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teaching kids how to clean
Isn’t my little guy handsome? I asked him to look tough for that picture.
One of the most important things I can do for my children will be to teach them the value of hard work. I admit, though, it’s not my strongest area of parenting. It’s much easier to clean up a mess myself than to ask my child to do it, show them how to do it, and then watch and wait while they get it done. But I guess parenting isn’t easy, is it?
When ARM & HAMMER®* Baking Soda asked me how I used their Baking Soda around the house, besides just baking or sticking a box of it in the fridge, I thought immediately of how I love to sprinkle it on my carpets right before I vacuum. It helps lift up the dirt, and freshens even the most dingy carpets.
But I don’t have carpets where I live right now, so I couldn’t demonstrate that for you.
I have been wanting to do a post on encouraging kids to do chores around the house, though, and since ARM & HAMMER® Baking Soda has such a multitude of cleaning uses, I thought I could teach my kids how to use it to do their chores.
The beauty of using ARM & HAMMER® Baking Soda as a cleaning agent is that it is 100% safe for children to use. It won’t scratch or corrode, and, most importantly, is non-toxic. That’s something I can really feel good about.
My oldest son used it to scrub the kitchen table which had little bits of food stuck on it since breakfast.
My daughter used it for the bathroom—in the tub and in the sink. She discovered it was great for scrubbing all the grime in the sink and making it shine.
I would have had my youngest scrub the baseboards with it, but he said he was tired and just wanted to hold the box for the picture.
Never said I could teach them to love cleaning overnight. But this was a start.
What about you, what do you find are the tougher things to teach your kids?
And what do you use ARM & HAMMER® Baking Soda for? What are your secrets? If you have one you’d like to share, be sure to share it in the ARM & HAMMER® Baking Soda/Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia Sweepstakes, which you can find out all about here.
*As a Martha’s Circle Blogger, I have been compensated for this post, but all views and opinions are my own.
8 Responses to “teaching kids how to clean”
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I like to sprinkle it on the cat before I brush her. Partly because it deodorizes, but mostly because it makes her mad.
Laura—I love cats, but I have to admit I’m having a small fit of evil laughter.
I was about to try a mix of Arm & Hammer baking soda and vinegar for a clogged shower drain. This was recommend by a lady at my local dollar store. From your post, I am now recognizing ways to incorporate my kiddos with the housecleaning as well. And oh my I cannot believe how big your youngest has gotten. He is a handsome little man! Thank you for the great post!
Crystal–Thank you! And I’ve used Arm & Hammer to clear a drain, too. How did it work for you?
Baking Soda works great for cleaning/deoderizing laundry. I’ve also used it to clean my burnt pans when I forget about my cooking rice!
Ok here is a secret I have been trying to share with the world. You can use baking soda to clean your oven without any harsh fumes! I moved into a new apartment with an old oven. The oven probably hadn’t been cleaned in over 5 years. Before I baked anything in that oven, I wanted to clean it. I researched and found this article – http://www.websiterepairguy.com/articles/household_tips/clean_oven.html – I figured, a a buck a box, why not give it a try. I mixed my baking soda and water in a spray bottle. Sprayed the oven well every morning before leaving for work (while waiting for the coffee to brew and the bread to toast). I did this for 2 weeks. The oven and the front of the stove looked like heck for the two weeks. But then I spent 30 minutes wiping down the inside and outside with a wet sponge and, I kid you not, it looks like a brand new oven! There were some tougher spots, mostly on the inside of the door, but I made a paste of baking soda and water and left it to dry, then wiped it away and it came completely clean.
I’m a skeptic and now I won’t clean my oven any other way.
My daughter is getting old enough to start helping and this gave me some inspiration – thanks!
That’s wonderful, Adriana!!