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What cunning tricks do you have to make sure your DCs keep clean? Tell Andrex® for a chance to win a £250 voucher + a month's supply of Andrex®! NOW CLOSED

189 replies

AngelieMumsnet · 08/10/2014 12:01

Andrex® have asked us to find out what cunning tricks Mumsnetters have to make sure their DCs keep clean, and learn good clean habits.

Here’s what Andrex® say, “We all know the importance of keeping clean, not only to our health but also our confidence. So if you have any ways of keeping your family clean we would love to hear them.”

So, what tricks do you have up your sleeve to make sure your DC keeps themselves clean? Do you have a special song you sing to them to make sure that brush their teeth properly? Maybe you introduce an element of competition between siblings to see who can wash, dry and dress themselves quickest? Or perhaps you encourage your DCs to clean thoroughly by fashioning them stylish ‘bubble beards’? Whatever it is, we’d love to hear it!

Add your comment to this thread and you'll be entered into a prize draw where one MNer will win a £250 Spa voucher and a month supply of Andrex®. Please note comments may be used by MN and Andrex® on social media, on the Andrex® pages on MN or possibly elsewhere: anon of course - but please only add your comment if you're happy for it to be used like this!

Thanks and good luck,
MNHQ

OP posts:
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mrscumberbatch · 13/10/2014 11:04

I spend too much money on bath bombs in lush.

It's easy to tempt them into a bath with its purple, sparkly and smells delicious!

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Nouseforausername · 13/10/2014 11:13

Watching this with intrest as i have a muck magnet of a 16mo ds

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Lindsaym1983 · 13/10/2014 11:29

I have a toddler who is princess crazy but also very messy and hates to be cleaned/ washed but we tell her if she wants to be a princess she has to have a bath and we have princess bubble baths and bath toys to encourage her to enjoy bath time

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grenedeer · 13/10/2014 12:06

They have to breathe on us to prove that they've cleaned their teeth. They earn an 'mmm minty fresh' if they've done it right and 'eeewww, yuck' if they haven't. All done with humour which is the best way long term to get them to co-operate. We also had rubber ducks and zoggs diving sticks for a while but found dd was spending too long in the shower with these.

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artex · 13/10/2014 12:12

Only Daddy is allowed to brush teeth here!

We rinse after hair washing using the bath toys

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CMOTDibbler · 13/10/2014 12:15

Bath bombs. Or a promise of a mummy and ds bath where I play his seamonster game.

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LEE88 · 13/10/2014 13:58

We use an egg timer for brushing teeth to prevent the kids only having a quick 10 second brush, and squirty toys for the bath to keep them amused while I scrub them, can lead to a wet floor and Mummy but keeps them happy!

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marymouse · 13/10/2014 14:45

I buy character flannels, character toothbrushes and character toothpaste Wink bad mummy! It works for us though so why not!
Ds2 age 21 mths hates the bath, so we put lots of toy diggers/tractors/cars around the edge then he can't wait to get in.

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Dolallytats · 13/10/2014 14:48

Bubbles in all baths and swimming goggles for hair washing. DD (15months) and DS (6) love it when I grab a handful of bubbles and blow it in the air so it lands on everyone like snow.

DD loves to brush her (4!) teeth in the bath....still trying to think of something that stops the 6 yr old trying to avoid it!!

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iwantavuvezela · 13/10/2014 17:01

When my DD was young (age 3-4ish) and hated washing her hair and general bathing - we developed a game which she still likes to play now although she is 7 (for old times sake ).
We would pretend that the bath was the swimming pool, and she was having a swimming lesson. I would use her as the golden child who could do everything well, and would show the other imaginary people in her class what to do. So "Okay DD can you put your head back in the water" Oh how marvelous, everyone have you noticed how to do this", and on it would go until hair was washed and rinsed and anything else that needed to be cleaned! I of course would regularly admonish the other imaginery children for not doing very well!
Another favourite game to keep DD in the bath is having a whole bundle of those cheap IKEA plastic cups and goblets in the bath, DD runs a "bar" and we come in to try out various beverages! This is really to keep her in the bath and clean.

On a teeth basis I have adjusted and changed as needed from when she was young, to singing songs, using a timer, buying novelty or character toothpaste's and tooth brushes etc. Now it is so second nature that she knows she has to brush her teeth and no games are needed (shew!) But it took some motivation along the way to get her to this point!

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ItsNotEasyBeingGreen · 13/10/2014 17:13

The trick in our case is DH has to get in the bath with DS. DS washes DH's hair (badly) and then he'll let me wash his. DH has to hold a towel over his eyes and ears though. Basically DS needs kits of distraction and toys in the bath so I can get him clean.

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MakeTeaNotWar · 13/10/2014 17:34

Lots of bubbles and bath toys to lure them into the soapy water then they muck about pretending to be crocodiles / dolphins / sharks etc and have lots of fun splashing about

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Emrob86 · 13/10/2014 17:57

Bath or shower together! Fun! For them :P

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SixImpossible · 13/10/2014 18:15

We tell them to shave - generally after they've been drinking hot chocolate or eating spag bol.

My kids are like me, difficult to get into the shower, impossible to get out of the shower.

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NecesitoDormir · 13/10/2014 18:58

I randomly surprise them with a C-Plaque tablet after brushing teeth. If they are well done then they earn a Playmobil character. If not then they don't. It ensures they put the effort in every time.

We wash our hands before eating so as Mr Staph and his friends can't have a party in their tummies. Soap and hot water every time. Antibac gel is not a good substitute.

We wipe our bums until they are clean and then one extra to be sure.

Shoes are off at the door to stop germs coming into the house.

We all help with wiping down surfaces and using the correct chopping boards when cooking. Bare below elbows when we cook.

Tissues to sneeze into. They have a pack in their schoolbags and we have various boxes dotted about the house.

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Tyranasaurus · 13/10/2014 19:05

Teethbrushing we look for all the food that's been eaten all day

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flamingtoaster · 13/10/2014 19:14

When DS was a toddler he was scared of the bath so we put a large toy box in the bath, filled it with water and some toys and he loved it. We then started putting a small amount of water round the outside of the box and gradually increased it - eventually he was happy and confident enough to be in the bath without the box.

We never had a problem with teeth cleaning - though as a toddler my daughter always refused to spit out the toothpaste so we only used a tiny bit.

I think the important thing is to be flexible and avoid insisting something be done exactly your way and just accept it is enough that it is done at all.

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Iggly · 13/10/2014 19:26

Having a "shower bath" as a treat I.e. pop DCs in the shower, rinse them off with the shower with the plug in. Bath fills up a bit, I get them washed then they play.

I've been teaching ds to wash his face and bits in the mornings at the sink. Didnt need encouragement, we just talked about getting clean and looking smart. I gave him a tall step so he could see what he was doing and let him get on with it.

Good old fashioned sponges go down well - the DC like to fill them with water and squeeze it out again.

For teeth brushing, I can get dd to show us her new teeth (she's got molars coming through) and we can brush them. I also let her have a go afterwards.

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RhinosAreFatUnicorns · 13/10/2014 20:48

We use an app occasionally for tooth brushing, or sing songs. We take it in turn so mummy brushes for a bit and then DD.

Lots of bubbles in the bath and plenty of toys, so we have a fun time. I sing a song about "underwater dinosaur" who washes her body.

We also have swim goggles which she loves and practices blowing bubbles wearing them.

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Cherryjellybean · 13/10/2014 20:57

I gave my daughter a Hello kitty tooth brush, I let her have a go then have a go myself.

I'm trying to implement a 10 second soap rubbing rule when washing hands and see how fast she can rub them together. I'm sure this will become boring to her soon, but she loves the praise when she does it without being reminded.

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GobblersKnob · 13/10/2014 21:03

Again? Really? Andrex is obsessed with mumsnet atm.

I hang fire on the clean tips, too busy teaching them the importance of using recycled paper products and to steer well clear of dubious marketing deceits spun by giant multinationals.

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GobblersKnob · 13/10/2014 21:05

Oh and your adverts where children tell of the delights of a clean arse?

Truly, one if the worst I have ever seen, you need a new focus group mate.

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KatherinaMinola · 13/10/2014 21:12

I haven't seen the TV ads, but DH and I were genuinely disturbed by the current slogan on the Andrex packets - apparently a quote from a small child after using Andrex toilet paper: "I feel as clean as a shiny diamond." Confused

Arse/diamond - you don't want to confuse the two.

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MaryWestmacott · 13/10/2014 21:29

Teeth have bugs on that need cleaning off, only grown ups can see the bugs and they have to clean better if htey are still there...

Must say, I find the ad with children chatting about their clean arses rather off putting.

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bluebump · 13/10/2014 21:38

My son genuinely loves a bath and is always disappointed when we've only got time to pop him in the shower.

As for hand washing after the toilet or before dinner etc I buy one that has a scent to it so I can smell if they are clean, but he does love a handwash and hates having dirty hands so it's never really been much of an issue! Previously we've turned it into a race "I bet I can wash my hands faster than you, or I can make my hands cleaner than yours" etc.

As for teeth cleaning I've told him the tooth fairy won't want to see a dirty tooth left under his pillow so get cleaning!

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