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

[AngelieMumsnet]

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

[Autismmumma]

We have packets of wet wipes downstairs and upstairs for grubby moments.
Light up toothbrushes which stay lit for the recommended brushing time and we make a disco out of it.
Hair washing never fun though.

[wibblyjelly]

Wet wipes always at the ready!

[googietheegg]

One of the first things my toddler dd ever said is 'wet wipes!' - she still shouts it out whenever she gets food on her hands or mouth or spills something on her clothes. This is generally v handy in keeping clean, although it has caused some social embarrassment as the other day in the supermarket an old lady sneezed into her hand and dd shouted 'wet wipes!' and pointed at the lady's germ-laden mit.

[hunhun007]

We don't have any special tricks. Kids learn by watching adults. If you show them how to do it and explain why they should keep clean, they will learn and just do it... most of the time :-)

[libra101]

Tell them to jump in all the muddy puddles they say see and become as dirty as possible. They always do the opposite of what I tell them, and they'll keep clean as a new pin!

[clairenutman]

I try to make learning fun, introducing fun products where I can, and little tales of bugs and germs to go along with it x

[fazkin]

We brush to get the teeny tiny bugs right off our teeth before they go inside the tummy and take over!!!

[joanf]

I always use toddlers wipes after using toilet paper then lots of hand washing. Mine both love bath time with Barbies, have trouble getting them out.

[Starsky10]

They are always happy to be told it's bath time. Why? They get to chose a book or two and I sit in the bathroom (yes on the loo) and read to them. They class this as a treat. I do too, but, I am getting two jobs done at the same time. Mums, forever multi tasking even when sat on the loo.

[janeyf1]

I just tell them washing and keeping clean scares away the nasty lice - that works for my DCs

[maryandbuzz1]

Plenty of bubbles and loads of toys in the bath. He never wants to get out!

[Annbunce]

Lots of bubbles in the bath and bath toys :)

[hiddenmichelle]

Bath toys - and turning the bath into a bit of am experimental/science lesson - about what floats, volume etc etc...!

[FUZZ62]

we have a 2 step approach,

rule 1: 3 baths a week (minimum) to this we have magic bath bombs for kids, which change the colour of the water under 5 works a treat.

rule 2: brush your teeth, here we use aquafresh mobile app which times and sings, at the minute this is working a treat but i have seen and may invest in the blue tooth tooth brush which records times but that depends on them coming down from £100 first.

[rachheap2014]

I make sure i have lots of appealing bath toys

[peg0161]

I have bought the electric toothbrushes for my children and they flash when times up and they flash red if your brushing to hard great idea

[lizd31]

Have fun washing by singing songs like 'I'm gonna wash that man right out of my hair'

[Marg2k8]

Soap crayons in the bath.

[StetsonsAreCool]

This may not be the thread for me, seeing as the thing that stood out most from Andrex's request is that part of the prize a month's supply of Andrex. Really? 4 loo rolls??

Aside from that, we don't have any tricks. Cleanliness is an expectation. We don't have unrealistic expectations, but washing hands after using the toilet, brushing teeth twice a day and wiping faces after food have always just been part of the routine. It may be different for DC2, though!

Hair brushing on the other hand... If anyone has any hints on getting a 4yo tangle head to keep still, that's another question

[barbsbarbs]

I have posters on the bathroom door, With achecklist clean teeth. Wash hands etc. Ut works.great

[nettymay]

I tell them they need to set a good example of cleanliness because our 2 new kittens are watching them - it works!

[maximum4]

I have 4 children (all fairly close together in age) and when they were little - for me to bath/shower, wash hair (if needed) and dry them every evening took at least an hour - I taught them all from a very early age to be independent or to help one another in the bathroom. I was always around (in the bathroom or vicinity) when they were in the bath/shower but (this gave me extra time) catching up with other jobs - putting away washing etc... as I worked full time. It also mean't I had time to read a story!

[buckley1983]

My little one HATES having his hair washes, but loves getting in the bath. I found that if I get in with him, & pour a jug of water over my head - he'll laugh, then copy me - result! It ends up with the bathroom being a complete mess with water everywhere, but it's fun & we both end up clean :)

[Minnibix]

We keep it all light hearted and try to make a game of it all, I hate when it gets all stressful and serious so I's sure that the kids do. If all fails I will resort to bribery.

PS I really find the ad with children talking about how clean their bottoms are very off putting, especially at tea time yuk

[mimmcfinn]

We use bath paints! Great fun and no arguments about bath times :-)