Glitter, playdoh and felt tip pen. If you were to turn up on my doorstep unannounced I guarantee you would find one or all of these in places they shouldnโt be. In fact, even if I was expecting you, youโd still find one or all three somewhere you shouldnโt.
The summer holidays might be nothing but a distant memory but our living room is still bearing the scars of being a glorified playground for six weeks, and with half term looming itโs time to get on top of things before further chaos ensues. Having a good clear-out also allows you to check for any unwanted pests and call out experts likeย https://www.pestcontrolexperts.com/local/massachusetts/ย or similar at the first sign of trouble.
The thing is, we all know cleaning with kids in the house is virtually impossible – bordering on totally pointless – so if thereโs an easy option Iโll take it.
Iโm a big fan of hacks in any shape or form, so whenย the cleaning experts at Vax got in touch with a list of quick and easy tips for mums like me I couldn’t resist. Here’s what they have to say:
Essential cleaning hacks for lazy mums
1. Use toothpaste to remove crayon and pen marks from walls. Rub white toothpaste onto the marks with a dry muslin and keep rubbing until they disappear. For biro, blast with an aerosol hairspray to dissolve the ink and wipe clean.
2. Use vegetable oil to get rid of sticker gunk. If theyโve stuck stickers somewhere youโd rather they didnโt peel them off and put vegetable oil on the residue. Then simply scrape it off with an old credit card or something blunt.
3. Wipes, wipes and more wipes! We all know itโs possible to clean an entire house with baby wipes โ I keep a pack in every room so theyโre always close to hand. You can never have too many.
4. Invest in a carpet washer. Weโve got a Vax Dual Power Pro carpet cleaner and itโs absolutely brilliant.ย Think a standard upright vacuum cleaner, only slightly larger and with a water tank.
It’s got wash and rinse functions withย a DualTECHTMย cleaning system to agitate the carpetย fibres and lift deep down dirt, and there’s also a ‘boost’ button on the handle for really stubborn stains.
It couldn’t be simpler to use – with picture instructions you literally pop solution in one side of the water tank, fill the other side with warm water and you’re ready to go. The solution foams as it’s being applied (this is really quite satisfying to see!)ย and the excess is drawn into a dirty water tank which you click out ofย the holder and throw away later (I’ll spare you a picture of that,ย the contents of our carpet wasย grim).
Because of the oscillating brushes stains are lifted out of the carpet in minutes andย there’s quick drying technologyย so there’s no need to vacate the house for hours on end.
There are also hand tools for stairs and upholstery – which even got red felt tip out of the crevices of our button-backed sofa – and a hard floor squeegee tool.
I’m not sure why I haven’t thought to get one of these before –ย Vax’s model isย a breeze to use and just what you need after birthday parties when there’s chocolate sponge trodden intoย the carpet and squash spillages everywhere.ย The carpet washerย costs ยฃ299.99 but it is currently on offer for ยฃ179.96 on Vax’s website, and with a six year guarantee I think this is really great value for money.
5. Get to know your vacuum cleaner tools. Ever wondered what all those extra nozzles that came with your vacuum cleaner are for? The crevice tool will remove trapped gunk from down the side of sofas so thereโs no need for the dreaded Scraping Of Hands.
6. Vinegar and water. Banish sticky handprints from windows, glass, mirrors and shiny surfaces with one-part vinegar to three parts water in a spray bottle. Wipe clean with a microfiber cloth and bingo!
7. Invest in a steam cleaner. If you have hard floors rather than carpet a steam cleaner will shift the really stuck-on dirt. Theyโre also great for removing grease and grime from all sorts of hard to reach places. (Vax is currently giving away a free steam cleaner worth ยฃ59.99 with each order of a Vax Dual Power Pro).
8.ย Keep a cordless vacuum cleanerย to hand. When the craft box comes out leaving a trail of glitter in its wake the best approach to cleaning is little and often. Just whip it out and zap the mess when needed.
9. Drop oil onto radiators. A few drops of geranium or lavender oil on your radiators will keep rooms smelling fresh for weeks on end.
10. Buy a pressure washer. If youโve got a garden save time scrubbing the outside toys by blasting them with a pressure washer instead. Itโs the quickest way to clean the dirt off everything, plus itโs quite therapeutic!
Is your house still bearing school holiday scars? Are you planning on having a blitz before half term? If you have any cleaning tips Iโd love to hear them!
We were very kindlyย sent the Vax Dual Power Pro carpet cleanerย free of charge for the purpose of review. As always all opinions are my own, and based on my own honest experience.
Linking up withโฆ
My parents had a Vax carpet washer and it really was very good (that was a few years ago so they’re probably even better now). I think power washers are great too and I find it quite theraputic using them! Bye bye grime! Haha #TheList
I have baby wipes stored in every room! and am always using them. And love tip number 9, never thought of that before #PicknMix
Wow that Van looks brilliant!! We have a dyson cordless & it’s brilliant but one with a water tank would make a huge difference! #TheList x
So glad you have written about the carpet washer. I’ve been after one for weeks but it’s hard to know which is best, I usually don’t get time to research them with my two running around!
#picknmix
Haha! I have wipes in every room too! I go through a crazy amount of kitchen roll too. Joys of mum life… #picknmix
With all of these, I can’t imagine your house ever be messy!:) Lucky for me, I don’t have carpets at all. Wipes – yes, the essential in every home that includes kids;) #picknmix
Wow those are pretty impressive before and after’s! Ha ha, baby wipes are Godsend aren’t they? And to think I actually used to clean stuff properly before I discovered them ๐ #picknmix
Great tips, especially the oil on stickers, I’ve not heard of that one before and will definitely be using! I also love our cordless vacuum, cleaning has become so much faster and easier since we made the switch x
#Picknmix
Excellent tips! You’ve reminded me I really want a steam cleaner and cordless hoover. Where would we be without wipes? I’ve recently upped this a notch and use furniture wipes for leather for cleaning my shoes! #TheList
Some brilliant tips! I need to try out the oil on stickers.. my lovely laminate floor are plastered in them and the steam cleaner doesn’t quite cut it on some of the more stubborn stickers. I’m also going to give the oil in radiator tip a try – I need some calming lavender in my life haha! ๐ #thelist
I couldn’t be without our Vax!
I love the essential oil on radiators trick, I never would have thought of that! x #picnmix
Amazing tips. I would love that vax cleaner! So many mysterious stains from my toddler on our carpets xx #TheList
I love the quote. Cleaning is so tiresome with kids, and in my case a farmer, in the house. I’m all for all the hacks I can find to minimize the time I spend on the house. #TriedTested
Ooh some great tips I will definitely take these on board ๐
Jodie x
Toothpaste is a good tip – I’ve not heard of that one before! Barely got over the summer holidays and it’s half term next week! Help!
With 3 messy boys I NEED one of these! I have a small sport carpet cleaner but I really need one that can do large areas. Will have to investigate further! #TriedTested
Haha Brilliant, yes I agree cleaning with kids is pointless, Littleman is always behind me making a mess as I go! However Number 1. Awesome, Fin drew all over his wall, so will definitely be trying the toothpaste, Thanks!!
Such good little hints and tips, since becoming a parent I have found the wonders of baby wipes!
Might try the oil on radiators soon though! Specially a Christmas smelling one!
#thelist
Amazing tips – I did not know the one about toothpaste to get crayons off walls! I do use wipes for everything though #TheList
Love these hacks! Love the radiator air freshener idea! x #thelist
i baby wipe everything. I’ll just do the odd “oh someones coming round, i’ll just give the sink a bit of a wipe” by end of the week i’ve done the whole house!
#coolumumsclub
Love the look of the Vax carpet cleaner. Having a handheld hoover for small messes is a fab idea too, perfect for catching those stray crumbs without getting the big hoover out #coolmumclub
Is it weird that I’m pinning this to ‘Blog posts I love’? I’m a total lover of those little cleaning tips and the hubby and I are forever googling things like ‘how to get biro off the sofa’. My husband would also sadly probably (definitely) LOVE one of those carpet cleaners. VAX if you’re reading, I know a blogger who has review envy ๐
Thanks for linking up to #coolmumclub
I so agree that baby wipes are the solution to just about any mess. Most things in our home have been wiped with one at some point. For florrs, I like our Roomba. It sweeps, I mop. #coolmumclub
We REALLY need one of the Vax carpet cleaners. We live in a rented house with cream carpets throughout and 3 kids, don’t think I need to say anymore really! Great tips, especially the sticker gunk one. Thanks for linking to #PickNMix
Eilidh x
I’m a complete disaster – have bookmat for future use! #coolmumclub
We really do need to invest in a carpet cleaner! Two tots and a whole load of potty training has not been kind to our once sparkly floors. Love the toothpaste tip – I’ll have to try that next time! x #coolmumclub
I’m with you on the baby wipes!
The carpet cleaner sounds ace – especially after my eldest was sick on the carpet this weekend *sigh*
Thanks for sharing your review on #TriedTested this week x
Child sick, cat sick, play doh, poo – you name it our carpet’s seen it!!
I never thought of Vax Dual Power Pro can do, I bought it a year ago and never try to use it.. Well then let see what this guide can do for me.. love this hack guide.. cheers