Make Your Children Spend a Clean Spring With You
Spring has arrived, and many of us will be doing general cleaning, such as washing windows or deep cleaning kitchen appliances. Many spring cleaning jobs involve lifting weights and require stronger cleaning agents than we use in our day to day activities, making them less than ideal for helping children. But there are some tasks that are suitable for your children if you want to involve them in your spring cleaning routine.
At Lifehacker, we take spring cleaning very seriously. We are far from missing out on an opportunity to refresh, reorganize and streamline our home life. We’re also very excited to hit the reset button with our technology, take a close look at our finances, and get the better of our day-to-day habits that have gotten a little musty. Welcome to Spring Cleaning Week as we clear away the winter cobwebs and set the stage for the sunny days ahead. Let’s clean up, okay?
A few general tips to consider: First, take the time to clearly explain and / or demonstrate the task ahead. Sure, it will add a little time to the process, but it will also help them learn and save you from having to do your job again. Speaking of doing the job again: try to avoid it if you can so you don’t accidentally send a message that their best wasn’t good enough. It’s also a good idea to dress them for work – have them wear old or sturdy clothes that you don’t mind getting dirty. And, of course, you will want to take into account your child’s age and skill level, as well as any other concerns, such as allergies or respiratory problems, that might make them less ideal for the task.
Car wash
I personally find washing the car one of the most fun things to do, and when the weather changes it’s a great job to keep the kids involved.
Start with the interior and ask them to help deal with the trash and recycling that clutters the car, take out any items like toys, crazy sneakers or books that need to be returned to their rightful home. Then ask the children to use the handheld vacuum cleaner to vacuum the seats and floor.
Once the interior is clean, the real fun can begin! Washing a car body is not rocket science, but there are some best practices to be aware of: Work from top to bottom; wash and dry the machine in parts so that the remains of soap and water do not dry on the machine during operation, leaving soap residues and water stains; Use a car wash instead of dishwashing detergent, which can tarnish the clear finish of your car.
Removing dust from skirting boards
The great thing about letting kids go to baseboards is that they are already low to the ground anyway! Plus, baseboards require nothing more than microfiber like this rag from Casabella , making it perfect for kids – no harsh chemicals, no splashing buckets of detergent solution, just a rag and some crawling.
Vacuuming furniture
You can add a little more fun to this job by letting your child store any changes they find hidden in their pillows. The job is simple and certainly can / should include making a cushion fort from couch and chair cushions, throw pillows and throw blankets as you remove them from the furniture frame. Next, slip an upholstery or crevice tool over your kids’ vacuum cleaner and ask them to do the honors, starting with the frame vacuum cleaner, then shaking the pillows and cushions vigorously to redistribute the padding and knock out the dust. Then replace the pillows and vacuum them. Finally, wash the blankets and throw pillows if necessary.
Door handles and light switch plates
This is a simple little task that requires a rag or paper towels and a small amount of mild all-purpose cleaning agent: Have the children wipe the door handles and switch plates, which, if touched repeatedly, become quite dirty and grimy. fetus – walking around the room. You can split it up by room, or give one kid a doorknob and another light switch and have them figure out which one you have more in your home to make it a little more like a game.
Cleaning and tidying up the bookshelf
Bookshelves, like baseboards, get quite dusty, but deep cleaning really only requires a good microfiber cloth, so kids can help with it. Remove all books and knickknacks from the shelves and work from top to bottom, as dust will move south when cleaning. Younger children can be assigned to dry books, while taller children can work with the bookcase itself. Then have the children sort the books by color or alphabetically by author.
Washing trash cans
Trash cans and trash cans get very dirty even if you always try to use earbuds. While you don’t need to clean them regularly, it’s not a bad idea to wash them once or twice a year, and that’s a great job outside on a good day. Like washing a car, it can be a lot of fun for kids to splash around with a bucket of soapy water and / or a hose. A large car wash sponge, dish soap, water, and a drying rag are really all you need to get the job done, and you can ask the kids to start by finding all the trash cans and trash cans in the house and emptying them, if any. full, and then take them all outside to wash. When they are clean, wipe them dry with a rag (an old bath towel is ideal here) and ask the children to bring them back and put them away.