As a mom of young kids, I know that toys seem to multiply overnight! It feels like very time I turn around, there are more Legos on the floor, and stuffed animals hiding under the couch. I have a toddler who likes to pull out every single toy, and create a huge mess in 5 minutes flat! It’s crazy town, am I right? Keep reading for my best tips on how to clean up toys fast!
Let’s face it, after a long day of hanging out with the kids, the last thing you or your husband wants to do is pick up toys!
However, the worst thing you can do is leave the mess for the next day. Who wants to wake up to blocks all over the floor, or a mess on the breakfast table.
So what’s the magic solution?
Well, I’ve learned a few tricks that can help make the process of cleaning up toys go a lot faster. and save you time on a daily basis!
Interested?
If you are looking for ways on how to clean up toys fast, keep reading. From storage solutions, to organization hacks, here are 5 ways to get your child’s toys under control in no time!
Are you ready to get to work?
*This post contains affiliate links. Full disclosure here.
How Do You Clean Up Toys?
#1 Declutter Your Toys
It clean be really easy to let small toys take over your home when you have babies and toddlers at home. Suddenly, every surface is covered in plastic cars and dolls. It can be tough to keep up with the constant mess. If your child’s playroom is starting to look like a toy store exploded, it may be time to encourage your children to declutter and donate some toys to children who are less fortunate.
The first step in getting your toy situation under control is admitting that you have a problem………..you have SPOILED your children with too many toys.
We’ve all done it!
Did you know that too many toys can be overwhelming for a child?
I never realized how many toys my kids had until I started decluttering our house. It was amazing how much stuff they had that they never played with. Once I started getting rid of toys, it was a like weight was lifted off my shoulders.
Not only did I feel less stressed, but my kids were also more content with the toys they had. They seemed to appreciate them more and were less likely to throw them around the room.
If you can declutter some toys from your play area, this will give you and your child more space to hang out in.
By decluttering the amount of toys you have, you can help to reduce the mess and teach your children important life lessons at the same time. Plus, your child will have an easier time finding their favorite toys to play with, your house will be less of a mess,
#2 Implement a Toy Rotation System
If you have trouble getting your kids to part with their favorite toys, consider implementing a toy rotation system. This simply means that you put away A LOT of their toys and swap them out every couple of weeks.
This allows your kids to feel like they have new toys to play with while also giving you the chance to declutter your child’s room every couple of weeks.
It’s a genius way of cutting down on the mess at home, and the kids get to play with what feels like new toys every couple of weeks.
So, now you can either get rid of toys that your child no longer plays with. Or you can start a toy rotation, this will also show you the toys they are no longer playing with. A good rule of thumb is that if they haven’t played with it in 6 months, it goes. You can donate unwanted toys to your local church, or to friends with kids.
#3 Designate a “Toy Zone”
Having a designated “toy zone” area in my house has helped to cut down on the mess everywhere in the house. Before, toys were strewn about in every room, and it was constantly looking like a tornado had hit (several if I’m being honest)!But now, all toys stay in the toy zone, and it has made such a difference. The kids know exactly where to go when they want to play, and most (not all) toys stay in that area.
Now, you may be lucky enough to have a playroom that can be used for all the toys, but maybe you don’t. Maybe you can use a corner in the living room or a designated spot in your child’s bedroom. Whatever works for you! The key is to make sure everyone in the family knows where in the house this “toy” zone is. Having this rule in place will make it much easier for cleaning up toys at the end of the day when everyone is tired.
#4 Invest in Some Storage Solutions
Investing in some good storage solutions to help make your job easier. If you don’t already have them, baskets are a great for storing smaller items like action figures and hot wheels. This Lego table is the big difference between Lego bits ending up all over the floor, or actually having a place to store these little bits, these containers work well for that also. For larger items, like puzzles and art supplies, stackable plastic bins are perfect because they take up less space and can be easily stowed away when not in use. If you don’t have a lot of storage, these are a magical solution because they can be stacked on top of one another.
We use cube organizers, I love them because it’s easy for the little kids to put toys away. All they have to do is dump the toys into the cube and they’re done. These wonderful little book holder rack is great because again, it is easy for the children to put books away on their own. These work great for stuffed animals, and other bigger toys.
#5 Get the Kids Involved
The best thing we can do for ourselves as moms is to get the kids, including toddlers involved in cleaning up their own toys! They may not be able to do an entire room by themselves, but at a young age, kids want to be helpful, they want to help mama, so let them!
The best way kids learn is by doing, so show them what they need to do, and let them do it. Assign them tasks such as putting all the crayons in their assigned spot, or cleaning up the blocks and putting them away carefully. Let them know what a great job they are doing, encourage them and they will be more inclined to keep going. At the beginning they are going to make mistakes, but as they keep going, week after week, they will get to know the process. It’s a great way to teach kids some responsibility, and it makes cleaning up toys after a long day MUCH EASIER! It’s super important that kids are made to clean up after themselves. So, the next time you see your child playing, and they dump the entire box of toys on the floor.
Just tell yourself, no worries, I’m not the one who has to clean that up. Go take a rest and let them have fun.
Here are a few tips to get the kids involved
- Make it fun: turn cleaning into a game. See who can pick up the most toys in a certain amount of time
- Be patient: remember a toddler or young child can’t be expected to clean up as quickly or as well as mom or dad. take your time and help them long the way.
- Reward good behavior. encourage them and praise them for a job well done. Tell them how clean the room looks when they are done!
Mom guilt is a thing for all of us, but teaching kids they need to clean up their own mess, even a toddler is important, especially at a young age. They need to know if they make a mess, they clean it up, NOT the parents!
I do this quick clean up before nap time, and before they go to bed, so we don’t wait until the end of the day and have a big mess facing us all. This makes it more manageable to clean up for everyone involved.
Cleaning up after playtime doesn’t have to be a battle. With a little bit of planning and some creativity, you can turn cleanup time into something quick and easy, even fun, put on some music while you clean. Or set a timer and let the kids run around for 10 minutes cleaning.
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Grainne Foley
Grainne Foley is a wife and mother of 2 great kids. During her 5 years of full time RV travel, Grainne learned to become very efficient at household chores, in order to make time for family adventures. Now, back in a house, she has continued to create tools and techniques to help others lighten the load of household organization and cleaning.
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