乱 means “very messy” here. 乱 is the adjective “messy; disorderly,” and 很 is a degree word commonly used before an adjective in a descriptive statement. In such sentences, 很 can make the adjective phrase sound natural and need not express an especially strong degree. Example: 房间很乱。 — “The room is messy.” Together, 我们的清洁安排不起作用 says “our cleaning routine does not work.” The second clause, 厨房总是变得很乱, says that the kitchen repeatedly becomes messy. Joined by the comma, the utterance means: “Our cleaning routine is not working, and the kitchen keeps getting messy.”

2. 我不觉得我们中的任何一个人是故意这样做的。

   I do not think either of us is doing it on purpose.

   我

   I; me

   不觉得

   do not think; do not feel

   我们中的任何一个人

   either of us

   故意

   intentionally; on purpose

   这样做

   do this; do it this way

   More detail

   我 means “I” or “me.” In this sentence it is the speaker, and it is the subject of 不觉得. Mandarin 我 does not change form for subject or object position. 不觉得 means “do not think” here. 不 negates the following verb 觉得, “to think” or “to feel.” The form 觉得 itself is not marked for past or present; the surrounding context supplies the time. For example, 我觉得这个办法很好 means “I think this method is good,” while 我不觉得这个办法很好 means “I do not think this method is good.” 我们中的任何一个人 means “either of us” in the fixed translation. 我们 means “we/us,” 中的 means “among,” and 任何一个人 means “any one person.” Because this phrase is inside the scope of 不, the combination means that not even one person in the group is being identified as doing it intentionally; natural English renders this as “either of us” in the negative sentence. The phrase does not by itself state a larger group than the supplied translation supports. 故意 means “intentionally” or “on purpose.” It is an adverb describing the manner or intention of the action, rather than the action itself. For example, 他不是故意迟到的 means “He was not late on purpose.” 这样做 means “do this” or “do it this way.” 这样 means “in this way/like this,” and 做 is the verb “to do.” 做 keeps this same written form here; the sentence-final 的 belongs to the larger 是……的 pattern, not to a changed form of 做. A reusable example is 不要这样做, “Don’t do it this way.” The embedded clause is 任何一个人是故意这样做的. Here 是……的 presents or highlights the manner of a completed or understood action: 故意 is the highlighted manner, and 这样做 is the action. This 是 is therefore part of the construction, rather than simply the English copula “is.” The outer structure is 我不觉得 [clause], “I do not think [clause].” Together, 我不觉得 introduces the speaker’s judgment, 我们中的任何一个人 identifies the relevant people, and 是故意这样做的 says that the action was done intentionally in this way. The whole utterance means: “I do not think either of us is doing it on purpose.”

3. 也许我们需要一个更明确的标准，尤其是对餐具和炉子的清洁。

   Maybe we need a clearer standard, especially for dishes and the stove.

   也许

   maybe

   我们

   we; us

   需要

   need

   一个

   a; an

   更明确的

   clearer

   标准

   standard

   尤其是

   especially

   餐具

   dishes; tableware

   炉子

   stove

   清洁

   cleanliness; cleaning

   More detail

   也许 means “maybe” and marks the statement as possible rather than certain. It commonly comes before the clause it modifies: 也许他今天来。 — “Maybe he will come today.” 我们 is the first-person plural pronoun, “we” or “us.” Its form does not change for subject versus object in this sentence; its role is shown by position. Here it is the group that needs the standard. 需要 means “need” and is a verb. It can be used with a person, thing, or action as its object: 我需要帮助。 — “I need help.” In the source, 我们需要 means “we need.” 一个 is the pattern “一 + classifier,” commonly used before a singular countable noun. 个 is the general classifier. In 一个标准, it presents a standard as one item, but the sentence does not emphasize a numerical count. 更明确的 describes the following noun. 明确 means “clear” or “definite,” and 更 makes it comparative: 明确 → 更明确 (“clearer”); 最明确 means “clearest.” The adjective is 明确, not 标准; 的 links the modified description to the noun. 更明确的标准 therefore means “a clearer standard.” 标准 is a noun meaning “standard” or “criterion.” It can refer to a rule or level used to judge something: 我们需要统一的标准。 — “We need a consistent standard.” 尤其是 introduces the part receiving special emphasis: “especially.” It can be followed by a noun or phrase, as in 我喜欢水果，尤其是苹果。 — “I like fruit, especially apples.” 餐具 is a noun for dishes or tableware—the utensils and serving items used for eating. In this sentence it is one area to which the standard applies. It is not itself a verb meaning “wash” or “clean.” 炉子 is a noun meaning “stove.” The final 子 is part of this ordinary noun form here; it should not be treated as a separate word meaning “child.” 清洁 can function as a noun meaning “cleanliness” or “cleaning.” In 餐具和炉子的清洁, it forms a noun phrase about the cleanliness or cleaning of the dishes and stove. The possessive marker 的 links 餐具和炉子 to 清洁, so the phrase literally concerns “the cleanliness/cleaning of the dishes and stove.” The structure is 也许 + 我们 + 需要 + 一个 + 更明确的 + 标准, followed by 尤其是 and the specifically emphasized area 对餐具和炉子的清洁. Here 对 marks what the standard is applied to, and 和 joins the dishes with the stove. Together, the utterance means: “Maybe we need a clearer standard, especially for dishes and the stove.”

4. 我们可以每周轮换任务，这样就不会总是同一个人拖地。

   We could rotate tasks weekly, so the same person does not always mop.

   我们可以

   we can / could

   每周

   weekly; every week

   轮换

   rotate; take turns

   任务

   tasks

   这样

   this way; so

   就不会

   then will not

   总是

   always

   同一个人

   the same person

   拖地

   mop the floor

   More detail

   我们可以 means “we can/could” here: 我们 is “we,” and 可以 expresses ability or, as in this proposal, that an arrangement is possible or acceptable. Chinese does not require a separate verb ending for this kind of present or future possibility. Example: 我们可以明天开始。 — “We can start tomorrow.” 每周 means “every week” or “weekly.” 每 means “each/every,” and 周 means “week.” It modifies the action that follows, specifying how often the rotation happens. Example: 我们每周开一次会。 — “We have a meeting once a week.” 轮换 means “rotate” or “take turns.” It presents roles or tasks as changing among people rather than staying with one person. Example: 我们轮换做饭。 — “We take turns cooking.” 任务 means “task” or “assignment.” In this sentence it refers to the household jobs being allocated, and it can also be used for work or other assigned duties. Example: 这个任务不难。 — “This task is not difficult.” 这样 means “this way” and links the proposed arrangement to its result. It refers back to the arrangement just described; it does not itself specify what that arrangement is. Example: 这样比较方便。 — “This way is more convenient.” 就不会 combines 就 with 不会. 就 marks the consequence, roughly “then” or “that way,” while 不会 says that the consequence will not occur or is not expected to occur. The negative marker 不 negates 会; 会 can express a likely or future result. Together, this chunk means “then ... will not” in this context. Example: 这样就不会忘记。 — “This way, we won’t forget.” 总是 means “always” or “all the time.” It describes repeated frequency. In this sentence it highlights the undesirable pattern of the same person mopping on every occasion. Example: 他总是很早到。 — “He always arrives early.” 同一个人 means “the same person.” 同一个 identifies one unchanged individual across the repeated situations, and 人 means “person.” 个 is the classifier used here with 人; it is not a separate meaning of “person.” Example: 不要总是同一个人负责。 — “It shouldn’t always be the same person in charge.” 拖地 means “mop the floor.” 拖 is the verb “to mop” in this household context, and 地 means “floor/ground.” Together they form a common verb-object expression for doing that chore. Example: 今天我拖地。 — “I’m mopping the floor today.” The sentence first proposes 我们可以每周轮换任务: “We could rotate the tasks every week.” 这样 then introduces the result, 就不会总是同一个人拖地: “then it won’t always be the same person who mops the floor.” The complete meaning is therefore: “We could rotate tasks weekly, so the same person does not always mop.”

5. 听起来很公平，不过比起打扫浴室，我更喜欢倒垃圾。

   That sounds fair, although I prefer taking out the trash to cleaning the bathroom.

   听起来

   sounds; seems

   公平

   fair

   不过

   however; though

   比起

   compared with

   打扫

   to clean

   浴室

   bathroom

   更喜欢

   prefer

   倒垃圾

   to take out the trash

   More detail

   听起来 means “sound/seem” here. 听 is the verb “hear,” and 起来 can follow a verb to describe how something appears or feels when perceived. Thus 听起来很公平 means “sounds fair,” not literally “hear up.” Example: 这个办法听起来不错。—“This method sounds good.” 公平 means “fair” or “fairly balanced.” It is a descriptive word; with 很, as in 很公平, it describes the arrangement as fair. Example: 这样分配比较公平。—“Dividing things this way is fairer.” 不过 introduces a qualification or contrast: “but,” “however,” or “although.” It links the initial positive assessment to the speaker’s preference. 比起 introduces the option used as the comparison point. A reusable pattern is 比起 A，(subject) 更喜欢 B: “compared with A, [someone] prefers B.” Here 比起打扫浴室 means “rather than cleaning the bathroom.” 比起 is not itself the preference verb; it sets up what the preference is being compared against. 打扫 means “clean” or “tidy.” It is a verb that can take an object, here 浴室. The form does not mark tense by itself; surrounding context determines the time reference. Example: 我周末打扫厨房。—“I clean the kitchen on weekends.” 浴室 means “bathroom.” It is a noun: 浴 relates to bathing, and 室 means a room, but the word should be learned as the ordinary noun for a bathroom. In this sentence it is the object of 打扫, producing “cleaning the bathroom.” 更喜欢 means “prefer” or “like ... more.” 喜欢 is the base verb “like”; 更 adds the comparative sense “more.” In the pattern A 更喜欢 B, the subject prefers B over A. Here the subject is explicitly 我 (“I”), which appears immediately before 更喜欢. Example: 我更喜欢茶。—“I prefer tea.” 倒垃圾 means “take out the trash.” 倒 here means to empty or dispose of something, while 垃圾 means “trash/garbage.” Together they form a common verb-object activity expression. Example: 请你倒垃圾。—“Please take out the trash.” Together, 听起来很公平 says that the arrangement sounds fair. 不过 then adds a contrast. 比起打扫浴室 establishes cleaning the bathroom as the comparison point, and 我更喜欢倒垃圾 states the speaker’s preference for taking out the trash. The complete meaning is: “That sounds fair, although I prefer taking out the trash to cleaning the bathroom.”

6. 有偏好没有关系，但那些不讨人喜欢的工作还是需要分担。

   Preferences are fine, but the unpleasant jobs still need to be shared.

   有偏好

   have preferences

   没有关系

   be fine; be no problem

   那些

   those

   不讨人喜欢的

   unpleasant; not well-liked

   工作

   work; jobs

   还是

   still

   需要

   need; require

   分担

   share

   More detail

   有偏好 means “have preferences” here. 有 can express possession or the existence of something, while 偏好 is a noun meaning a preference and can also function as a verb in other contexts. The phrase does not say that a specific number of preferences exists. Example: 每个人都有自己的偏好。 — “Everyone has their own preferences.” 没有关系 is the fixed expression “it is fine” or “it is not a problem.” In this sentence, 没有 negates 有, and 关系 means a concern or problem in this expression; it is not being used in the sense of a personal relationship. Example: 晚一点也没有关系。 — “Being a little late is fine.” 那些 means “those.” 那 points to something relatively distant in the discourse or situation, and 些 marks an unspecified plural or group. The form identifies the items as a group but does not by itself identify exactly which items they are. 不讨人喜欢的 means “unpleasant” or literally “not liked by people.” 讨人喜欢 is a useful expression meaning “to be pleasing or well-liked by people”; 不 negates it, and the final 的 turns the description into a modifier before a noun. The 的-phrase modifies the following 工作, so the sentence refers to jobs that people do not like. Example: 这不是一份讨人喜欢的工作。 — “This is not a popular job.” 工作 means “work” or “job(s)” here. It is a noun in this sentence, and Chinese does not require a separate plural ending for the intended group of jobs. The surrounding 那些 and the context make a group of unpleasant jobs salient. Example: 这些工作需要时间。 — “These jobs require time.” 还是 means “still” here. It marks that the following situation remains true despite the preceding point: even though having preferences is acceptable, the unpleasant jobs still require sharing. In other contexts, 还是 can also mean “or,” especially in a choice question, but that is not its function here. 需要 means “need” or “require.” It functions here as a modal verb before 分担, expressing a requirement rather than a completed action. A useful pattern is 需要 + verb, as in 我们需要休息。 — “We need to rest.” 分担 means “share” in the sense of taking on part of a burden, responsibility, or task. It is a verb: 分 contributes the idea of dividing, and 担 relates to carrying or bearing, but the established word should be learned as a whole. Example: 大家一起分担家务。 — “Everyone shares the housework.” Together, 有偏好没有关系 says that having preferences is not a problem. 但 introduces the contrast, and 那些不讨人喜欢的工作 identifies the unpleasant jobs. 还是需要分担 says that those jobs nevertheless still need to be shared. Thus the whole utterance means: “Preferences are fine, but the unpleasant jobs still need to be shared.”

7. 如果我们把它写下来，就能避免以后积累怨气。

   If we write it down, we can keep resentment from building up later.

   如果

   if

   我们

   we; us

   把

   marks the object being acted on

   它

   it

   写下来

   write down

   就能

   then can; will be able to

   避免

   avoid; prevent

   以后

   later; afterward

   积累

   accumulate; build up

   怨气

   resentment

   More detail

   如果 introduces a condition: “if …”. A reusable pattern is 如果 A，就 B (“if A, then B”). The condition appears in the first clause here, and the result clause follows it. 我们 means “we/us” and is the plural first-person pronoun. Chinese does not mark this pronoun for grammatical gender. In this sentence, it presents the writing and prevention as actions by the speaker’s group; the exact membership of that group is not specified by the sentence. 把 marks a disposal-style construction in which the object is placed before the verb. The pattern is 把 + object + verb, often with a result, direction, or other complement. Here, 把它写下来 focuses on what happens to 它; an ordinary non-把 alternative would be 我们写下它, not 我们写它下来. 它 is the third-person pronoun for a non-human or inanimate referent. Its specific referent is not identified in the supplied sentence. It is the object of 写下来 in the 把 construction. 写下来 means “write down.” 写 is the base verb “write,” and 下来 functions here as a directional/result complement: the writing is put into a recorded form. Example: 请把地址写下来。 — “Please write down the address.” 就能 combines 就, which marks the resulting or then-following situation, with 能, “can/be able to.” 能 expresses ability or possibility, not a simple future tense. In the pattern 如果 A，就能 B, the meaning is “if A, then B will be possible.” 避免 means “avoid” or “prevent.” It is a verb that takes the situation or result to be prevented as its object. Example: 提前检查可以避免错误。 — “Checking in advance can prevent errors.” 以后 means “later” or “afterward,” referring to a time after the relevant point. It modifies the later accumulation in this sentence. Example: 以后再讨论这个问题。 — “We’ll discuss this issue later.” 积累 means “accumulate” or “build up.” It can describe something increasing gradually over time. Here it describes resentment becoming accumulated, rather than a single sudden act. Example: 小问题如果不处理，可能会积累。 — “If small problems are not dealt with, they may build up.” 怨气 means “resentment” or “pent-up grievance.” It is the noun functioning as the object of 积累; the sentence presents resentment as something that can build up over time. Example: 沟通有助于减少怨气。 — “Communication helps reduce resentment.” Putting the parts together, 如果我们把它写下来 means “if we write it down.” 就能避免 gives the consequence, “then we can prevent,” and 以后积累怨气 specifies what is to be prevented: resentment building up later. The whole utterance therefore means, “If we write it down, we can keep resentment from building up later.”

8. 我们做一个简单的表格，试用一段时间后再一起看看。

   Let's make a simple chart and review it after we try it for a while.

   我们

   we; us

   做

   make; do

   一个

   a; one

   简单

   simple

   表格

   table; chart

   试用

   try out; use on a trial basis

   一段时间

   a period of time; a while

   后

   after

   再

   then; afterwards

   一起

   together

   看看

   take a look

   More detail

   我们 means “we/us.” Mandarin pronouns do not change for grammatical case or gender. 我 means “I,” while 我们 means “we”; the verb does not change with either pronoun. 做 means “make” here. Mandarin verbs generally do not change form for tense, so this form can describe an action proposed for now or later. 做 + object is a reusable pattern for “make/do something.” 一个 is the common pattern 一 + 个, meaning “a/one” before a noun. 个 is a widely used measure word; in this sentence, the phrase introduces 表格 without asserting a separately emphasized numerical count. For example, 一个问题 means “a question.” 简单 means “simple.” Here it directly modifies the following noun in 简单的表格-like attributive structure, but the supplied sentence actually has 简单的表格? No: its exact wording is 简单的表格? Review the fixed text: it is 一个简单的表格, so 的 is present between 简单 and 表格 and links the description to the noun. 表格 means “table” or “chart,” a structured display of information. In 做一个简单的表格, it is the object being made. 试用 means “try out” or “use on a trial basis.” Here it describes trying the chart or arrangement after it has been made; the fixed translation identifies the object as “it.” Example: 我们先试用这个方法。 means “Let’s try this method first.” 一段时间 means “a period of time” or “a while.” 段 measures a stretch or segment, so this expression indicates an unspecified duration, not a precise number of days. Example: 请等一段时间。 means “Please wait for a while.” 后 means “after” in the time pattern 一段时间后: the duration comes before 后, giving “after a period of time.” Example: 三天后 means “after three days.” 再 marks a later or subsequent action here, so 再看看 means “then take a look.” It can also mean “again” in contexts that emphasize repetition, but the later-action meaning is the relevant one here. Example: 先试试，再决定。 means “Try it first, then decide.” 一起 means “together.” It indicates that the participants carry out the later action jointly, as in 一起看看. 看看 is the reduplicated form of 看 “look; see.” Reduplication here presents a brief, light, or tentative action: “take a look.” Example: 我们看看这个方案。 means “Let’s take a look at this plan.” The utterance first proposes 我们做一个简单的表格, “Let’s make a simple chart.” 试用一段时间后 places the next action after an unspecified trial period, and 再一起看看 means “then review it together.” Together, the sentence proposes making the chart, trying it for a while, and reviewing it together afterward.

9. 如果觉得它太严格了，我们可以调整它，而不是争吵。

   If it feels too strict, we can adjust it instead of arguing.

   如果

   if

   觉得

   feel

   它

   it

   太

   too

   严格

   strict

   我们

   we

   可以

   can

   调整

   adjust

   而不是

   instead of

   争吵

   argue

   More detail

   如果 introduces a condition: “if …”. A reusable pattern is 如果 + condition, ..., as in 如果下雨，我们就不走。 — “If it rains, we won’t leave.” The sentence uses it to set up the possible situation before the main proposal. 觉得 means “to feel” or “to think” about an assessment. Its base form is 觉得; in modern Mandarin it does not change for person or time. Here the understood assessor is not separately named, so this clause means “if [someone] feels/thinks it …,” with the intended English rendering “if it feels …” supplied by the translation. 它 is a pronoun meaning “it.” It is grammatically neutral in Mandarin and does not change for number or gender. The fixed translation supports an inanimate “it,” but the supplied material does not uniquely identify the specific thing it refers to. 太 means “too” when it marks an excessive degree. With 了, the pattern 太 + adjective + 了 means “too [adjective]” or “so [adjective] that it is excessive”: 太贵了 — “It’s too expensive.” 严格 is the adjective “strict.” In 太严格了, it is the word whose degree is being judged; 太 says that the strictness exceeds what is wanted, and 了 presents this assessment as relevant or recognized now. 严格 does not inflect for person or number. 我们 means “we/us”: the speaker together with at least one other participant. It is the subject of 可以调整, not of the earlier 觉得 clause as an explicitly stated subject. 可以 is a modal meaning “can” or “be able/allowed to.” It comes before the action verb and is not itself the action. Here it presents adjustment as an available option: 我们可以试试。 — “We can give it a try.” 调整 is the verb “adjust” or “make an adjustment.” Its base form is also 调整; Mandarin verbs do not change form for person or number. In this sentence, 我们可以调整它 means that “we” can adjust the unspecified “it.” 而不是 means “rather than” or “instead of” and contrasts the following alternative with the preceding action or option. The pattern A，而不是B means “A, rather than B.” 争吵 means “argue” or “quarrel.” Here it is used as a verb after 而不是, so 而不是争吵 means “rather than arguing.” As a noun, the same form can refer to an argument or quarrel, but that is not its role in this sentence. Together, 如果觉得它太严格了 gives the condition “if it feels too strict.” 我们可以调整它 gives the available response, “we can adjust it,” and 而不是争吵 contrasts that response with arguing: “rather than arguing.” The whole utterance is therefore: “If it feels too strict, we can adjust it instead of arguing.”

10. 我们的目标是让家里更干净，而不是制定一个完美的制度。

    The goal is a cleaner home, not a perfect system.

    我们的

    our

    目标

    goal

    让

    let; make

    家里

    home

    更干净

    cleaner

    而不是

    rather than; not

    制定

    formulate; establish

    一个

    a; one

    完美的

    perfect

    制度

    system

    More detail

    我们的 means “our.” 我 is “I/me,” and 我们 is the first-person plural pronoun “we/us”; 的 marks possession or association, so 我们的目标 means “our goal.” Chinese pronouns do not change for grammatical gender. 目标 means “goal” or “objective.” It is a noun and can be used in reusable patterns such as 我的目标是…… (“My goal is …”) and 达到目标 (“reach a goal”). 让 is a causative verb meaning “let” or “make,” and here it introduces the result that is wanted: 让家里更干净 means “make the home cleaner.” A useful pattern is 让 + person/place + result, as in 这条消息让我放心 (“This message reassures me,” literally “makes me feel relieved”). 家里 means “at home” or “in the home.” 家 is “home/family,” while 里 adds the meaning “inside/in.” Here it refers to the home as the place whose condition becomes cleaner; the form does not by itself identify a particular household beyond the context. 更干净 means “cleaner.” 干净 is the adjective “clean,” and 更 marks a comparison or a greater degree: 干净 → 更干净 (“clean” → “cleaner/more clean”). The comparison is relative to an understood earlier or alternative condition; it does not assert a specific amount of change. 而不是 means “rather than” or “not … but instead ….” It contrasts the preferred result before it with the alternative that follows. In this sentence, it connects 让家里更干净 with 制定一个完美的制度. 制定 means “to formulate,” “establish,” or “draw up,” especially for a plan, rule, policy, or system. It is a verb; unlike 让, it directly describes creating or setting something up. For example, 制定计划 means “draw up a plan.” 一个 is the measure phrase for one item: 一 is “one” and 个 is a common general classifier. In this sentence, it introduces one system as the object of 制定; it is not the main source of the word “perfect.” 完美的 means “perfect.” 完美 is the adjective “perfect,” and 的 links it to the noun that follows, giving 完美的制度 (“a perfect system”). The 的 here marks an attributive description, not possession. 制度 means “system,” “institutional arrangement,” or “set of rules,” depending on context. Here the fixed translation supports the intended sense “system.” It is the noun being established in the alternative action. Together, 我们的目标是 introduces the goal: “Our goal is ….” 让家里更干净 states the desired result, “to make the home cleaner,” and 而不是制定一个完美的制度 contrasts it with “rather than establish a perfect system.” The complete meaning is: “Our goal is a cleaner home, not a perfect system.”