Cleaning with Your Children

If you are a mother of many, chances are you sometimes (all the time?) feel overwhelmed by all the housework there is to do.  There are many ways to clean house, but here is a little tip for those of you with children.

Get them involved!

This can be easier said than done.  But here is a little secret.

Little ones are usually thrilled to help you out with something around the house!

Today I had three of my little ones clean the baseboards for me, all over the house.  First, I called them all together.  I had a very cheerful, upbeat tone as I said, "Look at these baseboards.  They are dirty!  You are very small and low to the ground, so it is easy for you to clean them.  I need you to take these rags and wipe all that dirt off and make them shiny and clean.  First, start in the kitchen and wipe all of those, and then go to the next room.  They will look so much better!"

I had my six year old also helping, and put her in charge of making sure the littler ones finished one room before going to the next, and to also check their work (I checked it myself later too).  She was happy to do this--they all were and felt like they were such a big help.  They enjoyed cleaning the baseboards so much that when they were done they decided to wipe off some of the light switches and doors too.  I was cleaning other things at this time, also, which encouraged them to work harder.

Here are some tips for getting your little ones (and bigger ones!) to help you with chores:

• Think of tasks they can do that are not too hard, or even ones that might challenge them a little
• Have a cheerful attitude and voice when you tell them about what they are going to do
• Tell them that you really need their help, and be excited about how much better the house will look after they've done their chore
•  Give them clear instructions of what to do, and give any cautions as needed (I had to tell mine not to scrub the paint off the baseboards)
• Praise them for the good job they are doing, and how they are making your home look better
• Check their work afterward, and if they need to do anything over again, tell them in a cheerful voice, such as, "Uh oh!  You missed some over here!  Come and wipe this dirt away!"
• It also helps to clean alongside your children, either on the same task or something else nearby.  They will be encouraged to see that Mommy is working hard to clean the house too.

Another secret:  Older ones get inspired when they see how cheerfully the little ones clean and might just clean cheerfully too.  My eldest was excited to do the task I gave her--which was to wipe down all the kitchen cabinets and drawers.

Do you need help with what chores to do when?  I use planners such as The Confident Mom or the Motivated Moms Planner [affiliate links].  I don't have to think about what to do this way--I just go down the ready-made list and check things off when done!  I assign chores to my children that they can help me with.

Remember a good attitude about cleaning is catchy.  You are blessing your home and your family when you clean it, and helping your children learn this when they help you.

Two Little Girls...

Buy This at Allposters.com

Receive Blessed Homemaking in your inbox. Subscribe here. 

How to Clean a Shower Curtain (the Non-Toxic Way)

I have been doing a whole house cleaning--first decluttering, and then cleaning, as part of my homemaking class.  It is great to get rid of stuff and simplify, keeping only what we really need.  That makes it so much easier to clean!  Now, I haven't tackled our children's rooms yet--that will be a challenge I'm sure.

Since I like to clean with homemade concoctions and non-toxic products, I thought I'd share with you how to get your shower curtain nice and shiny again.  You will need borax, white vinegar, and your regular laundry detergent.  All you need to do is

1. Take down your shower curtain(s).
2. Put them in the washer
3. Add your laundry detergent
4. Add some borax (sorry I didn't measure, but just put some in).  I find this in the laundry department at Walmart.  It comes in a white rectangular box and is a powder.  The only brand I know of will say "20 Mule Team Borax" on it.  Borax is great to have around because you can use it in many other cleaning recipes; the same with white vinegar.
5. Add some white vinegar to the rinse cycle (however much you would use as a fabric softener).
6. When the wash cycle is done and your curtain is clean, hang it up to dry, right back in its bathroom home.  Don't put it in the dryer or it might get destroyed.

If your shower curtain is really, really dirty, you might have to repeat this once or twice, but it works wonderfully.  This will get rid of soap scum and mildew, and your shower curtain will look so much better.

Receive Blessed Homemaking in your inbox. Subscribe here.

Linked to Raising Homemakers

Dishsoap Insect Spray

Buy at AllPosters.com


Did you know you can use a soap spray for insects on your plants & in the garden outside? I remember my husband and I did this several years ago for some bushes we had against our house that were always COVERED in bugs. Mix 1 tablespoon of liquid soap with water in a quart spray bottle you can get pretty much anywhere. It is good to spray once a week and also after it rains.

Laundry & Dish Detergent (Homemade)

Here are a couple of homemade cleaner recipes from my friend Tami. I have not tried them yet, but she says they work!

Laundry Detergent

"This works for me at least. I use cold water."
2 cups borax
2 cups baking soda
1 bar Ivory soap
Mix together. Use 2 tablespoons for each load.

Homemade Cascade
1 cup Borax
1 cup baking soda
1 cup salt
Use vinegar or lemon juice in rinse cycle area
Use 2 tablespoons of this when you do a load of dishes



Attractive Housewife in Modern Kitchen, Washing Dishes
Photographic Print
Buy at AllPosters.com