Egg dyeing is a traditional activity to do with kids around Easter. Unfortunately for parents, before these eggs are transformed into their beautiful colors, children almost always make a mess of themselves first. Any mom would know it's next to impossible to keep the little tykes clean during the process.
Even metal egg holders and contraptions won't help keep things neat and clean. Still, it doesn't mean parents should give up, here are a few life hacks to make egg designing mess-free as you go through the day:
1. Use Party Supplies
She Knows suggests that you use old party supplies like plastic tablecloths to cover every area possible. It doesn't matter if these covers are covered with hearts and glitters and random superheroes - the important thing is that they can keep paint and dye on the plastic, and not on your furniture.
If you don't have them handy, they are sold very cheap in stores, and you can do well to invest in them. After all, Easter egg painting is not the only messy activity your child would want to do over time.
A4. Fizzy Egg Dye by @thelaceyplacey is a fun way to decorate #Easter eggs: https://t.co/sghi4MFx7a #OhioEggRoll pic.twitter.com/RZ1RMt1lqt
— Ohio Poultry Assn. (@OhioEggFarmers) March 10, 2016
2. Use Eco-Friendly Dye
Go green on the dye - yes, the kids could still make a mess (probably even more than usual) but creating your own dye from colorful food is at least safer for your child's skin and overall health. In case you are not sure what food to use, dyes can be made from blueberries, raspberries, cranberry juice, turmeric, and cayenne pepper.
3. Easy Cleaning
Finally, when you're ready to clean up all the mess, wash their messy fingers with a thick paste of baking soda and water. Spread the mix on their hands and let it sit for a while. After, scrub it off like you would when washing their hands. You might miss some spots, but at least your kids will look picture-perfect when they smile in front of the camera.
Of course, there are also other ways to decorate eggs without using paint or dye. Some forgo the paint altogether. Modern Mom noted that you can make egg animals with construction paper and pipe cleaners, add glue, or even draw with washable markers.
