One of the biggest struggles that people have when it comes to keeping their home clean is dealing with tracking dirt and mud through the house. It seems like no matter how many times you vacuum or sweep, there always seems to be a little bit of dirt left behind. In this blog post, we will discuss 9 ways that you can avoid tracking dirt through your house, and the best order to clean your floors for the ultimate clean!
1. Keep a close eye on your shoes
Being aware of any gunk on your shoes is the first way to avoid messing up your floors. You might have a pair of work boots that are always getting muddy or dusty, rain boots for the winter months, and casual sneakers for errands. Pay attention to which shoes you’ve picked out for the day so you’re aware of the kind of dirt and grime you might step into.
2. Get a good vacuum cleaner
Vacuuming every day is a great way to avoid a buildup of dust and dirt on your floors, especially in high traffic areas. Removing the dirt daily will prevent it from spreading elsewhere in the house, and keep your floors cleaner. It’s important to vacuum first (before sweeping), as vacuuming gets a large amount of particles foremost without stirring up dust into the air.
3. Use a Swiffer or other dust mop
A dust mop in addition to vacuuming and sweeping ensures you get the stubborn places where dirt was more likely to stick, like high traffic areas near the doors or in the kitchen. Every time we step, we pound dust or debris into the floor, flattening them onto its surface. While vacuuming and sweeping can get rid of loose debris, a dust mop can wipe up any remaining dirt.
4. Put mats at all of the entrances to your home
Mats at all of the entrances to your home are a great way to keep your floors clean. They act as a barrier between the dirt and mud on your shoes and the flooring, which helps prevent it from spreading throughout the house. In addition, mats can be easily cleaned with a quick shake or sweep, making them a convenient way to keep your floors looking nice.
5. Have a designated place for shoes and boots
It’s common courtesy to remove your shoes before entering someone’s house, and it’s also a good way to keep the floors clean. When you walk in with your shoes on, you’re bringing in all of the dirt and mud from outside. By taking them off at the door, you’re preventing that dirt from spreading throughout the house. Designating a place for shoes and boots near the entrance, which makes it easy to put them away and keep them out of the way.
6. Regularly sweep
Regularly sweeping after vacuuming is the best way to ensure you get all the corners and places the vacuum has a hard time reaching. Spot-sweeping throughout the day is also important to prevent piles of dirt, hair, or dust to be spread throughout the house.
7. Use a floor cleaner
A floor cleaner removes tough-to-tackle spots that aren’t cleaned thoroughly from vacuuming, sweeping, or wiping. Vacuum first, then sweep and wipe, and use a floor cleaner last to leave your floors looking clean and smelling fresh. The less dirt left on your floor, the less dirt able to spread throughout the house!
8. Have a litterless home
A litterless home is one of the best ways to keep your floors clean and free of dirt and dust. Litterless is a term used to describe a home in which there is no mess or clutter on the floor that could cause you to track dirt throughout the house. Picking up garbage and limiting the use of one-time-use plastics and packaging in your home means there are less items to trap dust, as well as cleaner garbage cans!
9. Pick up your toys and other belongings
Toys and loose items can collect dust, and that dust can be tracked throughout the house. Picking up items and keeping them in one place limits the amount of dirt they can pick up.
We hope this list helps you keep your floors clean, and contact our Reno floor cleaning service at Evergreen for a professional cleaning at least once or twice a year to get the longest wear out of your floors!