6 Things You'll Be Glad You Cleaned Before The First Day Of School

Yahoo

a day ago

We look forward to starting fresh with a new school year. Often that means new school supplies, a new set of fall clothes, and a new collection of recipes for the slow cooker. We also appreciate things that last more than a season or two, considering how fast our kids outgrow clothes. If a child's favorite backpack and pencil case are holding up, there's no reason to replace them. We also can't deny they get really grubby after months of use. Make sure to clean these six things before the first day of school so your child can begin the year with a clean slate.
Back Packs
You tossed out the squashed banana and spilled snack bags eons ago, but did you ever get around to deep cleaning your child's backpack? Now is the time. Unzip all pockets and remove every trinket. Shake out the crumbs over the trash. Follow that up by soaking your child's backpack in lukewarm, soapy water in the sink for at least half an hour. Then scrub all the seams and pockets with a sponge, rinse well, and hang the backpack to dry. You can take a shortcut with many backpacks and toss them in the washing machine on a gentle cycle.
Lunch Boxes
If the kids have been in summer camp, their lunch boxes definitely need a good cleaning. Crumbs get stuck in the seams, the linings smell, and the exteriors get gray and grimy. Soak and scrub lunch boxes, bento boxes, reusable snack bags, and other lunch-related accessories in the sink as described above.
Water Bottles
Water bottles are germ factories that should be sanitized before you send them off to school. If the water bottles aren't dishwasher safe, you can use a 50/50 mix of white vinegar and hot water and let them soak overnight. Then wash with soapy water and bottle brushes, making sure to get inside straws and crevices. Rinse water bottles and let them dry completely before refilling them.
Desks
Kids are much more likely to want to spend time at a clean and organized desk. Encourage them to help with emptying out and cleaning drawers (a vacuum cleaner and crevice attachment will work wonders here). Let them pick out a fun organizer for additional storage. Hang a bulletin board or shelf for your child to decorate as they please.
Car Seats
We might as well call them crumb collectors. Car seats are usually messy, even more so after a few summer road trips. This is a great time to throw seat covers in the wash and wipe boosters down with a sponge. You may find yourself cleaning out the whole back seat while you're at it.
Gym Shoes
Unless you've got a brand new pair of sneakers in a box, we can practically guarantee your child's shoes are covered in dirt. Do the gym teacher (and the janitors) a favor here and clean those gym shoes a couple of days in advance so they have time to dry. Start by brushing or scraping off as much dust and dirt as you can. Soak the shoes in soapy water, then use a sponge or soft brush to clean them. Rinse and let them dry. If they're smelly, you can also sprinkle some baking soda inside the shoes and then shake them out before the first day of school.
Read the original article on Southern Living
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