Common kid messes
While kids are such a joy, they’re also mini mess creators. So whether you’re a parent, grandparent, favorite aunt or uncle, caregiver, or neighbor with a cute dog who bakes fun treats, we have a solution if the me-do-it attitude of the kid in your life is leading to home disasters.
Here are fixes to common kid mishaps you may run into.
THE WRITING’S ON THE WALL
If a child’s Van Gogh is making you oh no, then it’s time to pull out a jug of vinegar. This versatile household cooking ingredient and cleaning chemical will likely be the most effective way to remove crayon marks from your wall. It breaks down both the wax and colorant in the crayon.
Test on a small area before applying to the entire work of art to make sure it won’t have a bad reaction to your paint. Pour white vinegar into a small cup and dip a toothbrush in. Gently scrub at the stain. Once it’s removed, wipe down the wall with a clean damp cloth. The vinegar smell will dissipate as it dries.
(IM) PERMANENT MARKER
If the permanent marker scribbles on your wood furniture have you questioning the transcience of life, make haste to your bag and pull out some hand sanitizer. This handy product can help you remove permanent marker stains by reactivating the ink, allowing you to easily wipe it away.
Generously cover the stain with hand sanitizer and let sit for 30 seconds before wiping off with a soft rag or paper towel. If this doesn’t completely remove the stain, reapply the hand sanitizer, let soak, and then wipe again.
PLAY-DOH
If you’ve got a doh situation in your carpet, don’t worry. Likely you’ll be able to get it out with time. Pick up any large pieces and then let the embedded Play-Doh dry out completely — be patient! — it will probably take a day or two. Use your brush tool to vacuum up the mess. It may take a few passes before it all comes out. If you have any pieces still stuck on, use a wet soapy towel to gently scrub it out.
UNSTUCK YOUR STICKERS
If that sticker chart is coming back to haunt you, there’s an easy way to get yourself out of a messy situation! Grab your hairdryer and put it on the highest heat setting. Hold an inch or two above the sticker and blast it with hot air for about a minute. The heat from the dryer will likely loosen the adhesive and make it easier to peel off.
Is the area still sticky? Use the old vinegar and a toothbrush trick from the crayons above to remove any remaining residue.
WHAT IS THAT SMELL?
Kids are stinky. Whether it’s the diaper pail, a sweaty tween gym bag, or the ghost of a forgotten sippy cup past, it can be hard to keep your home smelling fresh.
One of the fastest ways to deodorize your home is to air it out by opening the windows — just make sure your screens are in good shape!
Get your carpets cleaned regularly or consider replacing them with hardwood once the kids are sure on their feet. In between professional cleanings, sprinkle baking soda on your carpet and let sit for an hour to absorb smells before vacuuming thoroughly.
It may also be helpful to declare bedrooms a food-free space — except for yours. We won’t tell anyone about your chocolate stash!
CLEAN IT UP
If you’ve recently hosted a play session and one of the kids has come down with a cold, fret not. You can de-ick the toys that everyone was handling.
You can put legos and other small plastic toys in a laundry bag and add them to the top rack of your dishwasher. Run a regular cleaning cycle and remove before the drying starts. Let cool down then spread out on a bath towel to allow the toys to dry out completely.
Toys that have air pockets in them (like doll heads) and squeeze toys should not go through the dishwasher as they can get water trapped in them and grow mold or mildew. Wipe these toys down and let them air dry instead.
Please note: if the kid is still mouthing toys and using teethers, be sure to follow the cleaning instructions that came with the toy as the heat from a dishwasher could damage delicate parts and make them unsafe for use.
KEEP CALM. CLEAN ON.
Even though there are many caregiving books out there on the market, we know that the kids in your life didn’t come with a manual just for them. You’re doing a great job!
And we’re always here. We can’t help you figure out their math homework, but we can make your home work better for your life.