Kids and clean carpets can be a bad combination, whether it's due to juice spills, snack crumbs, or an impromptu art project gone rogue. Constantly cleaning to avoid your carpet looking like some contemporary art project can be a time-consuming and stressful chore. But it doesn't have to be that way.
More than 50 years of combined experience have taught us a lot about the difficulties of cleaning carpets for families with kids. But you don't have to use commercial-grade machines to keep your carpet in good shape, as we will teach you. Carpet cleaning can even be an opportunity to bond with your child.
Today, we will share tips for cleaning your carpet while keeping your children's safety in mind. You will learn why you should be careful with commercial products, get step-by-step mini guides for spot cleaning, and how to involve your children in the process. So, let's keep those carpets fresh, even with the little ones around!
Why is kid-friendly cleaning so important?
Contrary to common belief, carpets can act as a barrier that captures "allergens" (small debris that cause allergies), improving indoor air. Because most kids will contaminate their hands while playing and put them in their mouths, is not a surprise when allergies and diseases flare up.
But that's not all: many commercial products contain chemicals that leave dangerous residues to your kids. This can cause breathing problems, skin irritation, eye damage, and, in the worst scenarios, poisoning. This is why safety precautions need to be taken whenever using cleaning products, as the American Cleaning Institute (ACI) recommends. In summary, along with constant cleaning to keep your carpets spotless, you must pay attention to how you do the cleaning.
How to clean your carpets safely with kids around
As a parent, you want your house to look great for your delight and your kids' well-being. Yet, children can be unpredictable, and accidents can occur the second you take your eyes away from them. Here are some tips by the ACI:
- For infants: Avoid accidental poisoning by using natural products while keeping an eye on them.
- For toddlers: Keep the cleaning products away from them in sealed packages.
- For pre-k children: Practice constant hand washing whenever they play on the carpet and teach them not to put things in their mouths.
- For elementary school kids: You can give them chores appropriate for their age, like organizing their toys and assisting in cleaning (for strict tasks under supervision).
Tips to deal with common children spills and stains
1. Safe carpet cleaning of juice and drink stains
Your child's movement coordination, still in development, will inevitably lead to spills of their drinks. Here is a kid-friendly cleaning method:
- Blot, blot, and blot! You can let your kid lend you a hand by giving them a clean cloth or paper towel. Blotting together as much liquid as possible can become a little competitive game or a good lesson in teamwork.
- Mix 1 tablespoon of dish soap with 2 cups of cold water in a spray bottle. Put all the ingredients back in their safe area, away from your kids.
- Spray and blot. The soapy water is safe, non-toxic, and effective at lifting most juice stains.
- Rinse and dry. Spray the area and blot with water until all the soap is removed. Dry it with a clean towel, and let the kids help you press it down.
2. Safe "spot treatment" for crayon and marker mishaps
As you know, most kids are little artists in the making, particularly at the beginning of their development. But their natural curiosity for exploring and experiencing new things can turn your light-colored carpets into a contemporary art gallery. Here is a safe way to deal with crayon marks and marker stains:
- Rub an ice cube over the crayon stain to harden it. Your kid can assist you with this.
- Scrape away the crayon. Once the crayon is hardened, use a butter knife to scrape away gently. This is a job for an adult, but kids can watch.
- Clean with a dish soap solution. Dampen a clean cloth with water, add a drop of mild dish soap, and gently blot the marker stain. Remind kids not to rub, just dab. For especially stubborn stains, add a little bit of white vinegar.
3. Safely clean snack crumbs and grease from your carpet
Snack time and carpets may not be an ideal pairing, but crumbs and greasy spots are no match for this kid-friendly cleaning method:
- Vacuum the area. When dealing with loose crumbs, the first thing to do is to vacuum over the area. Let your kid handle the vacuum and direct them on how to use it.
- Sprinkle baking soda over any greasy spots.
- Let the baking soda sit for 15-20 minutes, then vacuum. Kids can help with this part, too.
4. Clean dirt and mud stains easily and safely
As much as you try to, chances are your kid will bring mud to the carpet. Thankfully, there is a mess-free way to deal with mud once it's dried:
- Wait until it dries. While tempting, it's best to let the mud dry first to make the removal job easier.
- Gently scrape off the dried mud with a butter knife.
- Vacuum the area to pick up all the loose particles.
- Grab a cloth dampened in soapy water and blot the remaining stain. Your kid can help you with this task by gently blotting to help lift the stain without scrubbing.
Keeping carpets clean with kids around may feel like a constant challenge, but it doesn't have to be. Now that you have learned from Restore-It how to keep cleaning simple and using natural products, you can protect your carpets and teach kids a little about care and responsibility. For those times when stains are just too tough to tackle on your own, give Restore-It a call. We will bring our expertise on cleaning solutions that are tough on stains but gentle on your home.
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