Whether your kids qualify as Dennis the Menace clones or not, your house is going to be in shambles for years to come. Nevertheless, there are ways to minimize the damage.

Blinds – All it takes to ruin a set of blinds is to pull the strings the wrong way, causing them to tangle inside the frame. Purchase blind and shade cord windups by Safety 1^st to keep cords out of children’s reach. When children are old enough to maneuver blinds on their own, tie the pull strings together in a knot a few inches above the pulls to prevent blinds from malfunctioning.

Vacuum – Your vacuum is likely to find many foreign objects such as pennies, marbles, and game pieces before you can react. Look for a vacuum specially designed to deflect foreign objects or ask your salesperson which vacuums best handle foreign objects without belt breakage or motor damage.