Category Archives: cleaning

How Not To Clean Your Kids’ Bath Toys

My daughter loves her rubber duckies. Bath night would not exist without them. Mainly because mommy would have no ear drums left if it weren’t for these wonderful rubber creatures to distract my baby while bathing.

Recently I noticed some yucky stuff inside of them. I filled them with water and squeezed. Some of the yucky stuff came out, and I realized it was mold. Well confined spaces in conjunction with moisture will produce mold. I realize this, but am just as befuddled as to how to get the stuff out.

I researched the web and found numerous sources all saying that vinegar is the cure. I promptly went to the local store and bought a giant bottle of it. I poured the vinegar into each one of the toys and let them sit practically all day. Then I vigorously shook them and squeezed out the vinegar and rinsed them out on the inside with water. Nothing happened. They are still moldy and yucky. I was very disappointed, and slightly distressed.

Back to drawing board, or laptop. I found one other remedy: bleach. I am not too keen on using bleach inside my daughter’s rubber ducks. I do not feel they will be effectively cleansed. As is they still reek of vinegar despite all my rinsing. At least that is not toxic. If I pour bleach into them, and it does not rinse out properly I don’t want her playing with them in her bath water and sticking them into her mouth. I could not help but wonder, if she does get bleach in her mouth, does that mean I don’t have to brush her teeth that night?

Despite my best efforts, the rubber duckies are still moldy. I am pretty sure the vinegar at least killed the mold, but nevertheless, dead or alive, it is still in there. I think I am going to have to buy new ones. Granted, they are not expensive, it was fun building up my daughter’s (and soon son’s) ducky collection. Some of these were purchased from novelty shops on family vacations. Others were ordered online. The ever growing compilation was soon to take over my bathroom. Now the unsalvageable ones will be weeded out and discarded. Now knowing they won’t last long, the replacements are definitely coming from the dollar store.

How do you clean your child’s bath time toys? Is there a secret I am missing?

A Mother With Control Issues



We have all read the articles telling us that anorexia is not really about eating, but about control. Of course there is much more to it than my extremely simplified statement. But I am not here to talk about anorexia.

I am a self proclaimed control freak. I have dealt with the issue in various ways. Years ago in college anorexia was not off the table. Getting rid of my eating disorder did not eliminate my root problems regarding control. For years after finally admitting that I had a problem and working to solve it I feared relapsing into my old ways.

Having kids cured me. Once I was realized how much my kids depend on me I knew I could not become anorexic again. My babies depended on me in the womb for nourishment, and once born they continued depending on me for milk. I knew an anorexic, malnourished body could never hold up to their little demands. I needed to be strong for my children. Further, I needed to be a role model for my children, especially my daughter. Young children mimic everything they see in the home, and that is one behavior I do not wish for her to come into contact with at such an early age.

I no longer fear relapsing into anorexia, but I am still a control freak. Having kids has not cured me of it, but instead has helped me channel my control issues in a different direction. I compulsively clean. It is extremely difficult for me to not clean my house when needed. I have gotten better at it, restricting my cleaning compulsions to only once or twice a week. But I still cannot leave dishes in the sink over night. I have to clean the kitchen after dinner. I need to put things away after I use them.

Part of me wants to believe my cleaning disorder (which is what I am choosing to call it, and is probably not an actual diagnosis), will be beneficial to my children. Seeing their mom put things away and growing up in a tidy house will most likely teach them to be clean themselves. Part of me wonders what it will be like when they are teenagers throwing their clothes, along with everything else, on the floor. What will my reaction be? I would like to think that I will be somewhat tolerant and understanding. I want to believe I may no longer have such control issues by then and all out war will not break loose in our house.

My only solution now is to take it one day at a time. As long as all the cleaning does not drive me completely insane, there is nothing wrong with having a tidy home.

What have your kids taught you about your compulsions?