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Speed Cleaning

Speed-Clean Your Playroom

Wooden truck, jack in the box and pink stuffed animal

Take the wreck out of rec room in 20 minutes with a few key tools: a catchall for toys, a soft cloth, a sponge, hand soap, a bowl, bleach, dusting spray, wet/dry sweeper, Mr. Clean Magic Eraser, disinfecting wipes, and disinfecting spray.

  • Minutes 1 to 2: Corral books, stray toys, art supplies, clothing, and games. Set aside anything that needs cleaning, and return other objects to their proper homes.
  • Minutes 3 to 5: Toss dirty stuffed animals in the washing machine. (For specific laundering instructions, check labels.) Place dishwasher-safe plastic and metal toys on the top rack and wash on the hottest setting.
  • Minutes 6 to 9: Wipe wooden toys with a soft, dry cloth. For all others, clean with a soapy sponge, then dry with a cloth. For an item that has been in your toddler’s mouth (a teething ring, a rattle), wash it with soap and water, then disinfect by soaking it in a bowl containing a solution of 1 teaspoon bleach to 1 quart warm water. Or, for a bleach alternative, use Eco Clean All-Purpose Cleaner.
  • Minute 10: Tackle wooden surfaces with a cloth dampened with dusting spray.
  • Minutes 11 to 12: Use disinfecting wipes to wipe down remaining surfaces and germ hot spots, like light switches, television and gaming remotes, and doorknobs (including those on the dollhouse).
  • Minute 13: Dampen a Magic Eraser sponge and lightly rub any food splatters, fingerprints, or crayon self-portraits from walls. (Using this product on glossy paint or rubbing too hard with it can fade color.)
  • Minutes 14 to 17: Remove toys from the soaking solution (see Minutes 6 through 9), rinse, and let air-dry. Run a sweeper over the floor (whether carpeted or bare), then empty the wastebasket and spritz with a disinfecting spray.
  • Minutes 18 to 20: Put everything back in its place…for now.

Did we forget anything on this checklist? What would you add?

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