Guest Post by Anna Aamone
Most kids are definitely not into cleaning but are very good at creating a perfect mess around your home. How to solve this problem?
Maybe if you craft a cute little cleaning kit, specially designed for your child’s use, this will motivate the little one and help them become more involved in the cleaning process. The sooner you teach the child to assist in the household chores, the better. Naturally the kid’s cleaning kit should be safe and chemical-free as children are much more susceptible to harsh and toxic detergents. Here’s a list of items the kiddo’s cleaning kit should consist of.
5 Essentials for a Childs Cleaning Kit
A Caddy
You should come up with something to store all cleaning items in – this way they will be easily carried from one place to another. Begin by finding a caddy (a fancy word for a bucket). Don’t bother spending money on buying one. You can simply use a smaller plastic bucket of your own or a sand bucket the child no longer plays with.
To make it more appealing, personalize and tailor the bucket according to the little one’s preferences – print out his/her name in a cool font on a sheet of paper and attach it to the bucket with clear tape; some stickers with the kid’s favorite cartoon characters would add a nice touch.
Spray Bottle with Natural Cleaning Detergent
As I mentioned the kit should be absolutely chemical-free. Think of concocting your own cleaning solution out of natural and safe ingredients. Prepare an all-purpose cleaner – combine water with half a spoon of baking soda with a few table spoons of white vinegar, squeeze in the juice of one small lemon and add a few drops of fragrant essential oil of your choice.
Then pour the mixture in an old spray bottle you have cleaned beforehand. You can stick a label on the side with the child’s name, too! This is a recipe provided by ProCarpetCleaners North London.
Hand Duster
Add a hand duster to the set. Why not make one yourself actually?
You will need yarn fleece, a dowel, scissors and a hot glue gun. Cut the fleece in four equally sized squares. Cover the dowel with some glue and place it in the middle of one of the squares; top it with another fleece square and press so the two are glued together. Then glue the remaining two pieces in the same manner. Cut horizontal slits at the sides using the scissors. Most likely it won’t turn out perfect but it will serve its purpose of collecting dust.
Cleaning Cloth
The child will likely need a piece of cloth to polish and clean surfaces with. No need to waste money on buying cloth, specially designed for this purpose – you can take an old shirt of yours and cut it to pieces. This will be just as effective and much more budget-friendly.
Cut several pieces, so that you can switch – as soon as one of them gets dusty and dirty, toss it in the washing machine along with the rest of your laundry. Then simply load the child’s caddy with a fresh piece of dusting cloth.
Scrubbing Brush
If you feel you need some assistance in removing annoying stains from your carpet or upholstery, present the child with a brush for this purpose.
You can give them an old toothbrush, you no longer intend to use or a clothes brush. These will be perfect for scrubbing until stains come off. Not to mention the kid’s natural all-purpose cleaner will likely prove to be more efficient than the store-bought one you use.
Add a small dustpan to the set (you will probably have to buy this one though) – the child might utilize it to collect crumbs from the table in.
Your child’s chemical-free cleaning kit is ready for use. Now all that’s left to do is invite the little one to participate in the cleaning process. I am sure as soon as they see their own personalized cleaning set, they will be more than happy and willing to join you in your household maintenance activities.
Diane Price says
Thanks for sharing! I love this idea of making a cleaning kit for the little ones – I will surely try at home.