Top tips ... cleaning up sick, wee & worse

Copyright Jessica Mullen 2010 Creative Commons

Getting ready for our staycation in Norfolk, I can't help but think about our last week away in Yorkshire in the spring.  It was great ... weather wasn't too bad ... and little one had an amazing time rescuing lambs, paddling in brooks and actually doing a proper hike on her own two feet through the Dales.

The only blot on this idyllic image?

Little one bringing up lunch all over herself, the car seat, the taxi and mummy just before we arrived in the middle of nowhere!

So, this time I am going armed with a travel size container of  the wonder drug that is bicarbonate of soda or, as it's better known on the other side of the Atlantic, baking soda!

I reckon it totally beats most of the commercial products out there for getting the smell and stains of sick, wee and worse out of buggies, car seats, carpets, curtains and the furniture.

Top Tips for Cleaning Up Sick, Wee & Worse

Children - and animals - do have an unbelievable capacity to produce large volumes of un-speakableness, so definitely makes sense to have essential cleaning supplies to hand including:

• Wads of kitchen roll to mop up the surplus
• A supply of disposable rubber gloves for easily picking up poo
• A roll of disposable cloths - not very green but need for wiping up spray
• A scraper / spatula for scraping up poo / sick - disinfect afterwards
• A bundle of plastic bags - which you can easily grab & shove all stuff to be bunged 
• Baking soda - you can sprinkle on directly once mopped/scraped up surplus  
• Baking soda solution - just dissolve baking soda in water in a spray bottle
• White vinegar solution - mix a solution of half water / vinegar in spray bottle
• Lemon juice concentrate - good on some stains and smells nicer than vinegar

It's then a question of these easy steps to clean up the mess and clear the smell:

1. Pick up / scrape up any bits you can with spatula / kitchen roll / gloves
2. Wash with soapy water using as little water as possible
3. On small areas of fabric/carpet sprinkle baking soda and leave to dry 
4. On large areas or hard surfaces spray solution of baking soda, vinegar or lemon juice
5. On badly stained/smelling surfaces sprinkle baking soda, soak with vinegar until it foams and then rub the foam well into the stained area
6. Hoover up the baking soda
7. Shove everything used in plastic bag, including hoover bag, and put in outside bin.
8. Rinse out hoover pipe

For more tips on cleaning up the unspeakables, download this free printable list of tips for cleaning up sick, wee and worse and check-out this post from How to be a Domestic Disgrace who has some great tips for even the most faint hearted!