Spring cleaning checklist for parents

Becoming a parent is a busy responsibility and, when it comes to cleaning, you need to try and squeeze it in between nappy changes, feeds, and possibly a power nap! Instead of scrubbing your house top to bottom in one go, it’s better to break it up into more manageable chunks and focusing on making things baby-friendly, tackling germs, and keeping it a little more organised.

Here’s your ultimate parent-friendly spring cleaning checklist you can work from to help you feel more on top of things.

Prioritise your baby’s spaces

For starters, your little one spends most of their time in a few key areas, so these should be top of the list:

• Cot and bedding: This includes washing the bedding, sleep sacks, and blankets to remove unseen bacteria and any odours.
• Toys and teething accessories: As you already know, everything goes in their mouth, so wipe down toys with antibacterial surface wipes regularly or submerge them in a solution of anti-bacterial solution or tablets.
• Changing area: As you know, the nappy station sees a lot of action all throughout the day. So, a daily spritz with an antibacterial surface spray keeps things fresh and germ-free.

Give feeding essentials a deep clean

Mealtimes can be pretty messy and while you’re likely already rinsing bottles and dummies constantly, now is the time for a proper deep clean too which should be done regularly.

• Sterilise everything: Be sure to run everything, including bottles, dummies, and breast pump parts, through sterilising products to keep bacteria at bay.
• Highchair and bibs: Food can get everywhere so it’s a good idea to just wipe down the highchair after every meal and throw bibs in for an extra wash. If you own silicon bibs, you can usually put them in the dishwasher for a good cleaning.
• Sippy cups and weaning equipment: If you’ve entered the exciting world of weaning, those tiny spoons and bowls need a regular scrub with a baby bottle cleaner too.

Refresh your laundry routine

Baby clothes accumulate stains; you’ve got dribble, milk, nappy leaks, and mystery marks you don’t even want to question. So, now is the time to get this sorted!

Wash baby’s clothes separately using a gentle detergent and an antibacterial laundry cleanser. Ideally, you should never mix baby clothes with anything else in the wash! Don’t forget pram liners, car seat covers, and play mats, as those get a lot of action as well.

Time to declutter

Having less clutter means a calmer mind, a calmer state, and fewer tripping hazards of course making your entire cleaning routine simpler and quicker.

• Tidy play areas: Ideally, you should rotate toys to keep things interesting while cutting down on mess.
• Declutter the medicine cabinet: Check expiry dates on baby medicines and restock essentials (do it for grown-up medicine too).
• Sort through the clothes: Babies grow fast, so it’s time to sort out the outgrown clothes. This can include donating, saving for future babies, or passing them on to friends. But decluttering has a way of making the home feel a little cleaner.

Make spring cleaning simple with Milton; we’ve got all the hygiene and sterilising products you need to clean your home quickly and efficiently. Shop today at Woolworths, Coles, Chemist Warehouse, BIG W, Baby Bunting, IGA and other major supermarkets.