Cleaning Spilled Hair Products

I have noticed over time that hair products, while they may be able to help even the most unruly of hair, can make one huge mess. It seems that the older that my daughter gets, the more I see this kind of mess, until one day I can truly expect to see it just about every day. There are a few methods that I have found which works great for cleaning spilled hair products, and best of all these are exceptionally easy and not particularly expensive.

• Glass cleaner. Surprisingly, glass cleaners (such as Windex) are great for cleaning spilled hair products. These types of cleaners will work on just about anything, even if it is not made out of glass. Such cleaners are great for getting rid of hairspray from counters, cabinets, and walls. Keep in mind though, that if you are worried about damaging the finish, simply spray a little bit of the cleaner onto a paper towel and rub, instead of spraying it directly onto the surface.
• Magic Eraser. One of the best ways to clean just about any kind of mess, is with the use of a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser, or something similar. There is something about these products that enable them to clean up just about every kind of mess. Simply get one damp, and then begin working on the hair products that you spilled or sprayed around. One of the great things about the Magic Eraser is that it will clean up a mess, without damaging what the mess is on.
• Regular cleaning. The single best way to clean up after hair products is through regular cleaning. In this case that means that once you have finished using the product, that you wipe down the bathroom cabinets, walls, and counters where the hair stuff was at. By cleaning any mess right away, you will help reduce the amount of time later on for any "deep" cleaning that you need to do periodically.
• Vinegar and baking soda. For any particularly nasty build-up of hair products, you can use some white vinegar and baking soda. While any kind of vinegar will work, white vinegar is usually best since it doesn't have as strong of an odor as the other kinds. Initially, simply wipe the area down with a cloth or sponge that has had vinegar applied to it. Once you have removed as much of the mess as you can with that initial pass, add a little more vinegar to the sponge and then add some baking soda as well. Working together, baking soda and vinegar can remove most kinds of messes, and are fairly inexpensive to get.
• Denatured alcohol. Another great method for messes caused by hair products is through the use of denatured alcohol. Apply a little bit of the alcohol to a cloth or sponge, and then wipe away at the mess. You will want to use this method in the same way that you would with glass cleaner. Do not apply the alcohol directly to the surface of any wood, but indirectly through a cloth or sponge.