As all parents with multiple children know and first-time parents will soon learn, children under 5 grow quickly – and so do opportunities for #MessyMoments.

Whether you have an infant, toddler or preschooler at home, it’s important to understand cleaning priorities and practices as kids crawl, toddle and run. Check out and share American Cleaning Institute’s infographic on messes, priority surfaces and tips with the parents and grandparents in your life.

How to Wash Messy Hands

1. Wet hands with clean, running water (warm or cold) and apply soap, either in bar or liquid form.
2. Rub hands together to make a lather and scrub them well; be sure to scrub the backs of your hands, between your fingers, and under your nails. Do this away from running water, so the lather isn’t washed away.
3. Continue rubbing your hands for at least 20 seconds. Need a timer? Hum the “Happy Birthday” song from beginning to end twice.
4. Rinse your hands well under running water.
5. Dry your hands using a clean towel or air dry them.

Free Clean Hands Resources.

Emergencies

You’re texting, cooking, cleaning, and laundering. You’re changing diapers, fixing breakfast, and picking up your kids at daycare.

Your days get hectic and your schedules are full.

You may not think an extra second about that cleaning product bottle or container that’s still open or unsecured.

Yet it only takes a second – one distraction, one step into the other room – for an accident to happen, for a child to get a hold of something not meant for them.

The American Cleaning Institute reminds parents and caregivers to keep all cleaning products up and away from children.

Be aware. Be alert. And help keep your family safe. Here are a few helpful reminders for moms and dads to help you keep your children safe:

1. Conduct routine safety checks in your home to prevent accidents.
2. Always read and follow label directions for proper use, storage and disposal.
3. Store cleaning products in an area which is away from food and not accessible to young children or pets.
4. Store products in their original containers and keep the original label intact. Product use and storage, disposal instructions, precautions and first aid instructions vary according to their ingredients. It can be dangerous to use a product incorrectly or to follow the wrong emergency procedures.
5. Put cleaning products away immediately after use. This will help limit accessibility to young children and help prevent accidental spills.
6. Keep buckets containing cleaning solutions out of the reach of young children.
7. Properly close all containers, especially those with child-resistant caps.
8. Have child safety locks installed on cabinets if you have young children in your home or if there are children who visit your home frequently.
9. Make sure that potentially dangerous products have child resistant closures. Keep all cleaning products out of reach of young children — preferably locked up and stored in high places.
10. Do not store household cleaners in cups, soda bottles, cans or bowls, which children associate with eating and drinking.
11. Do not let your attention be diverted when using household cleaning products, electrical appliances, power tools, etc.
12. If a spillage of any type occurs, clean it up immediately.
13. Use safety plugs in electrical outlets to reduce the possibility of shocks.
14. Did you know that the Poison Prevention Centers offer free, private, confidential medical advice 24 hours a day, 7 days a week? You can reach your local poison center by calling 1-800-222-1222. ACI suggests that you program this number into your home and cell phones in case your messy moment turns into an emergency.

Spots and Stains

Children get into all sorts of situations where stains can occur, from eating ice cream (protein) , to playing in the yard (grass, mud and maybe a skinned knee from time to time), to finger painting. The sooner you pretreat/soak the stain the better chance you have to having the stain fully removed. A quick and easy reference on how to treat and remove stains can be found on ACI’s Stain Removal Chart.

Cleaning Product Storage Know How

• Never let children handle cleaning products
• Always store cleaning products up and out of sight and reach of children
• Always store cleaning products in their original container
• Always keep product containers securely closed

Visit cleaninginstitute.org for more information and tips on keeping messes to a minimum.

SOURCE:
American Cleaning Institute