Here is our Better Life guide to cleaning your playroom and getting your kids to participate in the process:

Kids spend most of their time and make some of their biggest messes in the playroom. Life happens and messes happen… that is when you need clean happens! At Better Life, we want to get your playroom clean, but don’t want to leave behind harmful fumes and residues on toys and furniture. 

 

Did you know the American Lung Association lists cleaning products as a major indoor air pollutant and contributor to chronic respiratory problems such as asthma? Or that Johns Hopkins released a study showing that children’s exposure to antibacterial products can make them more prone to a wide range of food and environmental allergies?

Luckily, two dads with kids & playrooms of their own created a line of cleaning products which helps to safely keep spaces in tip top shape without the harmful effects of traditional cleaners.

 

Here is our Better Life guide to cleaning your playroom and getting your kids to participate in the process:

 

Tools Needed:

• Large dishwasher baskets
• Mesh laundry bags
• Automatic Magic
• what-EVER! all-purpose cleaner
• Simply Floored!
• Oak-y Dokey
• I Can See Clearly, WOW!
• 2am Miracle or Stain & Odor Eliminator
• Spin-credible laundry detergent
• Green Screen
• Dish It Out
• Microfiber cloths
• Microfiber mop set

 

Let’s start by assuming the Toy Fairy has visited your house and picked up and organized all the puzzle pieces, Legos, dolls, and trucks into Pinterest-worthy, artistic displays.

 

Utilize your dishwasher! 

 

Cleaning small plastic toys and toy bins:

Have the kids help gather all your small, non-electronic, plastic toys and put them in a couple of specialty, dishwasher safe baskets in the top rack of your dishwasher.

Place the large plastic bins that store the toys, books (and who knows what else you may come across) on the lower rack.

 

Run the load on “Energy Saver” (no heat dry) using Natural Dishwasher Gel.  Automatic Magic is fragrance free and won’t leave harmful residues on the toys, which we all know will end up in little ones mouths in the near future.

Alternatively, you can fill a sink with warm water and use Dish It Out dish soap and let your little ones swish the toys around until they are clean. No gloves needed.

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Stuffed Animals:

If it has been a while since they have been cleaned, grab all of those stuffed animals and throw them in a mesh laundry bag and toss them in the washing machine for a gentle bath with our laundry detergent Little sticky snacks  and dust on these fluffy friends make them tough to snuggle with!

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Electronic toys:

While the dishwasher is running, fill a bucket with warm water and a few ounces of all-purpose cleaner Dampen a microfiber cloth and ring out well. Wipe down toys with electronic components as well as other large toys and surfaces (bookshelves, tables, easels, walls, etc.).

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Sticky & stinky:

If you have any stinky messes (like finding a week old leaky cup of apple juice behind the sofa. It happens!) Spray and wipe with 2am Miracle or Stain & Odor Eliminator -- both will neutralize the funky smell fast!

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Windows:

Hand the kids a microfiber cloth and I Can See Clearly, WOW! and let them spray and wipe windows. Show them how to get into the corners of the window panes.

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Electronic Screens:

For TVs, tablets, or other screens, spray Green Screen on a microfiber cloth and wipe down the screens.

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Wood furniture:

Grab a bottle of Oak-y Dokey. Shake the bottle and spray it on a microfiber cloth to wipe down furniture (including leather sofas!) Not just a polish, Oak-y Dokey actually cleans the wood surfaces removing dirt, dust and sticky fingerprints.  You are left with a nice shine – no waxy build up or greasy residue.

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Floors:

Vacuum any rugs on the floor. If your kids are old enough to push the vacuum, lightly sprinkle baking soda on the rug so they can tell whether they have missed a spot!

For hard floor surfaces, put a damp Velcro microfiber pad onto the mop frame and lightly squirt Simply Floored! directly on floor (a little goes a looong way!)  Have your child wipe with damp mop or cloth.  The mop pole is extendable and can shrink down to perfect kid size! Don’t forget to have the kids spray and wipe the stairs.

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Finally, get the little toys and bins out of the dishwasher and organize them on the shelves.

 

Then lock the door and throw the kids outside.  Just maybe it will stay clean until the end of the day!

 

Be thankful that your kids can help with cleaning and not be exposed to alcohol, synthetic fragrances, ammonia, and other skin irritants found in many other products. And when they are done, they will feel proud of the accomplishment and you’ll be proud of your little one (not to mention the super clean room!).