27 Household Cleaning Tricks Every Parent Should Know (2024)

1. Get rid of carpet stains with just three ingredients. 2. A lint roller makes picking up glitter a snap — even glitter a vacuum can't get up. 3. Remove your little Picasso's crayon markings from the wall with WD-40. 4. WD-40 can also get crayon stains out of clothes. 5. Clean Lego bricks in your washing machine. 6. Baking soda is your friend when your kid throws up on something in the house. 7. Baking soda is also a key part of removing pee stains from a mattress. 8. Clean sippy cups with white vinegar to get rid of that stinky smell. 9. If your kid spills Kool-Aid onto your beautiful white carpet, you can get it up using dish soap, vinegar, and salt. 10. Keep stains from setting in when you're away from home with Tide To Go Instant Stain Remover. 11. Picking up small toys is a snap using a dust pan. 12. Whip up a batch of "doll hairspray" (fabric softener and water) to detangle doll hair. 13. Get rid of pit stains on your teenager's T-shirts by wetting the area with lemon juice, adding a tablespoon of salt, then rubbing the fabric between your fingers. 14. You can clean the backseat of your car's upholstery with an easy DIY stain remover. 15. Keep your kids from making a mess all over the house with this clean-up hack. 16. Remove permanent marker from hardwood floors with a dab of toothpaste. 17. You can also use toothpaste to make your kid's sneakers look as good as new. 18. Remove even the most stubborn marks with these magic erasers. 19. Get set-in baby food stains out of a onesie using Dawn, hydrogen peroxide, and baking soda. 20. Clean your kids toys and a whole lot more in the dishwasher. 21. Some toys — especially stuffed animals — are hard to clean without ruining, but it is possible to give them a gentle surface cleaning with dish detergent, water, and paper towels. 22. If a stuffed animal needs more in-depth cleaning, however, you can put it in the washing machine. 23. If your kid gets gum on their cotton clothes you can get it off by putting the clothes in the freezer. 24. You can safely clean car seat straps using baby wipes. 25. Clean baseboards using dryer sheets. 26. Get crumbs out of even the most difficult nooks and crannies using this homemade slime. 27. Make outdoor toys look as good as new even if you don't have a power washer. Want great parenting tips in your inbox twice a week? Sign up for the BuzzFeed Parents newsletter!