The search for a toddler-friendly floor cleaner

Potty training… when will it end?

Our toddler is two and half and we have a new baby on the way. Clearly we are not fans of sleep.

We tried to time it so that we only have to change one set of nappies, but it seems that was more wishful thinking than anything based in reality.

Which is worse - nappies or messes?

I was really looking forward to our toddler being out of nappies. Now that it’s starting to happen I am not sure which is worse, changing nappies or cleaning up after missed potty opportunities.

To be fair we have only been training her in the ways of bladder and poo control for a couple of months now, although it feels like we’ve been at it for a full year. She helps us in her own way and is willing to diysregard her nappy at the drop of a hat, often when it has little ‘surprises’ in it.

The tricky part is when she’s not wearing one and says she has to go. Then we discover it’s already done… This is still better than when we continually ask her if she needs the potty and she says no every time, until she finally says yes, but has already pee’d all over the floor. Thank goodness our floor is tiled.

Chewy is another challenge

I was telling my sister about our potty training action adventures and she said she knew all about it after going through it with her two children, but was now starting all over again since they got their new puppy, Chewy.

Chewy (short for Chewbacca) is a cross between a Bulbul, Ridgeback and some other animal, possibly a sea otter. He is a bundle of joy and energy but has no interest in learning to do his ‘business’ outside. Literally while my sister was telling me this, he walked in and pee’d on the wooden floor in the office and then ran outside to play.

It is easy to get frustrated, but my sister and I try to remember that both my daughter and her puppy are still learning and will get it right eventually… I hope. Until then of course, both of us have been going through our floor cleaners at a rapid pace.

Passing the cereal test

I will always remember the time I got to fully test the Better Earth Wooden Floor Cleaner when I stayed over at her place after a dinner party.

I had made myself a big bowl of cereal and was walking from the kitchen down the passage, when I misjudged the required left turn into the lounge and my elbow bumped the door frame. I managed not to drop the bowl, but most of the contents went flying out. Terrible times indeed as I was very hungry, but if you have spilt this particular cereal before you will know that time is of the essence. Once it dries, it becomes strangely concrete like and is much harder to clean up. Which got me wondering what it is actually made of… but I digress. [Ed … and what happens to it in your tummy?]

Kerry’s lovely old wooden floors, recently sanded down and varnished, were now were covered in what looked like a cereal crime scene.

I grabbed the Wooden Floor Cleaner and managed to clean the floors quickly with a mop. After eating the rest I noticed the splatter that was also all over the door frame and door. Cue another cleaning session, except this time with a bit more elbow grease, as the cerial by now looked more like cement.

My sister and I both use Better Earth floor cleaners, but she uses the Wooden Floor Cleaner and I use the Tiled Floor Cleaner. Both are fantastic products that clean and shine our floors and both have fresh fragrances that leave my house smelling of Citrus and Kerry’s place smelling of Eucalyptus. The beauty is that you only use a small amount, around 30ml, added to 5 litres of water with no rinsing required for a streak free finish. Full disclosure, I use a bit more for the stronger fragrance.

If you haven’t yet tried either floor cleaner you really should give them a trial run. With the added benefit that the Better Earth Floor Cleaners are 100% bio-degradable and the grey water left over can be used to water the garden and lawn.

Both Floor Cleaners are free of sulphated surfactants, parabens, animal products, colourants and synthetic fragrances and the Wooden Floor Cleaner is gentle on all wooden floors.

Be sure to check out our website www.betterearth.co.za for more information on these and all of our products.