Kids Can Clean

By Shannon Lush and Erin Lush

Kids CAN clean with Shannon Lush, every parent's best friend.
It's true - cleaning can be fun! Ever wondered how to get those stains out of your clothes before Mum gets home? What can you do about the squashed banana at the bottom of your schoolbag (the one that's been there for a couple of weeks)? And how can you clean up your bedroom without spoiling your weekend? From personal hygiene tips (why you should take your finger out of your nose), to ideas for speed cleaning your bedroom, to fun things to make, Shannon Lush and her daughter, Erin, have it covered. Kids can clean, and with Shannon and Erin, you'll even enjoy it!

• Language: English
• Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers Australia
• Release date: Apr 1, 2011
• ISBN: 9780730498032

Shannon Lush

Shannon Lush is a fine arts restorer with a passion for handy household hints. The massive success of SPOTLESS, SPEEDCLEANING and HOW TO BE COMFY have made her and co-author Jennifer Fleming a publishing phenomenon. Shannon writes for magazines and newspapers and is regularly heard on ABC Local Radio across the country.

Book preview

Introduction

Cleaning can be fun, really!

Is your room a mess and you don’t know where to start? Are Mum and Dad nagging you? It’s not as bad as you think. There are some tricks to make cleaning fun.

You can do much more than you think you can. You can build your own toys, you just have to stretch your imagination, and have just a little know-how. You can recycle and help save the planet. You can learn to look after yourself and other people too. You can cook.

You can do so many things but the most important thing to remember is you can have fun doing all of them.

A note from Shannon …

My name is Shannon and I’ve been writing books for adults about cleaning for a while now. When I was growing up all the kids in our family learned to clean. We made a lot of our own toys and contraptions, too, as well as inventing our own games and I loved it.

When I decided to write this book for you I thought it would be a good idea to have my 10-year-old daughter Erin to help write it with me. That way, you can see how easy it is to do all these things too.

A note from Erin …

My name is Erin and I’m 10 years old. Like my mum says, cleaning really can be fun. I know what you’re thinking … ‘All you do is pick stuff up and put it away!’ But if you put fun stuff into it, like the ‘Cleaning Olympics’, you can be happy while you are cleaning. And after you’ve cleaned you can enjoy a nice tidy house. Then you can relax and have a treat (maybe even two!).

Sucking up to your parents

All of us can make mistakes and it’s a really good idea when this happens to try and make it right. But if you can’t make it right, then there’s no better way to say sorry like a good suck-up. Here are some examples of why you should suck up:

You feel really bad about something you’ve done and you are trying to make up for it (like your report card).

You want to go out with your friends.

You accidentally broke something precious and you want your parents in a good mood before you tell them.

Christmas is less than 12 months away and so is your birthday – and happy parents are far more generous!

So they won’t embarrass you in front of your friends.

So you can twist them around your little finger. Grandparents are even easier to suck up to because they think you are perfect anyway.

You really do think you have the coolest parents in the world.

Here are 10 ways to suck up to your parents:

Make a gift – even if it’s a bit wonky they will love it.

Give them a compliment, the soppier the better (like telling Mum she looks beautiful even in her old trackie daks).

Clean your room without being asked.

Tell your parents dinner is so great it’s better than takeaway.

Clear the dishes after dinner without being asked, even if it’s not your turn.

Write a special poem just for them (make sure you include the words ‘I love you’, it’s a guaranteed winner).

Do a chore without having to be asked or reminded.

Get your homework done without being asked.

Feed and water your pets and clean up their poo without being asked.

Cleaning your bedroom

Is your bedroom a terrible mess? Do Mum and Dad constantly nag you to ‘Clean it up!’, but you don’t know where to start? Here’s an easy way to clean your room in 15 minutes a day!

How to find your bedroom floor again

To clean the mess up off the floor, get a hulahoop or use a skipping rope and form a big ring. Place it over the messiest part of the floor. Now, only put away the things inside that circle area in their right places.

Toys go in the right place for your toys. Make sure you sort them as you go. Rubbish goes into the bin. School stuff goes back on your desk or into your school bag. While you are looking in your school bag, any special notes need to go to Mum and Dad. (More about tidying your desk