Hey mom and dad! Are your little ones playful and creative? Are they leaving behind messes after playtime? Are you tired of picking up after them? Do you want to help them build good cleaning habits for themselves? Here are some quick tips from Simply Maid OK for a clean and safe home that supports children and allows them to thrive!

1) Cleaning After Crafts
Crafts are fun and a great way to keep your kids busy. But they can also get messy! If a Mr.Clean sponge does not work, you can try using baking soda mixed with warm water to clean crayon stains off of the walls. This gentle mixture should remove the stain, without removing any underlying paint. Furthermore, you can use a vacuum cleaner and lint roller to get glitter out glitter from rugs and crevices. Also, setting up a “craft mat” or “craft rug” with an old mat, rug, or blanket, can help protect your flooring to begin with!

2) Washing Up Toys
Well loved toys may need to be sanitized every once in a while. Use a laundry bag to machine wash toys like lego bricks, stuffed animals, and more that may be collecting dust. Some toys can even be washed in the dishwasher or in the backyard, using a hose.

Allow your child to help and eventually start taking this responsibility upon themselves with some supervision. Also, use this as a learning opportunity. Show them that different toys are made out of materials and need to be washed in different ways. Help them sort plastics and fabrics to wash appropriately!

3) Using Baskets and Organizers
Using baskets and drawers to organize toys and other belongings makes it both easy and accessible for children to play, but also put away. Use any extra baskets and organizers in the playroom or your kids’ rooms. These organizers come in all shapes and sizes, and even colors and patterns. Hence, this can also double as a decoration.

If you are not sure of how to incorporate these organizers, here are some ideas on how baskets can be used:

Use a basket for each group of toys. Cars in one, figurines in another. Dolls in one, fun costumes in another. Stuffed animals in one, sports equipment in another. The list goes on!
Use a basket for each hobby, like art supplies or gaming supplies.
Use organizers like bookshelves to keep a collection of literature and preserve your children’s books for a lifetime.
Use organizers like grid organizers, which come in 3, 4, 6, 9, and so on. You can put cloth bins in some of these squares and put decorations like plants, figures, and so on in others!
The opportunities are endless and your children’s play area is bound to be cleaner. No more stepping on Legos!
4) Disposable Dishes and Utensils
Stock up on disposable plates, bowls, cups and utensils for your busy season. This will reduce time spent on doing dishes and putting them away after. Make sure you are being as sustainable as possible and look for disposables made out of recycled materials or natural, compostable alternatives like bamboo.

Also, invest in a dinner set for your children that is specifically designed for kids. This will allow them to eat proper proportions, and also be able to start washing their dishes themselves.

5) Making Cleaning Fun
By putting on a clean up song or cleaning up together as a family, clean up time can be as fun as play time! Use your children’s favorite song or find a new cleaning song. You can even put on a Disney playlist or whatever gets the crew excited. Some families even recommend the five-minute cleaning hack. Here, they use a five minute timer to see how much they can all get done together before the timer goes off.

Finally, encourage your children to clean up after themselves by assigning chores with clear time deadlines. You can even offer incentives using a sticker chart or chore tracker. After a certain amount of chores are completed, or a certain amount of days of a clean room, reward your child. Allow them to pick out a new toy at the Dollar Store or go out for ice cream! This will teach responsibility and develop habits of cleaning. This will make your life easier in the long run, and also benefit your children in terms of their personal development and motor skills.

Contact Us!
If you are moved by our vision, our mission, and our positive testimonials, contact us today for a home cleaning. Our services include residential cleaning services, move-in, and move-out cleanings, and more. Our cleaning professionals will be able to answer any questions you may have about how we can help with your specific needs or concerns. We will leave you and your space feeling clean and refreshed. Call us at 1-918-770-6346 or email info@SimplyMaidOK.com to schedule an appointment today!