If you are expecting a baby within the next few months, you are probably focused on getting all of your supplies and decorating the nursery. Something else you need but probably aren’t thinking much about is a good cleaning plan. The presence of a newborn in your home means two things: more cleaning work and different cleaning methods. Here’s how to get ready for the big arrival:
Before Baby Comes
Most Expecting mothers will tell you that during the third trimester you will have little time or energy left to spend on large cleaning jobs. However, it is important that the cleaning that you do perform should be free of harsh chemicals that generate fumes and leave residues.
Make a list and plan with your significant other to tackle large jobs or consider having them done professionally by Maid The Day before baby arrives. Focus especially on tasks that will improve air quality by removing dust, dander and other potential allergens from carpets, mattresses, upholstery, textiles and so forth. The overriding objective is to bring your whole home up to a standard of clean that will be very easy to maintain after baby arrives.
If you plan on painting your babies nursery, choose a non-toxic paint. Consult your local paint supplier, ask questions and read the labels. Also, allow at least a week for the paint to dry and cure.
During Babies first Weeks and Months
Dr. Sinner’s famous cleaning formula states that four variables, chemicals, temperature, time and action all working together equal clean. Shrink one variable and the others need to get larger to deliver the same result. Where newborns are concerned, chemicals are the variable you want to shrink, so time, temperature and action (elbow grease) need to increase.
Deep cleaning your home before baby arrives is a great start. Another good strategy is to avoid dirt and allergens in the first place. For example, ask people to remove their shoes before coming into your home.
After the Big arrival
Baby’s nursery should be dusted, vacuumed and (weather permitting) aired out at least weekly or even more frequently.
Specific areas of baby’s room such as sheets, changing table, waterproof mattress cover and diaper pail should be disinfected often with a nontoxic disinfecting solution.
Also, because diaper leaks and "blowouts" are common occurrences, plan on sanitizing your washing machine at least weekly or more frequently as well.
If you do need to use cleaning chemicals, be sure to select high quality cleaners that are effective in small amounts and designed to avoid leaving residues (many inexpensive and so-called ‘nontoxic’ or ‘green’ cleaning chemicals do not meet this criteria).
Finally, be sure to read and follow directions carefully to ensure you are realizing the products disinfecting and sanitizing benefits.
When Baby Starts To Move
While always bearing in mind that babies are born with wonderfully effective immune systems that need some exposure to germs to work properly, plan to increase the frequency with which you dust, vacuum, mop and scrub the floors throughout your home once baby starts rolling, dragging him or herself around and crawling (typically between five and nine months). Since babies love knobs and buttons, plan also to pay more attention to disinfecting things like remote controls, drawer pulls and cabinet knobs that are typically within baby’s reach.
One final piece of cleaning advice: when babies spit and/or throw up, it is generally going to hit your clothing, carpet, furniture upholstery, bed spread or some other absorbent textile. Depending on baby’s age and food stage, permanent stains could result if these textiles are not treated immediately and thoroughly to remove the agents that can interact chemically with your textile’s fibers.
**ALWAYS keep cleaning products out of reach from children (and pets)**
Before Baby Comes
Most Expecting mothers will tell you that during the third trimester you will have little time or energy left to spend on large cleaning jobs. However, it is important that the cleaning that you do perform should be free of harsh chemicals that generate fumes and leave residues.
Make a list and plan with your significant other to tackle large jobs or consider having them done professionally by Maid The Day before baby arrives. Focus especially on tasks that will improve air quality by removing dust, dander and other potential allergens from carpets, mattresses, upholstery, textiles and so forth. The overriding objective is to bring your whole home up to a standard of clean that will be very easy to maintain after baby arrives.
If you plan on painting your babies nursery, choose a non-toxic paint. Consult your local paint supplier, ask questions and read the labels. Also, allow at least a week for the paint to dry and cure.
During Babies first Weeks and Months
Dr. Sinner’s famous cleaning formula states that four variables, chemicals, temperature, time and action all working together equal clean. Shrink one variable and the others need to get larger to deliver the same result. Where newborns are concerned, chemicals are the variable you want to shrink, so time, temperature and action (elbow grease) need to increase.
Deep cleaning your home before baby arrives is a great start. Another good strategy is to avoid dirt and allergens in the first place. For example, ask people to remove their shoes before coming into your home.
After the Big arrival
Baby’s nursery should be dusted, vacuumed and (weather permitting) aired out at least weekly or even more frequently.
Specific areas of baby’s room such as sheets, changing table, waterproof mattress cover and diaper pail should be disinfected often with a nontoxic disinfecting solution.
Also, because diaper leaks and "blowouts" are common occurrences, plan on sanitizing your washing machine at least weekly or more frequently as well.
If you do need to use cleaning chemicals, be sure to select high quality cleaners that are effective in small amounts and designed to avoid leaving residues (many inexpensive and so-called ‘nontoxic’ or ‘green’ cleaning chemicals do not meet this criteria).
Finally, be sure to read and follow directions carefully to ensure you are realizing the products disinfecting and sanitizing benefits.
When Baby Starts To Move
While always bearing in mind that babies are born with wonderfully effective immune systems that need some exposure to germs to work properly, plan to increase the frequency with which you dust, vacuum, mop and scrub the floors throughout your home once baby starts rolling, dragging him or herself around and crawling (typically between five and nine months). Since babies love knobs and buttons, plan also to pay more attention to disinfecting things like remote controls, drawer pulls and cabinet knobs that are typically within baby’s reach.
One final piece of cleaning advice: when babies spit and/or throw up, it is generally going to hit your clothing, carpet, furniture upholstery, bed spread or some other absorbent textile. Depending on baby’s age and food stage, permanent stains could result if these textiles are not treated immediately and thoroughly to remove the agents that can interact chemically with your textile’s fibers.
**ALWAYS keep cleaning products out of reach from children (and pets)**