How to keep hardwood floors clean? pet hair? dust?

Question

We have two dogs that seem to shed constantly and our house is older and just seems to breed dust. I always seem to be cleaning but the next day it all looks the same. Aside from shaving my dogs or getting rid of them, neither of which I will consider as an option, does anyone have any suggestions on how to 1) keep my floors clear of pet hair, or an easier way to pick it up at least, and 2) reduce the dust in my house? We do use special furnace filters that are supposed to reduce dust in our house but I've noticed little improvement. Help?

Thanks!

Answer 1

Most wood floors can be kept clean by first sweeping or vacuuming with a floor nozzle to remove most of the surface dust and dirt, then damp mopping with clear water (dip a sponge in clear water, squeezing it out so that the mop is barely damp, almost dry). Use very little water and rinse your mop thoroughly after each use since excess water can dissolve protective coatings, alter the color of the wood and raise the grain to roughen the surface.

If your floors are not dirty enough to need mopping every week, then you should not do it, as it will wear the floors faster, not to mention waste your time. Simply sweeping is often all they need.

If need to restore the shine to your wood floor after you get it clean, try damp mopping it with 1/2 cup vinegar and 2 tablespoons furniture polish in a gallon of warm water. Vinegar is also useful for removing any soap residue or build-up, but should not be necessary every week...

Answer 2

I don't have the RoboMaid but ..... I understand it isn't computer programmed but just random bumping around until all surfaces are clean.

If this is the case, and the gadget operates randomly, then I would not suggest spending money on it. I had a swimming pool vacuum that operated that way. I had my choice of two cleaners, one was computer programmed to get all floor surfaces and the other just bumped randomly against the sides. I went with the random bumping cleaner because it was $300 cheaper. What a mistake.

Sometimes this vacuum would "bump" about on the pool floor for hours and miss half the pool floor. It had no sense of direction, just bumped off the sides and often cleaned the same spot over and over. Hours later and I had to get out the manual vacuum and do it myself. I found I did a better job and faster than any gadget. Sometimes there's no replacement for humans.

I have a heavy canister-style vacuum cleaner which I love, but I vacuum my hardwoods every other day and I hate dragging that thing out. I thought about a stick vacuum cleaner but have not found any that has good enough reviews on battery life to invest. I have about 1500 sq. ft on my first level that would require vacuuming and I don't think the battery would last. That would be annoying - remember the Dust Buster?

Answer 3

This Site Might Help You.

RE:
How to keep hardwood floors clean? pet hair? dust?
We have two dogs that seem to shed constantly and our house is older and just seems to breed dust. I always seem to be cleaning but the next day it all looks the same. Aside from shaving my dogs or getting rid of them, neither of which I will consider as an option, does anyone have any suggestions...

Answer 4

As long as you have pets you will always have hair just about everywhere. As for your floors, I think your best bet would be to get a stick vacuum. They aren't very expensive and they pick up all the dog/cat hair off your bare floors, instead of swishing it around like a broom would normally do. I personally use the Hoover Flair Stick Vac. Its great for bare floors. Hope this helps.

Answer 5

yeah, I 2nd the ROBOMAID thingie! Got one for my sister last Christmas at Big Lots for $7.99 & it really works but you have to be careful not to trip over it!

Swiffer? Probably great, but what I have is an

ol' timey dustmop! It has a flat raggedy yarn head that I spray with a light shot of furniture polish (like Pledge) & go at it. Just don't use "sweeping" movements---you slide it in, under & all around never lifting it until you've accumulated a bunch of junk--

I can usually do the whole room in one long, curvy swipe. Then shake it really good over your trashcan, your porch railing or wherever --away from you & your floors!

Cheap, lasts a lifetime, & you never have to buy replacement pads!

Answer 6

My mother-in-law got us a thing called a Robo-maid. It is a cheap little thing that has a bottom like a swiffer. It charges and then has different settings that you can use for duration of cleaning. It pretty much randomly rolls around and cleans. A swiffer works great, but this is fun and doesn't require you to do much.

Answer 7

I have the same problem. I have to vacuum at least the main living areas (kitchen, living room, dining room) every day or two to keep things under control. I use a canister vacuum with a hard floor attachment.

Answer 8

WELL TO REDUCE THE DOG HAIR ( SINCE I HAVE TREE DOG'S OF MY OWN; their PURE BREED HUSKS)
IT MAY BE WISE TO BRUSH THEM TWICE A DAY, AT FIRST, THEN REDUCE IT TO ONCE A DAY AFTER YOU GET NO MORE HAIR ON THE DOG BRUSH. THEN YOU CAN REDUCE IT TO TWICE EVERY TWO WEEKS, BUT IF YOU KEEP THEM BRUSHED YOU SHOULD HAVE NO TROUBLE. ABOUT THE DUST SWEEP YOU'RE FLOORS EVERY DAY, GET THE SWIFER BROOM AND MOP. GIVE YOU'RE HOUSE A GOOD SCRUBBING ,THE BATHROOM, THE KITCHEN EVERYTHING AT LEAST EVERY SATURDAY OR SUNDAY

Answer 9

get swiffer all the prducts.my family uses them and we have 3 shedding dogs a 2 shedding cats a swiffer keeps it looking like new!!

Answer 10

Swiffer Wet Jet for the floor....

and swiffer dusting products for other things.