Cleaning Up After Kids: Sticky Tables, Crayon Walls and Crumbs

That Cleaning Girl · House Cleaning

Kids are wonderful, and they are also tiny mess machines. Sticky fingerprints, cereal under the couch, crayon on the hallway wall, slime in the carpet. If you've already learned How to Get Pet Hair Off Everything, you know pets add their own layer. Kids add a whole different one. Here's how to handle the most common kid messes without losing your mind.

Sticky tables, chairs and high chairs

Sticky surfaces are the number one kid complaint we hear. Juice, syrup, yogurt and mystery goo dry into a tacky film that grabs crumbs.

• Wipe the table and chairs after every meal with warm, soapy water. It works better than a dry wipe or a quick spray.
• For dried-on spots, lay a warm, wet cloth over them for a minute to soften before wiping.
• Clean the high chair tray daily, and take the straps and seat cover off to wash every week or two. Crumbs hide in every seam.
• Don't forget chair legs and the underside of the table edge, where little hands grab.

A dish brush kept just for the high chair makes the crevices easy.

Crayon, marker and pencil on walls

Every parent finds the hallway masterpiece eventually. Try the gentlest method first and work up:

• Crayon: a dry melamine sponge (magic eraser) works on most walls, but rub lightly, since it's mildly abrasive and can dull flat or eggshell paint. A little baking soda on a damp cloth also works.
• Washable marker: usually comes off with warm, soapy water.
• Permanent marker: a cotton ball with a little rubbing alcohol, dabbed rather than scrubbed, often lifts it. Test in a hidden spot first.
• Pencil: a regular pencil eraser does the trick.

Wipe the area with clean water afterward and let it dry. If the paint looks dull, a light touch-up may be easier than more scrubbing.

Crumbs, everywhere

Kids eat on the move, so crumbs show up in places adults never eat. Couch cushions, car seats, under beds and between floorboards.

• Vacuum couch crevices and under cushions weekly.
• Keep a handheld vacuum where you can grab it fast.
• Set up one "snack zone" with a washable mat if your kids eat in the living room.
• Shake out car seats and vacuum the car every week or two.

A crumb-free rule isn't realistic for most families. A quick nightly crumb sweep in the main areas is.

Slime, gum and play dough

These three are the trickiest kid messes:

• Slime in carpet or fabric: scrape off what you can, then dab with white vinegar to break it down. Blot and repeat. Rinse with water and blot dry.
• Gum: freeze it with an ice cube in a bag, then gently scrape it off once it's hard.
• Play dough: let it dry completely, then brush or vacuum it up. Wet play dough smears and spreads.

Check fabric care labels before using anything on upholstery.

High-touch spots and germs

Kids touch everything, then touch their faces. During cold and flu season especially, wipe these spots more often:

• Doorknobs and light switches.
• Faucet handles and the toilet flush lever.
• Fridge and pantry handles.
• Remote controls and tablets.
• Stair railings.

Use a disinfectant according to its label, which usually means leaving the surface wet for a certain amount of time to work. A quick spray and immediate wipe cleans but doesn't fully disinfect.

Toy clutter

Clutter isn't dirt, but it makes cleaning harder and the house feel messier. A few systems help:

• Give every type of toy a bin or basket with a simple label or picture.
• Do a five-minute pickup with the kids before dinner or bed. Make it a game or a race.
• Rotate toys. Keep some in storage and swap them every few weeks. Fewer toys out means less to pick up.
• Wash plastic toys in the sink with warm soapy water now and then, or in the top rack of the dishwasher if they're dishwasher safe.

Kids' bathrooms

Kid bathrooms see toothpaste on the sink, splashes on the mirror and, let's be honest, missed aim around the toilet. Clean around the base of the toilet and the floor behind it more often than in adult bathrooms. Keep a container of cleaning wipes under the sink for quick daily touch-ups. Hang towels on hooks instead of bars, since kids actually use hooks.

Letting kids help

Kids can help clean, and they often like it. Toddlers can put toys in bins and wipe low surfaces with a damp cloth. Older kids can make beds, empty small trash cans, wipe the bathroom sink and vacuum. It won't be perfect, but it builds habits.

For the deeper, weekly cleaning, many families across Ellis County and the south DFW area hand it off so their weekends go to the kids, not the chores. See what's included in our house cleaning services.