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Original poster

How on earth do you keep light kitchen floors clean?

33 replies

Gladero · 01/03/2024 12:13

About 5 months ago we went for not cheap limestone effect tiles. Have always loved the look and went for it.

Regret that now.

Maybe it was dumb on my part but I thought with a cordless Karcher I would easily be able to keep on top of it. Wrong.

We bought the floors with three golden retrievers that get walked in muddy woods. But like I said I’m a SAHM and thought I would just be able to whip the Karcher out with no problem.

Even with Karchering daily often twice the floors look shit. Especially the perimeter. I have to scrub manually fortnightly for the floors to not look absolutely mucky.

They never look spotless. First world problems but with someone who is a. Eat freak it’s getting to me.

Any tips?

OP posts:
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ShiftySquirrel · 01/03/2024 16:35

We bought a house that already had white floor tiles. It looked amazing when we came to view the house. And I accepted that it would never look as good once we moved in!

No pets luckily, but the floor should be swept daily - usually I do it weekly... because I wear slippers and have poor eyesight!

I very occasionally spray mop it when feeling enthusiastic.

Blythwind · 01/03/2024 16:28

Pale cream tiles here and I feel your pain.

I bought an XL Soggy Doggy mat for about £80 which is so good and has helped massively.

I still use the Bissell Crosswave daily though

Roselilly36 · 01/03/2024 16:25

Cream tiles here, absolutely impossible to keep clean, my DS1 steam mops occasionally, (I have a disability) no pets.

CatSighs · 01/03/2024 16:13

Would washable rugs near the doors help? They would hopefully pick up most of the mud/leaves, and you could shake them clean each day or wash when required.

Original poster
Gladero · 01/03/2024 15:49

Cheeesus · 01/03/2024 15:41

What is your Karcher? A mop or a steam mop? You might find a steam mop slightly better. We have this one and like it https://amzn.to/49xF9fa

Just realised the cordless is a shark. But also have a Karcher steam mop which I tend to keep upstairs for bathroom

OP posts:
BarrelOfOtters · 01/03/2024 15:47

We bought 'distressed wood look' karndean type flooring as it was going to end up looking like that anyway. Can get away without mopping all week. Dog and cat.

Cheeesus · 01/03/2024 15:41

What is your Karcher? A mop or a steam mop? You might find a steam mop slightly better. We have this one and like it https://amzn.to/49xF9fa

Original poster
Gladero · 01/03/2024 15:35

aLFIESMA · 01/03/2024 15:08

I'd honestly go back to wet mopping, do the dogs stay in the kitchen or is there a utility area. If not, is there room to have a doggie area shut off till they dry off. I have one small curly 'poppet' who watches me like a hawk 'till I'm looking at a squirrel/daffodil then goes in for the roll of shame. I feel you OP.

Sadly no utility. Looking at houses with boot rooms.

My dogs genuinely make my life special (plus kids I guess). Rest of house is spotless. Giving up on kitchen.

OP posts:
ThePoetsWife · 01/03/2024 15:31

Dog owner with clean pale floors here- I have towels by the door to wipe paws every time they come in.

Soontobe60 · 01/03/2024 15:19

LoobyDop · 01/03/2024 14:19

You can’t. Pale kitchen floors are a really bad idea for this reason and will never look good unless you wash them twice a day. Life’s too short.

Not true! I have light tiles, but they're not smooth and are slightly mottled. I vacuum up daily and mop weekly when I remember. Sometimes I only realise they're dirty if I walk on them in bare feet!!!

How on earth do you keep light kitchen floors clean?
How on earth do you keep light kitchen floors clean?
Bey · 01/03/2024 15:14

Robot hoover and mop daily, proper mop once a week

aLFIESMA · 01/03/2024 15:08

I'd honestly go back to wet mopping, do the dogs stay in the kitchen or is there a utility area. If not, is there room to have a doggie area shut off till they dry off. I have one small curly 'poppet' who watches me like a hawk 'till I'm looking at a squirrel/daffodil then goes in for the roll of shame. I feel you OP.

DSD9472 · 01/03/2024 14:37

Luckily my dog is small enough to plonk in the utility sink to wash her paws, plus she doesn't molt.
I'm looking at getting one of those automatic vacuum and mops in one. Its not released yet, but a friend has the current version and raves about it. https://www.eufy.com/uk/appliance-x10-omni

eufy Clean X10 Pro Omni｜Robot Vacuum for Pet Hair & Dust

The revolutionary MopMaster robovac with 8,000 Pa suction. Enjoy hands-free cleaning, AI obstacle recognition, and Pro-Detangle Combo for pet-friendly homes. Say goodbye to pet hair, crumbs, and deep carpet debris. Upgrade to the X10 Pro Omni for a pow...

https://www.eufy.com/uk/appliance-x10-omni

AristotelianPhysics · 01/03/2024 14:32

We have white tile floors and it is a nightmare. Only thing you can do is sweep/hoover/mop as much as you can be arsed. Or close the door. I do that a lot.

KarmenPQZ · 01/03/2024 14:30

I have very light marmoleum. And 2 kids 3 cats. Humans take shoes off before entering the kitchen but the cat flap is right into this room.

I have a robot mop and hoover that is very effective. And steam mop maybe only once a month.

it’s rarely spotless under close inspection but is fine. Will try to post a photo. I haven’t steam mopped since my birthday in mid Jan.

my sister has bags that she puts her dogs in when they get home that dries them… maybe try that?

How on earth do you keep light kitchen floors clean?
AmaryllisChorus · 01/03/2024 14:27

Hmm. I was going to say no shoes on in the house, ever, but trying telling that to your dogs.

Can you put a huge mud-catching dog mat by the kitchen door?

But, in your position, I think I'd decide not to be a neat freak. Neat freak + two dogs + nearby muddy woods just isn't a recipe for happiness and the easiest bit to change is attitude.

As long as the floor's cleaned regularly, so you know it's not unhygienic, just look at it less! Grin

LennyBalls · 01/03/2024 14:22

Not helpful at all but you can't. I've had light floor which shows up all the dirt and dark floors that show up all the dust and crumbs. In my opinion the only floor you can keep looking reasonable is wood or wood affect floors.

kitsuneghost · 01/03/2024 14:22

Get rid of the dogs??
You can hardly maintain neat freak with 3 dogs can you

LoobyDop · 01/03/2024 14:19

You can’t. Pale kitchen floors are a really bad idea for this reason and will never look good unless you wash them twice a day. Life’s too short.

Littlepixie75 · 01/03/2024 14:19

Go crazy with the bleach (and accept that your kitchen smells like swimming pool changing rooms….)!

greenacrylicpaint · 01/03/2024 14:18

we have slate effect tiles and tbh the best solution is not to wear glasses in that room.

RosesAndHellebores · 01/03/2024 14:16

I had black and white amtico tiles in my kitchen in 1990. I was v pleased when we sold the house in 1992!

lambhotpot · 01/03/2024 14:13

I have white marble floors throughout my flat spotless at all times.
What I find that helps is no kids no men no pets no shoes.
I know its not helpful.

ifIwerenotanandroid · 01/03/2024 12:57

I deliberately chose floor tiles which looked like they already had a light smattering of our colour of mud dried onto them. Anything for a quiet life.

(taken from page 94 of 'How to Be a Domestic Slut & Give Up Caring' 😂)

Ifailed · 01/03/2024 12:52

Don't. After a while you can then call it Patina.

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