Cleaning Children's Rooms

Here are some creative and fun ideas for motivating children to clean their rooms.

Make a cleaning map for a child's room, showing where everything is to be stored. Include items such as compact discs, shoes, books, stuffed animals and dirty laundry. Not only is this fun and educational, but the child also has no excuse about not knowing where to put away items.

Another way to help a child keep a room clean is to organize the room with bookcases, low shelves, CD stacks, colored plastic bins and dressers with a lot of drawers.

Avoid using a toy box. They just beg to be emptied. If toys are kept on shelves or in color-coded plastic bins, they can be located easily without a child having to dump everything out.

Keep a chore list in a child's room so they know what is expected of them on a daily or weekly basis. Daily items could include jobs such as making the bed and putting away toys.

Use an old pillowcase to store building blocks. Sew a drawstring around the pillowcase opening.

Turn a plastic milk jug into a storage container. Cut a hole in the milk jug on the side opposite the handle and a child can store small cars or action figures in the jug. Leave the handle on so it's easy to carry.

Store stuffed animals in a large plastic bin, which makes it easy to keep all the animals together.

Pack doll clothes and accessories in plastic zipper bags. This helps keep all the small pieces together.

Store toys on a shelf that the child can reach. Fill covered storage containers with toys and keep them on shelves.

found this article at HGTV here.

Stroller Organization

Hook shopping bags to the stroller with toy plastic links
By Ash@ Dornfe$t on travel/going out

The Mama figured out a way to ease the schlep factor while shopping with a stroller:
We have a ton of thoselinks that hook on to toys and car seatsfloating around our house. I was out running errands with a friend and we made multiple stops. The basket of my stroller was already filled with our giant diaper bag, so I took one of the links and hung my reuseable bags from it, then hung the whole thing from the stroller's handlebar. It kept things neat and they were high enough that I didn't them as we walked.
One caution: heavy shopping bags can cause the stroller to tip backwards (we've all done it, haven't we?) so be sure to keep a hand on the stroller at all times.

Leave Batteries out of the toys!!

Found this cool and interesting tip...

Leave the batteries out of toys to double the fun
By Ash@ Dornfe$t on fun/toys

Tracy, I don't know how long it will be till the kids are onto this, but it's brilliant.
At our house we get double duty out of our toys. When introducing a new toy we try to use it without batteries first... Then after using it that way for several weeks or months we add batteries for an almost new toy with all new experiences! This is especially good when your children are really young - it helps to develop their imagination in a world that is so "electronic crazy."

This brings back memories of my kids' loud toddler toys. The worst was an older version of the vTech Sort n' Go car (I don't know how it sounds now). We were so happy when the batteries ran out. Why we didn't take them out I'll never know.

Make New Crayons

Don’t Throw Out that Old Muffin Tin: Make New Crayons

Written by Tara Benwell

Published on September 18th, 20082 CommentsPosted in Arts and Crafts, Environment

The crayon craft we did today started as a research project. I was looking for a way to recycle or reuse a very old muffin tin. Not only did I find a craft for reusing my worn tray, I was able to make use of our collection of broken crayons. My kids enjoyed the fun and learned that it was an earth friendly activity, each in their own age appropriate way.

How to Make Crayon Doodlers (Recommended for Age 3+)
Peel the paper off of old broken crayons (This may sound tedious but I found it to be a great stress reliever!)
Preheat oven to 300
Help your children separate the broken crayons into fun colour combos in muffin trays
Turn heat off and place muffin tin in the oven
Bake for about ten minutes (or until liquid forms)
Place tray in the freezer for about half an hour
Take out of freezer until doodlers reach room temperature
Flip tin over and bang out doodlers (onto a soft surface such as your hand or lap-not a counter)
Get colouring!
But, you may need to experiment a little. . .

In my first attempt to make crayon doodlers I used instructions that left out the freezer part and suggested lining the muffin tray with tinfoil. This didn’t really work, because some of the wax got out and coated the bottom. Instead of throwing out the muffin tin, I will reuse it next time. A sturdy multicoloured muffin crayon such as this would have been great for doodling in the car.

The tinfoil failure was my daughter’s favourite part, though, because we reused it to make silver rings for her treasure box (where she keeps all things chokable away from her brother). Speaking of chokable, these homemade crayon doodlers are not safe for toddlers. They crack quite easily and pieces can break off. I learned the hard way because my son thought they were frisbees and flew a few through the air. For stronger crayons, fill the tins to at least half. Some moms complain that the colours all run together, but I found that if you remove the tray as gently as possible (or try using contrasting colour combos such as bright green and red) they work fine.
I found some other great ways to use broken crayons here. I especially liked the crayon leaf art suggested by a blog reader:

“When I was a kid, my mom and I would ‘grate’ the broken crayons. We would then place a pretty leaf on a sheet of wax paper, sprinkle our ‘rainbow’ of shaved crayons all over it, place the 2nd sheet on top, then take a warm iron and iron the wax paper sheets together. The crayons made a colorful background for the leaf placed between the sheets of waxpaper.”

By the way, the crayon paper I peeled off would have made great confetti for the homemade pinata we made for my husband’s birthday, which was filled with birthday messages from friends and family. I’ll save the colourful paper for our next fridge collage! What else could be done with these papers?

Inexpensive School Organizer

Inexpensive School Organizer Dealing with school clutter? A 3-ring binder works wonders for keeping important art, schoolwork and certificates organized. This is one was made by a little girl in 1st grade. The family had one for every year. They keep only keep what fits in the binder - and the kids can help choose what stays and what goes.

Kid Crafts

Drawer Organization

I was over at The Lazy Organizer and saw some great ideas. You must check out her blog!! But first, look for organizers at the dollar store

and organize some drawers like this...

Morning Routine Organizer

One mom made a Morning Routine Organizer by hanging a closet organizer near the front door. She labeled the compartments Monday through Friday. Clothes for each school day were placed into the compartments and added special items as needed. Like for soccer gear or a swimsuit and goggles for a lesson on that particular day. It worked for her...cool idea!

Homemade Pillow

Help your child get over separation anxiety at daycare with a "family pillow". I saw this post in a Parents magazine. This mom used machine-washable transfer paper to print pictures of thier family on white fabric and then sewed it onto a pillow and even added a little handle to make the pillow easier for her to carry around. Her daughter uses it at naptime and as a lovey when she gets upset.

Giorgi's Closet & Other Storage

TOYS

Found this here.

GIFT WRAPPING

I LOVE this idea. I have a wrapping station in my downstairs closet. I will eventually take a photo of it. (you know mine is a little more psycho, don't say I didn't warn you!!!) This one below is definately cool. Love how she uses wasted space to organize!!!

Organizing Video

Pantry

Snapware SnapCap Storage Container, 8 Cups/64 oz
Found these at Walgreens for $2.99.

Keeps foods fresh.
Convenient snapcap lid.
Stainproof.
Ideal for cereal, flour, cookies & crackers.

Great way to Organize your Pantry.

LABELS

STORAGE BIN LABEL POUCHES
One of the biggest problems with storage tubs (particularly opaque ones) is knowing what's in them! You can put a piece of tape on the outside -- but that's not very attractive and you run the risk of your label falling off.But now there is a more stylish way to organize your storage bins!

These 4.25": X 2.9"W adhesive plastic label pouches stick to any size or style of container -- they even work on storage accessories like shelves, shoe boxes, and Tupperware. They keep your label protected from grime, wipe off easily if they get dirty, and do not peel off in the heat, humidity or even the cold -- yet can be easily moved from one bin to another without losing their stick.

Comes in a variety of packages sizes -- from 10 to 500 labels in a pack -- each with genuine 3M adhesive on the back. Each pouch comes with a 4"L X 2.75"W reversible cover stock insert where you can write the contents of the bin.

And you have 3 insert options. Choose white inserts at no additional cost, pay 40 cents more per insert for solid-color cards (great for color coding your containers) -- or pay 50-75 cents more per insert for our themed and holiday cards (a fun way to add some personality to your organization)!

Later on, if you change the contents and need to change the label, simply turn your card insert over or put in a new card. You don't have to remove the pouch or worry about trying to tear off a stubborn label to replace it. You never need guess what's in that container again! Perfect for:

containers of holiday decorations
tubs of off-season clothes
kid's toy bins
garage, attic, or basement storage
archive files at your office
Tupperware in your freezer or fridge
any container that needs a label

You can get them here!

Mabel's Labels

Mabel's Labels, a Canadian based company founded by moms, offers a great way to keep track of your child's items. They are perfect for labeling clothing, cups, and bags for school, daycare, camp, play dates, and more. The personalized labels enable you to customize labels with your choice of vibrant colors and choose from a variety of fun icon designs for boys and girls.

We received some samples to try and I love them. We tested one on a sippy cup and ran it through the dishwasher. They weren't kidding about labels staying put. After about five minutes of painstaking peeling, I was able to remove it. It did leave a sticky residue, which came right off with my fabulous Goo Gone sticky remover.

Famous Sticky Labels:
UV and fade resistant.
Withstands the dishwasher.
Colorful labels with a variety of fun icons to choose from.

Clothing Labels:
Includes iron-on, Tag-Mates, and shoe labels.
Resists wear and tear.
Withstands washer and dryer.

Do your kid's have allergies? The allergy labels allow you to list up to six allergies and stick the labels to food containers, cups, and more!

Mabel's Labels isn't just for kids. Grown-ups can label their food containers, cups, silverware and won't have to worry about losing them at work. Plus, check out the household labels, which include classroom pack, crafter pack, and my favorite, the cord control.

Mabel's Labels just made my life a little easier.
Customize your labels at Mabel's Labels here.

BATHROOM

"Consider purchasing toiletry bags that can be hung open on a hook on the wall or behind the bathroom door. Store all everyday toiletries such as deodorant, shaving equipment etc in here, as well as a spare toothbrush and toothpaste. The bag can be quickly grabbed from the hook whenever it needs to be packed for travelling, decreasing the risk of forgetting an essential item."

credit

Getting Rid of Toys

"DECLUTTERING TOYS AND MORE (12/16/97)The day before you open presents is a great time to pull out toys that need to be thrown away or taken to Goodwill. W/ the new toys coming in, the kids usually don't even notice when you pull things that are broken or they don't play with anymore. If you have young children, do it the nightbefore you go to bed. W/ older children give them a grocery bag & ask them to fill it with things they don't want any more. Offer the kids $2 for the first bag they fill, and $1 for every bag after that, you'd be surprised what they might get rid of. In most homes this wouldn't be difficult at all. For some kids having them do it after they open presents might be a little easier, it just depends on the kids. And before you ship things off to Goodwill, look a little closer to home, does your church nursery need some of those toys, could the church kitchen use the appliance that you never use?? POST IT...on your calendar."

FIRST AID

Freeze a washcloth for a cold pack
"It's hard to predict when someone in your household will next suffer a burn, teething pain, or another bump or scrape. Be ready. Freeze a wet washcloth in a sandwich or freezer bag. Pull it out of the freezer the next time someone needs some cold care." (Found here)

CLOSETS

Here is where I'll put my tips on Closets. I stumbled on a really cool article called Dollar Store Closets.

Some of the things I really liked were the Labeled storage baskets and the Memo boards for artwork.

"To organize a child's room, solutions must fit the child. For younger children, remove closet doors entirely. Lower clothing rods and invest in child-sized hangers. Use floor-level open containers to hold toys, open plastic baskets to store socks and underwear. Devise a simple daily checklist for maintenance. To organize a child's room, tailor the effort to the child." (found here)

HOMEMADE BABY FOOD

Cooking for Baby Making your own baby food really can save you money. There is no reason to "do it all at once." For our little daughter, we would make dinner for the family and save out some vegetables or fruits (cut up and boiled with water). No added salt or sugars. Then we took an immersion blender and mashed them up and put them in ice cube trays. To feed my baby during dinner, I would take a couple of ice cubes from a previous night's meal and thaw them in the microwave (being careful of hot spots). After dinner, the "new" cubes would be frozen and put into their respective bags (one for veggies and one for fruits). It's really no harder than that.

~Laurabeth G.

Book Organizer

I just saw a really cool orgainzer for book on I'm an Organizer Junkie.

The Organizer Junkie posted a tip from Mrs. Jones and her very clever storage idea for coloring books and crayons! I think it's is VERY creative.

Check out her blog... Mrs. Jones !

FREEZER FOOD

RICE
Cook large quantities of rice when you have time. Freeze for six months.
Reheat rice by microwaving on high 1 to 3 minutes or until hot.

MEATLOAF
When making meatloaf, bake it in muffin tins and freeze the extras for another meal.

ROLLS
Make rolls instead of bread, again, freezing the extra.

CASSEROLES
By making two small casseroles instead of one large one, it's easier to freeze one. Also, a way to save space in the freezer, and not having to put your casserole dish in there tool...just line your casserole with foil, then, after baking it, just lift out the foil lining, wrap and freeze that.

MILK
Buy a 1/2 or gallon of milk when it's on sale, but you can't drink it all before it spoils? Pour most of it into Ziploc's round 2-cup containers, leaving about1/2 inch of head space, and freeze it. I shake the container before using the thawed milk, and nothing is thrown away.

Kid's CRAFTS

"When the kids art supplies began to get out of control, I had to get the stuff off the floor and the kitchen table. I began to consider the unused spaces in my home, and came up with a solution that takes up very little space, but yields mondo storage capacity for small items. It is a behind-the-door pantry rack that installs in about 15 minutes. I think I'm going to install one on the back of every door in my house now!

Thanks to Gear Freak for submitting this tip!" - from Clutter Control Freak

STAINS & CLEANING SOLUTIONS

Blood on Clothing

Don't use hot water, it will only set the stain.
Use hydrogen peroxide and rinse with cold water and repeat.

Found the info below here.
Stove: Cream of tartar & vinegar paste
Weeds: Vinegar & lemon juice
Carpet stains: 3 tablespoons dish soap, 1 teaspoon white vinegar, 1/2 teaspoon ammonia, 3/4 cup water, mix to foamy consistancy and use only the foam on carpet
Clothing stains: automotive hand cleaner (white)
Silver: 1 tablespoon water softner, 1 tablespoon salt. Mix in hot water in either a foil pan or place in glass pan with foil on the bottom. (Foil must touch the silver)
Ink on clothes: Spray heavy with hair spray (soak) then rub with bar soap and rinse in cold water
Scuff marks on the floor: Toothpaste
Markers: Spray with hair spray heavily and wipe up
Sneakers: Ammonia in spray bottle, spray on sneakers and wipe off
Grass stains on clothes: Spray ammonia then rub with toothbrush and rinse in cold water
Faucets: Wet cloth with vinegar
White patio furniture: Bleach and dish soap
Tubs: Make a paste of cream of tartar with hydrogen peroxide and clean stains out of tubs and sinks

CLUTTER

Clutter Is the clutter controlling your life? (yes)

Are you keeping stuff "just-in-case" ?

If yes, you are inviting clutter! (yes)

Figure out where to draw the line and stick to it. Let your space or lack of it define that line.

Don’t buy it unless you have a specific immediate need for it (not want) and have a place for it, or swap out for something else.

I read these to rules and I thought they were good points:

If it's going to be some major trouble to get it and it's gone, then you've got your answer. Chances are good you should keep it.

But if it's easy to replace with a few bucks and a few minutes of your time if you should ever need it again, then chances are good you can get rid of it (donate it or sell it) without any trouble.

STORAGE

Short on Storage Space?

Double your kitchen storage space use the "dead space" that's already there.

Add cup hooks to the undersides of the cabinets

Buy drinking glasses that stack; IKEA sells them very inexpensively!

Drawer dividers organize utensils most efficiently.

If your shelves are very deep, look into installing sliding drawers that you can pull out to gain access to the stuff way in back.

Shoes (or even off-season clothing) might fit in a chest at the foot of the bed.

KID FOOD

*Let kids dunk and dip their foods: animal crackers in low-fat puddingor mini-toaster waffles in cinnamon applesauce.

*Top English muffins with pizza sauce, part-skim mozzarella cheeseand bell pepper for a quick pizza.

FOOD TIPS

*Teriyaki sauce and soy sauce (equal parts mixed together)make a great marinade for chicken or beef.

*Did you know that you can find milk much cheaper at gas stations than in the grocery store. It's about 50 cents to a dollar per gallon! (usually fresher because of the volume that they sell)

*Bake A lot using a floured surface frequently? -fill an empty parmesan cheese container with flour for easier sprinkling and convenience.

*For a quick healthy dessert, slice an apple, sprinkle the slices withcinnamon and microwave for about 50 seconds.

YOUR CLOTHES

Clear your bed or floor space
Begin by grouping like pieces together, for example shirts, pants, suits, dresses, etc.
Then go through each pile and separate the clothing into one of the following categories:
Keep—these items will return to the close

1. Donate—give these pieces to a charity. Make sure they’re still wearable (no stains or missing buttons)
2. Consign—This pile will go to a consignment store. Check the local store’s guidelines for consigning.
3. Give away—These items go to friends or family members

Next, zone your closet—choose specific areas for each category of clothing/shoes/purses. By placing like items together, you gain a clear perspective on what you actually own.

Load clothing into established zones in the closet

Color separate—this gives you a good perspective on how many black t-shirts you actually own and whether or not you really need to keep all of them.

TOYS

"Turn unused wall or door space into storage with peg, Velcro, and hanging-bag systems. They can clear the floor of everything from stuffed animals to backpacks to scooters. A plastic chain is workable for children who are old enough to use the attached clips. A shoe bag can hide inside a closet door or serve as wall decoration. Affixing a Velcro strip to a wall and Velcro pieces to stuffed animals makes cleanup fun for toddlers. " (photo by Bob Hiemstra, from here)

"A Basket in Every Room Place a bin or a sturdy basket in each of the main rooms where your children play. Teach your kids to deposit their toys there when they move from one room to the next. Your nighttime cleanup ritual will be quicker and simpler as the kids will need to go to only one place in each room to retrieve the toys they've played with during the day. "

(from RDLiving)

Label, Label, Label.
"When it comes to keeping kids' rooms organized for the long haul, labels save the day! Use a computer printer to make simple graphic labels for young children. Pictures of socks, shirts, dolls or blocks help remind the child where these items belong. Enhance reading skills for older children by using large-type word labels.

Slap labels everywhere: inside and outside of drawers, on shelf edges and on the plastic shoebox storage containers that belong there, on boxes and bookcases and filing cubes. Playing "match the label" can be fun--and turns toy pickup into a game" (from here)

Kid's ART

Under the bed storage container. All artwork can be saved there. When it gets full, we'll have to weed out what we don't want.

Take digital photos or scan the artwork before we toss it.

Can we cropp it to 12x12 and put in an art scrapbook. Many times art is more appealing when cropped.