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

[chrissycn11]

Loads of bubbles in the bath and a nice selection of bath toys always helps as well as novelty toothbrushes.

[Portabella24]

When my sons were younger it was all about the Thomas the Tank Engine bath toys and bath crayons. Now it's more about taking gadgets away and getting cross tbh

[Prawnskewer]

Bathtime - lots of singing and 'letting' my 1 year old brush my teeth aswell as his own.

Nappy change - more singing, this time 'row row row your boat' whilst doing the arm and leg rowing.

Wipe after meal times - nothing cutesy here I'm afraid, just in and out as quick as we can!

[KittyKat88]

We have a consistent morning and bedtime routine My DDs have lots of fun in the bath so it is easy to keep them clean, and as they are still very young, I do their teeth and we have a singing/counting game which distracts them while I do the hard work!

[beckyinman]

Always have wet wipes with you

[JoJoY]

Bath crayons and toys!

[ThatBloodyWoman]

Bribery.

[MyFirstName]

Um, I tell them to go and get washed. They get washed. Sometimes I check to see washed-ness. Sometimes I don't.

They always, always, always have to wash their hands before they eat.

So far 6 yo never had D&V ever.
8yo had Vomitting once.

[freefan]

Character toothpaste and accessories seem to make it a lot easier, and the character handwash bottles can be refilled with a more pleasant smelling one when its all used, also a reward chart and a timer for teeth cleaning works wonders and soon gets them into a good habit.

[chrin]

my granchildren are just told that cleaning teeth means they don't have to have fillings at the dentist or get tooth ache it works like a dream, no gimmacks just the truth

[Foxyloxymumma]

We use andrex wipes as well as normal loo roll.
I does help with bottom wiping.
Personally, I wanted my children to clean their own bottoms as soon as possible and not be involved in any form of wiping and these helped.

Otherwise for general cleanliness loads of bath toys. I dont ask if they want a bath, just run it and order them in it. Its full of octonaut toys and at 8 and 5 they still just get in without fuss (its the getting them out which is the problem).

[littlemisstrivia]

We bought an electric toothbrush to make sure little man's teeth get cleaned properly instead of him just chewing the brush.

[chealehay]

A favourite is to use food colouring in the bath to make bath time more fun

[DrSeuss]

I tell them it's bath time, they take a bath. I tell them to brush their teeth, they have a go, then an adult.
I find the trick is to remember that I'm an adult, I'm in charge, they are children, they are not in charge.

[ChampagneShowers]

I must have one of those odd kids, I don't do anything to get him to bathe - he'd been in the bath every day for hours if I let him.

[pfcpompeysarah]

I tell my son that he needs to keep clean otherwise he will get sick, and luckily for me he hates getting his hands dirty so he is quite careful, when it comes to cleaning his teeth he has a ritual to make sure he cleans them for the appropriate amount of time, he walks a certain path around the upstairs a few times until he has passed the minute mark, weird but it seems easier to make him stick to the time than if not.

[kerryv]

My son takes his top off when he eats spaghetti bolognaise. Saves me struggling with the strain remover!

[sam2kids1]

i use an app for my LOs teeth brushing its fun they get awarded stars which they can then use to purchase different pieces of clothing to change their character which they love..Fun hand washes are also great to encourage kids to was their hands and Wipes are another fun thing for kids keeping clean but we use them more when out and about

[lorka]

We use a timer at teeth brushing time so they know they have brushed long enough and their teeth are sparkling. Otherwise half their teeth are missed!!

[shroney]

we have a teeth cleaning timer and character bubble bath spiderman for my DS and lush bath goodies for my DD

[Hippo071]

Looking at moving to West Watford, looking at properties at The Gateway. I have a 4 yr old son , any feedback on the area would be great appreciated. :-)

[angela25rose]

I use a small sand timer whilst brushing our teeth and singing songs always works

[Gilla01]

It's easy to lure them into the bath when they're little - just playing in water is enough, and bubbles are a bonus.

It's when they're old enough to wash themselves that the trouble starts.

[taz10]

Don't have any tips I look at it this way as long as their happy and have fun ,muck is easily cleaned

[lhlee62]

Luckily my DC love splashing around in the bath as I always make sure there are loads of bubbles. They both go in together and play together, but I have to watch the eldest as she has pushed my youngest over before!! To brush their teeth I have to get them their favourite character toothbrushes- Peppa Pig and Hello Kitty, but anything that helps!