Here are some common toddler messes and how to clean them up. Any toddler, no matter how well behaved, can easily turn into a whirlwind of chaos. Toddlers can create all kinds of messes that you never imagined something so small could manage. Whether they’ve got into the craft box or are throwing their dinner everywhere, you need to be prepared.
Pen Ink On The Walls
A classic toddler piece of mischief is to turn artist all over your walls. Depending on the ink used, there are some ways to get it off without resorting to repainting. Spray the ink marks with hairspray that contains alcohol, and then wipe it clean with a white cloth. Make sure the cloth is white, and use a clean piece of cloth for each wipe, or you could transfer more dirt back onto the wall.
If the hairspray doesn’t work, you could cover the marks with white toothpaste. Leave the toothpaste for ten minutes, then wipe off with a white cloth. For stubborn marks, turn to rubbing alcohol for help.
Paint On The Carpet
Toddler messes are inevitable when crafting with a toddler. If they’ve decided they don’t want to be limited to the paper and have tipped paint all over the floor, don’t panic. If the paint is still wet, you can blot it with a paper towel. Remember to blot, not scrub.
If the paint won’t come up a blot, call a carpet cleaning company like Devine Rug Care, who can help to rescue your favourite rug from any paint related disaster.
Playdough In The Carpet
Toddlers love to make things with play dough, but unfortunately, they also love to smash into your carpets. While the playdough is still loose, try and vacuum it up before it dries in. If you can’t get all of it out with the vacuum cleaner, get a cloth damp with hot water and place it over the dough. Leave it for an hour and then try and lift off the playdough.
If that doesn’t work, let the playdough dry, and then, with a stiff brush, brush out the remaining dough. Be careful not to brush out bits of carpet too. If this doesn’t work, you can switch to using more play dough. Playdough sticks to itself, so you can use it to lift out whatever pieces are left.
Nappy Cream All Over Everything
Nappy cream are amongst the most common toddler messes. If you forgot to put it away after a nappy change and come back into the room to find the furniture, carpet and the child are all coated, don’t worry. Nappy cream does stain, but it can be cleaned. Dishwashing detergent is the best thing to clean the furniture, carpet and the toddler. Detergent is designed to lift oil, so will work well to lift up the nappy cream. If it does leave behind stains on the carpet, you can give it good steam clean. You can even steam clean yourself using your iron.