Cleaning...

Indiana · Guru

Cleaning...

emma · Guru

Alexis,
I have wooden flooring too and I must admit to being a bit of a cleaning freek.I spend one day per week cleaning the whole house properly from top to bottom and it is a killer. I would much rather be at work its a breeze by comparison! I am at this moment in time suffering from 'housemaids knee' brought on by washing floors with a mop but then also drying them with yards of kitchen roll!My front room is 30ft of laminate and I also have a kitchen of similar size and the hall which are all tiled.Thankfully the rest is carpeted downstairs and Chad will not go upstairs since we moved here (no idea why except the stairs have no rails and it is open plan, it is a bit dangerous). My floor is only laminate and so have no grain which I can imagine is a total nightmare.However it is far superior and I bet it looks great when you do it.I used to live in an older house and I had lots of lovely features. Here it is all modern and not really to my taste at all. We moved here to buy the granny annex really to accomodate my elderly father (mum died last year).He loves his bit of the house and thankfully I get a cleaner in for him. I can't afford it all done though as I am not rich - despite the size of this pad (it's all from good property bets over the years and is going to fund my retirement when I downsize to a lovely cottage one day!)
As you said I wipe at the back door with an old towel but sometimes I wash Chad's feet before he is allowed in the house if he is really bad.He is fairly good in the garden (does not go on mud) but on walks he goes everywhere. I keep a pack of floor wipes handy to wipe with between washes.
All I can think of is investing in some cheap washable runners to cover up with until the weather improves.It is tough at this time of the year trying to keep a house clean with doggies. But they are worth it!
Hope you find an answer Em xx

feldandjack · Guru

I cheat

rag rugs from ikea on the floors closest to the doors, they wash once or twice then I throw them away and put new ones down. I'm no cleaning freak, so they have to get rather dirty before I wash them, because I'm such a slob, they last for ages smile

max · Enlightened One

I use the rag rugs (sorry Rag) as well they are terrific, make sure you get the dark ones as they last for ages. biggrin

Nora

Valerie Spain · Old Hand

I have tiled floors but living right on the banks of a river it is always muddy in the winter. I too use rag rugs which fit easily in to the washing machine. I have a dog only washing machine (working in a shelter I am paranoid about bringing fleas home and I am always washing the dogs' bedding) and a human one for my things!

fridays mystic · Old Hand

I have 2 old towels. One goes just inside the door for her to stand on. The other gets used to wipe and dry her paws.

feldandjack · Guru

My mum made zip up bag from old towels, it has a velcro bit at the neck. Dog lies on towel, she zips it up round him leaving his head sticking out the top. He stays in it til dry, then she washes the bag. He doesn't mind at all, it's warm in the bag ( by the fire) and it keeps the house clean. He looks a bit daft if he tries to walk about with the bag on, sort of fat towelling slug biggrin

max · Enlightened One

LOL

Nora

midas · Master

The dog bag idea is a very common one you can actualy buy them,the mind boggles at the thought of a big slug with a dogs head ha ha,lol,I use a blaster,a bit like a very high powered hair dryer,it's not just for wet dogs you can use it to get rid of dead hair and dandruff,years ago Eddie asked me what I would like for my birthday and I asked for a blaster and grooming table so off we went to the SKC. show at Ingliston and bought them,best birthday pressies ever.I also do the two towel thing.But if they want to get bogging they will!!!

Rachel.

Rowen · Master

use a steam cleaner, i got one from price-drop tv for 10 quid, it cleans everything in the house, oven, windows, toilet and is great on the floors, works on carpets to get the stains out. it's better than using anything that will harm the wood or take off the varnish, hope i helped a bit........
Denise & Rowen x

Indiana · Guru

I like the all the ideas! I think I will def invest in rag rugs for near the door and will borrow my mum's steam cleaner. I'd never thought about using it on wood. As for the giant slug... I don't know if either of them will go for that but I quite fancy seeing two giant slugs lolling about the flat!

Em - I'm against you on the modern bit. I'd love to move somewhere modern! My flat is freezing in winter and only heats up with permanent heating on. The hubby however is dead against that idea - he likes his period features. Might try and get him a spot on Justin and Colin...