Move over, moms. You're not the only ones taking time off work to take care of a new baby. According to Oxygen/Markle Pulse, 70 percent of women and 63 percent of men agree that it is important for a father to take parental leave for at least two weeks following the birth of a child.

But Dads, don't make the mistake of thinking this time off is a vacation. Mom and baby will soon make you think otherwise. If you're not a pro diaper changer, relax, you soon will be. And if you're not great at housework, take heart, practice makes perfect and the following tips will get you on your way.

Vacuum the house for your wife to give her back a break. Remember to vacuum your way out of a room by starting in the far corner and working toward the door.

Keep your little one from inhaling cleaning fumes. When cleaning, spray the product directly onto a cloth, then wipe the surface.

Soap scum is the ultimate workout! Work on those bulging biceps while scrubbing the tub clean. Use a Dobie scrubber for soap scum and a grout brush to remove grime from tile. To clean the shower curtain, just stick it in the washer and lay flat to dry.

Use your brute strength and surprise your wife by moving appliances like stoves and refrigerators and cleaning behind them.

Get your floors so clean you won't mind if your baby eats off them! Scrub them by hand using mild disinfectant and warm water.

Enlist other children's help with household chores by making them fun. Pretend the toy box is a basketball net and the toys are basketballs. Have your child try to score points by getting the toys in the toy box.

For a special finishing touch that is sure to make your wife smile, use a drop of baby oil on stainless steel sinks to make them sparkle.

So while baby is content and mom is resting, tackle the housework. Your effort will be rewarded-in about six weeks!

Recommended Reading: Stand back, Heloise, here comes the Queen of Clean. Armed with both common sense and ingenuity, Linda Cobb made a name for herself on Morning, Arizona. For those of you who don't happen to live in Arizona, she has written this helpful little book. Talking Dirty with the Queen of Clean tackles just about any household stain, stink, or accident you can think of. (courtesy: Amazon)

About the Author:
This information was provided by THE MAIDS International, a professional residential maid service franchisor that specializes in cleaning for health. For more information on The Maids Home Services, visit www.maids.com.

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