When a toddler happens to your house…cleaning tips

I’m not big on cleaning, no we do not live in absolute squalor, I clean, I just don’t list it on my top favourite things like some of my friends do, seriously I know people who clean to RELAX!
We on the other hand employ someone to clean twice a week and I like to make as little mess in between those visits as humanly possible, you know, so I only need to do the bare necessities.
I’m one of those, “can if I need to but would rather not need to” type people.
But seriously I work a full day then have freelance gigs at night, so cut a girl some slack, hehehe.
But alas Aidan is not about cutting this girl some slack!
The kid is clearly not in on my, “don’t move till the cleaning lady’s next visit” plan.
In fact he is quite destructive. The moment you put him down it’s like watching the Tasmanian devil ransack your home.
I’ve been making him help me clean up before bed everyday, but he is pretty much at the unpack while I pack in stage – but we are getting there…
He has created some serious cleaning conundrums in the last few weeks so I thought that it would be nice to share the list of cleaning tips I got from the interweb for those pesky toddler messes.

 

When a little someone gets play dough in your carpet

 – Remove as much as you can the moment you notice

– Let the rest dry

– Use a brush/fork to loosen the particles

-Vacuum up the rest

-Swear to yourself you will never let your kid play with play dough near a carpet again
 
 
 

How to get crayon masterpieces off the wall

 

Different methods

 
Baking Soda
 

– Dampen a cloth or sponge. – Sprinkle baking soda on the damp cloth or sponge.
– Scrub the crayon marks gently with the baking soda. Don’t press too hard or you risk scratching the paint. – Wipe the wall with a damp sponge to remove any remaining baking soda.
2     Erase
     – Rub lightly along the crayon marks with an eraser. You can use a standard pencil eraser, but do not press too hard or you can buff the finish off the paint. – Wash that area of the wall with a warm, soapy sponge. – Wipe the wall with a damp sponge to rinse.
3     Toothpaste
– Squeeze a small amount of non-gel toothpaste onto the crayon mark. – Scrub away the crayon wax gently with an old toothbrush. –Wipe the wall with a damp sponge to rinse. – 
 
 
 White Vinegar
 – Dip an old toothbrush into undiluted white vinegar. –Scrub gently along the crayon mark. –Wipe the wall with a damp sponge to rinse.
 

Cleaning stuffed animals that have become gross



Washing Machine Instructions – Place stuffed animal in a pillow case or mesh bag. – Wash in cold water. Do not use bleach. –Air-dry stuffed animals overnight or tumble dry with no heat.

2   Odor Removal

– Vacuum stuffed animals to remove dust and dirt. –Place the stuffed animals in sealed plastic bags with 1 cup of cornstarch or baking soda in each bag. Shake each bag vigorously to coat the toys. – Remove the stuffed animals from their bags and shake them off outside. –Leave the toys outside in the sun for at least two hours. This method is particularly effective for removal of moldy odors.

Read more : http://www.ehow.com/how_7669659_clean-disinfect-stuffed-animals.html

 

Set in finger paint on clothes 

 
Nail polish remover gives good results.
Also if you combine nail polish remover, Windex, and hair spray, and put it on the stains it should come out.
(have not tried this, but might have to since I have quite a stain on my jeans)
 

 Rice

 
… cover a paddle or your hand with tape sticky side out and press down

 
 
 

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