Ew. How can I get my floors cleaner?

mamarazzi

I watch an 11-month-old and I've noticed her light pink pants and socks end up looking dirty from crawling around all day at my house.  I usually vacuum every other day or so and sweep daily.  I steam mop around twice a week.

Our house is a year and a half old.  We just had the carpets shampooed a few months ago.  We're not filthy people.  What the heck?

Do we need a better vacuum?  Should I be cleaning the hardwoods more often?

hcassell

I have no idea!   I feel the same way.  My boys socks are filthy by the end of the day.  Most days, we all wear slippers, including the little boy that I watch.  I've tried everything. 

TheNextWest

I can't get our's clean either. We have hardwood and it seems like nothing works. I don't have a steam mop, but I'm probably about to get one. Everything else either doesn't clean it or leaves a film. I've been reaaallly frustrated about this lately.

A&R2005

Try a dry swiffer on the hard wood floors after you sweep.  You'll be amazed at how black it gets.  I try to do this every day.  And it makes a big difference. 

ridesbuttons

Don't wear your shoes inside.

We have a condo in Florida that gets rented out (weekly rentals); we have cleaners wash the floors at least weekly.  Twice a year we have a deep clean done.  When we stay there, even though the floors look clean, my socks end up nearly black.

My home here has the floors dry mopped once or twice a month and spot cleaned for spills here and there.  My socks stay white.

The difference?  In the condo, people leave their shoes on.  At the house, everyone takes their shoes off.

dawnc78

I agree with pp... We have a no shoes in the house rule... It keeps my hardwood and tile floors from getting gross, and it is better for DS's asthma...not as much pollen and dust and crap getting tracked in...my gross factor is the grout... I HATE that I can't keep it clean!

SMHWife

I have the same problem with carpet... but found that when I clean my tile floors with a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser and water with a little white vinegar... it gets all kinds of nasty dirt out of the tile.  My steam mop didn't even come close to pulling the dirt out of the tile like a good old fashioned hands and knees scrubbing.  It sucks and it takes more time, but it was worth it!

AnnapolisLari

My floors are gross no matter what I do.

We're going to have to institute the no-shoes thing. We're out in the boonies, spend a lot of time outside when it's nice and when it's not we're tracking in the salt/grit from the winter roads.

I vacuum and steam mop regularly, but it's never enough.

mamarazzi

We don't wear shoes in the house.  I think a big part of it is our stupid dog tracking in dirt onto our hardwoods.  Not sure how to fix that.

I'll definitely try the Swiffer Dry Cloths.

Rebekah1021

mamarazzi:

We don't wear shoes in the house.  I think a big part of it is our stupid dog tracking in dirt onto our hardwoods.  Not sure how to fix that.

I'll definitely try the Swiffer Dry Cloths.

This. My dog is disgusting. I even wipe her paws when she comes in.