Reducing the need to vacuum

ka7e

I have vinyl flooring in my hall and kitchen and find a soft narrow broom is invaluable for keeping them clean. 3 kids, 4 cats, 1 dog and builder OH means I end up sweeping daily and wash floor 2-3 times a week. Living room and stairs vacuumed once or twice a week, upstairs every 3-4 weeks.
I have a coarse door mat in the porch and a carpet square just inside the front door. I get the mat-sized sample carpet squares from a local shop and change them when to grubby! Must admit my children have always taken their shoes off as soon as they get in, got them used to changing into slippers when they were little.

DebtEverest

Magentasue wrote:

Um ...disagree about the Dyson, we've gone through two of them and now have Miele Cat and Dog which is tons better. Does much better in the Which? and Good Housekeeping tests too. I'm in a minority here - many of my friends love their Dysons.

I have a Miele C&D which I bought based on the Which? recommendations and even bought one for my mum's house for when she dog sits for us!

Our family and friends who come round are well accustomed to taking shoes off before entering the house, even the dog won't move from the hall way once he's had his paws wiped. aahh!

Anne_Marie_2

I usually use a brush in the kitchen, which seems to get the most traffic, so looks worse than everywhere else. Getting shoes removed as soon as they come in is a big bonus, but not always possible.
I used to put an old tablecloth under daughter's high chair while she was feeding, then a quick shake out the back door, or bung in the washing machine if it was a bit messy. Used to catch most of the worst of things, and saved on cleaning carpet all the time. You could use anything old that you don't mind getting stained.

Pooky

I hoover daily - we're in a bungalow so not only does dirt travel but you see all of the house walking from the kitchen in the front to the living room at the back.

I've always got a truck load of kids about and 2 cats - a parrot that likes to chuck things out his cage and a drive way that needs re-tarmaccing. Everyone comes in through the kitchen door and I wash that floor daily.

Jay-Jay_4

Pooky wrote:

I've always got a truck load of kids about

:rotfl: ....... is that a rough estimate? .... are all these children yours? :rotfl:

Pooky

Jay-Jay wrote:

:rotfl: ....... is that a rough estimate? .... are all these children yours? :rotfl:

Not all mine thankfully!!!!! I'm a childminder so can have little ones crawling about one minute and a house full of afterschoolers the next.....makes for a truck load of mess too!!

I must admit to not being very happy with my dyson - I don't think it's doing the best job but can't justify buying anything different until this one breaks down.......now where did I put that screwdriver????

Jet

On the subject of vacuum cleaners - I've spoken to loads of people who have bought Dysons and nobody I know would recommend them.

I've got a Henry and he's brilliant. He's the most useful male in this house! I used to have Charles until my ex got custody of him!

[Deleted User]

Jet wrote:

On the subject of vacuum cleaners - I've spoken to loads of people who have bought Dysons and nobody I know would recommend them.

I've got a Henry and he's brilliant. He's the most useful male in this house! I used to have Charles until my ex got custody of him!

I too have a dreaded 'Dyson'and I only wished that I had my trusty old hoover back I had my Hoover for over 20 years and apart from the odd new band around the rollers I never had any trouble with it. About 4 years ago I was persueded to change to this 'wonderful new type of vacuum'The worst thing I ever did.My old pal was taken to the tip and dumped. I have spent the last couple of years trying to find another one at a boot sale .
My Dyson is a real pain. When trying to clean it I can take it apart alright but putting it back together is a problem. It's a good job our local vicar doesn't call very often, as the air is quite colourful when I am wresting with the beastly thing.
It is no where near as easy to fix as the old hoover with the bag on the front was. No wonder James Dyson is rich £200.00 worth of plastic tut that break on a regular basis Next time it goes wrong it is going to the tip as well and I shall go back to a carpet sweeper.
Right thats my rant for the day out of the way I feel so much better now
cheers peeps

kiwichick

Gosh, I hoover at least twice a day, that 3 toddlers for you though!

Can anyone fill me in on the "cat and dog" hoover? I dont have either but the kids make enough mess on their own :rolleyes:

innovate

For wood & tile floors, you can use a normal brush now and then, and one of those microfibre dusting mops on a regular basis - vaccuming then needs to be done much less frequently. These mops also have a 'wet' attachment with which you can wash the floors.

I have seen one of these mop gadgets only the other day in Homebase, but I personally use the e-cloth mop (I am an e-cloth addict, they are really super).