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Original poster

I know I need to get out more ....

14 replies

Carla · 26/01/2004 11:05

but if anyone has any suggestions ..

Our dishwasher leaked recently and ruined the vinyl in the kitchen. We were able to claim on insurance and by adding to the money decided to get a fake terracotta floor. To make it look like terracotta the tiles have random dimples in them. The dogs come in from the garden with their wet muddy feet, mud dries into the dimples and NOTHING will shift it unless I get down on my hands and knees with a scrubbing brush. I know it probably sounds trivial in the great scheme of things but it's really getting me down - because of the dogs I have to wash the floor about four times a week and it takes about 3 hours to do.

Any ideas anyone?

OP posts:
Browbeaten · 26/01/2004 11:15

Can you not cover the floor whilst the garden is muddy before you let the dogs in? Perhaps some old cardboard or towels. My friend has trained her dog to stand at the door while she wipes his feet - he's a wise old dog who enjoys the fuss

Original poster
Carla · 26/01/2004 11:24

Thanks browbeaten, but our dogs are in and out like a fiddlers elbow all day. Sometimes they bark to be let out, get their feet all muddy, then bark to be let in again. But I have to do it - can't run the risk of trying to get dog poo out of those dimples

OP posts:
jasper · 27/01/2004 02:33

carla have the tiles been sealed?
Also what are you using on the brush to clean them? There are products in places like B&Q specially for cleaning / sealing tiles.

I am always astonished anyone chooses to have dogs as well as kids! I have one outdoor cat and even though I love him dearly he is a pain in the bum

jasper · 27/01/2004 02:34

would it help to have one of those wet spongy mop things always on hand to run over the floor before the mud dries in?
wellies for the dogs?

Original poster
Carla · 27/01/2004 06:27

Jasper, thanks so much, this floor is depressing me so much! The floor was laid about 4 months ago, but no one mentioned anything about sealing it. What does it involve, what is it sealed with, and what effect does it have on the floor?

OP posts:
Bozza · 27/01/2004 09:27

Carla 12 hours a week cleaning the floor is not that trivial. Don't know what to suggest but can sympathise - we have laminate floor which gets dirt stuck in the grain and so never looks clean. I used to get down on the floor occasionally and scrub it with a nylon scourer (kitchen, hall, utility, downstairs toilet - took hours) but have recently borrowed my MIL's steam cleaner which has worked a treat at lifting the dirt.

Original poster
Carla · 27/01/2004 09:39

I have bought a Vax Bubble Wash and Dry (ok but doesn't do the dimples) and a Bissell CatchAll (completly and utterly useless) so reluctant to waste any more money BUT .... do you think a steam cleaner would do it???

OP posts:
zebra · 27/01/2004 09:40

Is there nothing you can do about cleaning the dogs' feet before they come in?

zebra · 27/01/2004 09:44

Oops, just realised you already answered that question.
We have a real quarry tile floor and it's brilliant to clean, not as tough as you describe, anyway.

aloha · 27/01/2004 09:47

I have a dirty floor and it gives me no trouble at all

jasper · 27/01/2004 22:26

jasper, sofiaames is really the person for this.
Without seeing your tiles I can't say for sure whether they need sealed but if you go to B&Q you will find a range of products (by plastiplug I think) which come in white plastic bottles and down the side there is a list of floor types on which the products may be used ( eg tiles, slates, teracotta etc)

There are things specially for initially cleaning off grout and general dirt and then also for sealing. As I understand it the sealing helps stop dirt (paw marks etc) from penetrating/staining the floor .
There is a variety of types of sealer giving different finishes - some give quite a shiny finish and others don't change the appearance of the floor.

I recently got a slate floor laid - got professionals in to do it and noone mentioned anything about sealing but I remembered something about it on mumsnet. Turns out it needs to be sealed otherwise dirt penetrates/stains it.

As a result of the info I got here I looked into all the many products avaiable. In the end I did not buy the stuff from B&Q because I had so many recommendations for another brand...whose name I have forgotten!
Bear with me, I'm off to hunt it down!
Back in a mo

jasper · 27/01/2004 22:37

good grief I have started talking to myself
The product range is called Lithofin and sounds like Lithofin Stainstop may be what you need.
Look at this recent discussion
The more recent postings contain some links you may find useful, particularly the recent one from sofiaames which links to a site for the products.
The link to the diy messge board from Lou and me is a great site for general diy problems.
Good luck. Hope you find a solution to your doggy floor

Bozza · 28/01/2004 10:33

Wouldn't like to tell you to buy a steam cleaner. Could you borrow one and see if it helped first?

Original poster
Carla · 28/01/2004 11:14

Thanks ever so much for that jasper. Off to do my Lithofin homework!

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