Having a new baby in the house doesn't necessarily mean that you need to replace your carpets every year -or repaint your walls. Read our guide to find some really useful tips on how to deal with five common home disasters associated with babies.

1. 5 Baby-Related Home Disasters and How to Deal
With Them
You know that sinking feeling you get when you come into a room and find that your
baby or toddler has been busy... creating a disaster? That feeling isn’t fun, but with
the right tools and by taking the right steps, you can get that mess cleaned up in no
time.
Most messes can be cleaned and repaired with the right equipment; the trick is
knowing how to use these tools and how to treat a damaged area. These tips will
help you clean up even the worst messes, so it will seem like that disaster never
happened.
Art Project Gone Wrong... On the Walls
Markers, crayons, paints and other art
supplies are fun when used on paper,
but when they are on your walls, they
lose their charm. But, don’t worry; it is
possible to remove that artwork and
return your walls to their former glory.
Image Courtesy of ToonDraw
Removing Marker Stains
If the markers are washable, attempt to clean the marks with warm, soapy water. If
that doesn’t work, you can try cleaning sprays that are labeled as safe to use on
painted walls. Another approach is to use a paste made of baking soda and water,
rub it onto the wall and gently scrub the marker away. Then, use a damp rag to rinse
the mixture off.
Permanent marker stains can often be removed with rubbing alcohol. Before you
attempt any cleaning process, test it in a small, hidden spot on your wall to make
sure it won’t damage the paint.
Cleaning Crayons from Walls
There are several ways to tackle crayon scribbles on your wall. First, try using an
eraser to remove the crayon and wax on your wall. If that doesn’t remove the mark
completely, there are lots of things in your cupboards that can remove the doodles.
The baking soda method mentioned above can work, and so can rubbing lighter

2. fluid, toothpaste or vinegar onto the stain. With all of these household remedies, rub
a small amount onto the crayon to remove it, and then wipe the area clean with a
damp rag.
Washing Paint from Walls
If your little one decided to add a mural to your living room wall, don’t worry; you can
remove it. Watercolours can easily be removed with rag dipped in warm, soapy
water. Oil-based paints are a little harder to remove, but start by wiping as much of it
away with warm, soapy water as possible. If the paint is still there, you’ll most likely
need to paint over the spot to cover it completely.
Dinner on the Floor
Spills on carpet can be daunting, and some foods can cause stains and even
odours. If you come upon a spill right after it has happened, use a rag to absorb as
much of it as possible. If there is a lot of moisture, use a shop vacuum to remove the
liquid.
Then, treat the stain itself.
Start with a rag dipped in
warm water and work to
blot up the stain. If this
approach doesn’t work,
use a commercial carpet
cleaner to try to remove
the stain. Never scrub or
rub a stain, as this will
make it spread and could
even push it deeper into
the carpet, which will
make it harder to remove.
If you can’t remove the
stain by hand, you will need
Image Courtesy of Veer
to use a carpet cleaner.
Professional carpet cleaners use a cleaning solution and clean deep down into your
carpet, washing the fibres clean. Some cleaners even dry as they work, so you can
use your carpet again right away.
To hire a carpet cleaner in the blink of an eye, visit HSS Hire's website and
browse their collection of carpet cleaners for hire!
www.hss.com/c/9000071/Carpet-Cleaners.html
Ingredients or Craft Supplies Scattered Everywhere
Flour, glitter, rice, crumbs and other tiny materials are an attractive target for
toddlers, who can make a very big mess very quickly. While these kinds of messes
aren’t particularly damaging, they can be hard to clean up. The strategy you use will

3. depend on the surface the mess is on.
For tile or hardwood floors, start with a broom and simply sweep the mess into a
dustpan. If you don’t want to save the materials, you can use a vacuum’s hose to
make quick work of the mess. You’ll also need to use a vacuum if the material is
scattered all over the carpet. Use the hose and attachments to reach under furniture,
between cushions, into corners and against baseboards.
Bathtub Overflow
Bath time is an adventure when you have a toddler. If your child let the tub overflow
or was a little too enthusiastic and splashed water all over the floor, the key to taking
care of the disaster is to remove water as fast as possible.
The longer water stands on the floor, the more
damage it will cause. Water damage can be very
hard to repair, so your best bet with this disaster is
to act quickly. Use dry towels to mop up as much
water as possible. If you need to, use a shop
vacuum to suck up large amounts of water.
Floor and Carpet Dryer / HSS Hire
If the floor is extremely wet, set up a fan or carpet dryer to dry the area thoroughly.
Wet carpet can be pulled back from a corner to speed up the drying process.
Toys that Clog the Toilet or Drain
If your child has flushed a toy down the toilet or dropped something down the drain,
you may be able to fix the problem yourself. Start by reaching into the drain to see if
you can retrieve the object. For small objects lost down a sink drain, try unscrewing
the trap, or curved section of pipe under the sink, to retrieve the object.
When you have tried these approaches, and still haven’t been able to unclog your
toilet or drain, you will need to contact a professional to avoid the risk of damaging
your fixture and plumbing system.
Kids have a way of making messes with ordinary household items the minute you
turn your back. But, when you know how to tackle even the toughest messes, you
won’t have to worry about permanent damage to your walls, floors or anything else in
your home.