HOME + GARDEN
HOW TO ... CHILD-PROOF YOUR HOME
BABIES , TODDLERS , PRESCHOOLERS , TWEENAGERS TO TEENS , IN AND AMONGST THE LOVE AND LAUGHTER COMES THE CHAOS OF CLUTTER , THE ABILITY TO SPILL JUST ABOUT ANYTHING , AND IN MOST CASES JUST GENERAL FILTH FROM STICKY FINGERS , MUDDY SHOES AND SCIENCE EXPERIMENTS GROWN ON THE PLATE UNDER THE BED . SO , JUST HOW DO YOU KEEP YOUR HOME PRISTINE WHILE RAISING A ZOO , OR WELCOMING LITTLE VISITORS ? insideKENT CHECKED IN WITH SOME TOP INDUSTRY EXPERTS TO HELP YOU HONE YOUR KID-PROOFING SKILLS AND ACHIEVE THAT FAMILY FRIENDLY / CLEAN HOME BALANCE …
START WITH THE SOFA …
Gisela Lancaster , head of buying at Sofology ’ s Four Top Tips :
Prepare for Chaos It may sound obvious but make sure you leave enough space between your sofa , doorways and radiators to avoid accidental banging and marking . Throws and cushions are a great investment to not only add texture but also provide an extra layer of protection against sticky fingers and spills .
Beware Watermarks After cleaning up a spill on the sofa , we advise that you dampen a colourfast cloth with boiled water from the kettle and gently wipe the entire panel or cushion from seam to seam . This will help to prevent any water stains as the fabric dries .
Twist and Turn As well as wiping your sofa and hoovering away crumbs regularly , it ’ s also worth rotating your cushions to protect the fabric and maintain an even colour .
Get Speedy with Stains Speed is key when it comes to spills and stains . If one of the kids has knocked over a glass of something sticky , try to remove the stain as soon as you notice it by blotting with water and paper towels . Avoid rubbing the fabric as this will likely spread the colour , and use soapy water and a clean white towel to blot until you ’ ve removed the colour .
THEN MOVE TO WALLS …
Helen Shaw , UK marketing director at Benjamin Moore , explains :
With children off school for half term , you may well find a few extra scuffs and marks on walls in high traffic areas such as the kitchen or hallway . We recommend you remove any dust on the walls ; the brush attachment on a hoover is ideal for this .
Then , you can move onto cleaning with a clean , damp sponge and plain water to wash away the easiest stains working from the top to the bottom to avoid streaks from running down the wall . Once done , dry the area with a clean , dry cloth . If water isn ’ t strong enough for surface stains , try a diluted dish detergent or an eco-friendly , all natural cleaner like vinegar . For even tougher stains , add two tablespoons of dishwashing soap to a bucket of warm water and use this , but use it in an inconspicuous area first !
ONTO THE FLOORS …
Carpet Cleaning Know-How From Punam Chanda , carpet buyer at Carpetright :
Carpet requires a little more maintenance than vinyl and wood flooring , so vacuuming frequently to reduce build up of dirt and dust is key . Layering up on rugs for the holidays can be an easy win when it comes to protecting carpet , but if you are suffering from serious spills then a deep clean may be what ’ s needed .
A deep clean washes the carpet fibres and gets rid of dirt and bacteria that ’ s deep inside . It not only gets rid of tough stains but acts as a rest for your carpet , helping it look better for longer and giving it a second lease of life .
AND FINALLY TO OUTDOOR FLOORS !
Sarah Hooper , grass buyer at Carpetright , tells all :
Artificial grass can be a lifesaver for most families with young children , but it ’ s important not to let dirt build up . Try to clean it little and often if you can , hosing it down at least once a fortnight . It ’ s also worth applying weed killer twice a year to the whole area to prevent weeds growing and to kill any stray ones . Finally , get kids into the habit of shaking off footwear outside to keep the artificial grass healthy and your home pellet / sand free !
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