Let's face it, most of us don't exactly relish clean-up time. I'm pretty back-to-basics when it comes to cleaning supplies - baking soda and vinegar do most of the heavy lifting around here - but I admit that that these 7 extras make the whole process easier and more fun for parents and kids alike.
Cupcake Sponge 1. Cupcake Sponge
This sponge is so adorable, the kids will fight over who gets to scrub the sink. Other varieties include pie, cupcake, and layer cake. Yum!
Get this sponge
ToyDozer 2. ToyDozer
If your carpet is constantly covered with hundreds of tiny Lego or piles of blocks, you need a ToyDozer to scoop 'em up. The company sent me one to try out and before I even had it all the way out of the box, the kids were begging me to let them clean up. Suckers!
Get this ToyDozer
Sorting Clothes Hamper 3. Sorting Clothes Hamper
For the kid (or spouse) who needs visual cues, this double hamper shows them where to put whites and colors.
Get this hamper
Related: 12 clever ways to organize your kid's bedroom
Ostrich Feather Duster 4. Ostrich Feather Duster
Sure, a microfiber cloth will get the job done, but there's something so novel and retro about busting out an actual feather duster.
Get this feather duster
Dollhouse Bookcase 5. Dollhouse Bookcase
When your bookcase is shaped like a fairy-tale dollhouse, putting things away just feels like playing.
Get this bookcase
Slipper Genie 6. Slipper Genie
It wasn't until I found the blogosphere that I realized that I wasn't the only mom who puts damp towels on the floor and "walks" them around to mop. Microfiber slippers make this process even easier.
Get these slippers
Related: 20 ways to trick your kids into spring cleaning
Number Bins 7. Number Bins
Little kids aren't world-weary enough to understand that tossing the blocks into "red 1" and cars into "blue 2" isn't actually a game. Meanwhile, mom can lounge on the sofa, flipping through a magazine while providing verbal direction. Warning: Maximum effective age for this strategy is about 4.
- By Meagan Francis
For 3 more items that make cleaning fun, visit Babble!
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Meagan Francis Meagan Francis has been honing the fine art of parental satisfaction since her oldest child was born 13 years ago, and shares her missteps, success stories, and what she's learned along the way via her blog The Happiest Mom, and book The Happiest Mom: 10 Secrets To Enjoying Motherhood.
