Cleaning

Peanut butter really does remove gum. Of course, then you have to find something to remove the peanut butter, but the Gum is Gone!

I love orange cleaner. It gets stickers off of furniture. You know... all those stickers that the Doctor's office thinks are such a great reward?

Glass cleaner can be used to clean any computer surface, as long as the computer is off, and you spray the cloth, not the computer. (advice contributed by a computer tech)

Swiffer dusters really do pick up dust. In Medicine Bow, dust builds up faster than anywhere, so we know this. Not only that, they can be correctly used by very young children, who just love having a "tool" to use (boys will work better if you give them a tool - teenage boys of course, prefer power tools, but I don't think they make a power Swiffer Duster...). They are safe for use on electronics also.

Crayon comes off walls easily with a scrubber sponge and a bit of 409 or other all purpose cleaner. Use the scratchy side, and lightly scrub so you don't take the paint off.

You can wrap a mattress completely in clear utility plastic to protect it well if you have a bed wetter. Just wrap it like a package, and seal the seams completely with clear packing tape. As long as your kids don't poke holes in it with their fingers, this is a cheap and effective way to protect a mattress from urine damage. Of course, the crinkle may drive any other kids in the room nuts for a few nights, but they'll adjust.

Boys will do chores better... ANY chores, if they have a tool. Preferably a power tool. Those "man things" start early!

Mirrors should be cleaned like electronics - that is, spray the CLOTH, not the mirror (information endorsed by the Glass Association of North America). This keeps chemicals from running behind the mirror and damaging the reflective coating.

Preventive action can avoid a lot of nasty cleanups. With a large family, it is probably best NOT to let the baby feed themselves spaghetti! Substitute "clean" activities for messy ones as much as possible. A little thought ahead of time can save you tons of work, stains, and damage later.