Safety: A must on your spring cleaning list.

Written by Becky Himba, a contributing writer for Multiplicity.

“The return of warm air and spring sunshine often inspires us to open the windows, dust some hidden corners, and clean out closets. However, as busy parents of multiples, often not much time or energy is available to spend on regular cleaning, let alone on spring cleaning. Perhaps adding an elementof safety to your spring cleaning checklist will give you just enough motivation to get a few important tasks done this season. The following are some important and relatively easy ways to focus on chores that will makeyour home safer and healthier for your family.

1. Check the smoke detectors. You should have a smoke detector on everyfloor of your house and in every bedroom. Make sure that the batteries are working, anddust each one. These detectors should bereplaced every 8-10 years.

2. Place all medicine and cleaners out of reach of your children and lock them up, if possible. Make sure all bottles are easily identifiable and get rid of any expired or recalled medicines. Check with the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) for a list of recalled medicines and how to dispose of them properly. It isn’t always as easy as throwing them out. Also, don’t place them in easy to reach trash cans, which can be a hazzard in and of itself. Flush them down the toilet, take them to your outside trash, or dispose of them as the FDA specifies.

3. Get rid of broken toys. Clean out playrooms and toy boxes looking for recalled or broken toys. Check with the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) for a list of toy recalls. When it comes to safetly, any toy that can fit through the inside of a toilet paper roll is considered a choking hazard and should be kept out of the reach of small children. Make sure all battery-operated toys have tight screws and well-hidden batteries. Be especially vigilant of toys with magnets, as they can be extremely dangerous if swallowed.

Spring Cleaning: Family Room

After you have kids, what was once your living room turns into a family room. Many memories are made here as you play games, watch movies and watch you babies take their first steps! This is also the room that your guests first see when they enter you home. So how can we keep this living space functional, comfortable and presentable? Let’s get to spring cleaning part five!

1. Vacuum (make sure to have a fresh bag)
2. Broom
3. Duster
4. Wood polish for any wood furniture
5. Rag
6. All-purpose cleaner
7. Mirror/window cleaner
8. Carpet cleaner
9. Upholstery cleaner

Spring Cleaning: Bathroom

Usually the bathroom is the smallest room of the house but the most loathed to clean. I always hated to clean my bathroom because of the strong smells of harsh chemicals I thought I had to use. Although there are times that chemicals such as bleach are needed (like in the instance of mold or bacteria problems) there are other options that will not leave you gasping for a breath of fresh air during your typical bathroom cleaning. This will especially help if you are currently pregnant. Here is what you need:

1. Broom
2. Mop
3. Floor cleaner
4. Toilet brush
5. Glass/mirror cleaner
6. White distilled vinegar
7. Baking soda
8. Bleach (possibly)
9. Rags/brushes/sponges

(Note: White distilled vinegar works as a “green” disinfectant killing many germs, bacteria and mold and you don’t have to wear gloves while using it! Do not use on granite since it will etch the surface thus ruining it!)

Spring Cleaning: Bedroom Bliss

A bedroom should be a place of solitude so that we can get adequate rest and lower our stress levels from a long day of caring for our kids. I don’t know about you but I don’t want the last thing I see at night and the first thing I see in the morning to be a mess. The rest of our lives are chaos and we need a place to escape to recharge our batteries before the twins come jump into bed the next morning. So this week let’s spring clean our bedroom together and make it a place we can relax in. To get started this is what you will need:

 

Spring Cleaning: Make Your Kitchen Shine!

In this series we will spring clean room by room. (Make sure to read this article to help you get started) Today we will focus on the kitchen. Remember to prioritize with your personal circumstances and delegate jobs to others in the household when possible. To get you started this is what you will need:

1. Rags
2. White distilled vinegar
3. All-purpose cleaner (a mix of half vinegar and half water in a spray bottle will do)
4. Baking soda
5. Broom
6. Mop
7. Floor cleaner appropriate for your floor
8. Vacuum cleaner
9. Lemon

(Note: White distilled vinegar works as a “green” disinfectant killing many germs, bacteria and mold and you don’t have to wear gloves while using it! Do not use on granite since it will etch the surface thus ruining it!)

Spring Cleaning: Waging War With Dust Bunnies And Clutter

To me, spring cleaning means more than just seeking and destroying dust bunnies, it means letting go of “stuff.” I was raised by a “collector” so I sometimes tend to keep things for sentimental reasons or because I might use it one day. But “stuff” collects dust, and takes up space not only in your house but also in your mind. My husband helps me since he is a “throw it away” type of person. We usually come to a middle ground of throwing stuff out and donating other things. The end result is a clean house, a clear mind, and an organized and more functional home.

Are you are feeling overwhelmed by your surroundings? Do you feel your house needs a change? Instead of buying something to give your house a fresh new look, try clearing the clutter instead. I know it can be a daunting task, especially when you have kids to tend to, meals to make, a job to work and all your other responsibilities. But I promise it is worth the effort!

Twiniversity Tips: What chores can your kids help with (sorted by age.)

Tara T.'s Twinnies know how to make a mess!

Are you tired of picking up legos? Are you sick of picking up dirty socks or emptying the dishwasher? Do you ever feel like you are the ONLY one in your home that does any housework? Doesn’t this sound like the beginning on an infomercial? haha. We’ll this week on the Twiniversity Facebook page, we asked:

“What is a great chore to have your multiples do?” hopefully we can give you some tips on how not be the only one picking up your beautiful home.*

For multiples age 2-3:

• They can start making their own bed. Fix their blanket, fix their pillow, pick up any stuffed animals.