Hey all
Hope this is ok for this forum. I will have a free house soon and want to get messy but I'm looking for tips on how to keep unwanted mess to a min and how to clean up. I'll be mainly using srtuff like custard (by the bucket), rice pudding etc but can't use the bath as have the worst drainage in the country (or so it seems ) could buy a paddling pool but how on earth do I empty it and get rid .....any help greatly appreciated

You can put down plastic in the tub and scoop into the toilet, the pipes are bigger. Or gather the plastic and throw the mess out. Just some thoughts

Thanks, never thought of the toilet idea..may give that a try

The 'pan' part of a dustpan and brush works well for scooping mess up, you can then put it in a bucket or some other container in order to transport it to it's final destination with is the toilet. I collect the mess up and put it into buckets whilst I'm still messy and in the paddling pool.

Having dust sheets on the ground around where you're going to be getting messy is worth doing.

Having more towels to hand than you think you'll need is useful.

Whilst still in the paddling pool you'll want to wipe as much of the mess off you as possible before you set about carefully walking to the shower to clean yourself up. I use two bath towels for this, standing on one, put the other in front of the towel you're stood on and then walk onto that towel, repeat until you arrive at the shower.

Any stray drops of mess that have got anywhere are best cleaned up ASAP as the longer they're left then the more hassle they will be to clean off.

You'll need to clean the paddling pool up as well, I do this outside using a garden hose and then letting it dry off.

Thanks so much for the tips !! think i will be sorted now ! much appreciated

Further to the dustpan comment a simple cheap window scraper makes an ideal alternative to a brush to both get it off your body if its clingy or off the bath

Alternatively, just find a nice guy with a bath that can cope with a few buckets of custard down!

I have always just used disposable plastic drop cloths, like you'd put down for painting. Here in the States, at least, they're super cheap and available at hardware stores and Walmart, Target, etc., sometimes even the dollar store. Hang them to the walls with blue painter's tape and put one on the floor as well. Super easy to dispose of--just roll the whole thing into a ball and throw it away.

If you mess elsewhere in the house, think about how you're going to get from there to the shower/bath. I have found cheap rubber flip-flops/thongs to be great, especially ones with thicker soles. If you pick your feet up with each step, you can usually walk without leaving tracks/making a mess and you can just step right into the shower with them.

And yes, keep plenty of paper towels handy during the session, especially to clean eyes and hands when necessary.

I can add my vote to the dustpan idea. I've got a large one (dustpan!! ) with a rubber edge with is very easy to scoop up gunge, I also go for the pouring it down the toilet idea.

I find it easier to clean out the paddling pool with a few buckets of water and a sponge, again scooping the water up with the dustpan. Then repeat 2 or 3 more times until clean. This way the paddling pool is much quicker to dry (unless you live in a nice sunny country and can put it outside).