Pro - Does anyone else's nest boxes get soaked in rain?

[patsylabrador]

We've got lino flooring in the kitchen. Black and white checked American Diner style. I wash it over every couple of days but the white never looks properly clean.

Could anyone advise me what to use, is there a specific product? It's lovely flooring, soft and warm and comfortable in bare feet which is my favourite way to be but it really bothers me that the white bits look grubby even when I've cleaned it.

[soapdragon]

We have vinyl flooring in black and white check and the only way I can get it looking really clean (as opposed to yellow/white!) is to get down on my hands and knees every week or so to do it by hand. I use whatever floor cleaner I normally use but employ the rough side of a washing up sponge....a pain but it does the trick!

[patsylabrador]

Oh OK! Thanks. You mean I can't just pass the mop over it then.

Weirdly I think I would actually enjoy that. I'll give it a go.

[gavclojak]

What about a steam mop? I adore mine, I steam everything in sight, floor, carpets mattress....

[Groovychook]

Ooh, can I butt in here and ask what kind of steam mop you have gavclojak?

[Grandmashazzie]

I have a Hoover steam mop. I really like it. It is quick and dries quickly. But I think if you look closely it is not as clean as the prev mentioned down on your knees scrubbing.

[gavclojak]

Ooh, can I butt in here and ask what kind of steam mop you have gavclojak?

I brought a really cheap one from Argos and it cost about £25.00. It's called the dirt devil, I love it! I pop a little bit of flash floor cleaner in the water reservoir and it makes everything smell lovely.

 

It will never set the world alight but is just as good as the more expensive ones

 

I had an expensive one before and it was rubbish, it leaked and after about a week stopped all together.

[soapdragon]

I do give my floor a go by hand weekly (and on knees ) as it gives me he opportunity to do the kick plates (or whatever they are called!) as well. I don't have a huge area to cover so it doesn't take too long...I like looking at it when its finished but, with all the family toing and froing, it doesn't last long!

 

When we finally come to refloor I will go for something a little easier to maintain

[mullethunter]

You lot are all making me feel bad. My kitchen floor is disgusting. I think I've washed it twice in the almost year we've lived here

[Olly]

You're meant to wash it? I thought that's why I have a cat .....

 

I have a steam mop, it's a Lakeland one. I'm not convinced it does a better job than a mop and bucket. Maybe if I used it more often ... I would rather move house than get on my hands and knees with a sponge. I don't enjoy cleaning.

[soapdragon]

I hate cleaning too but find that the white squares on the vinyl do look disgusting after a week of my lot dashing backwards and forwards, cooking debris landing on it etc. 20 mins scrubbing the floor clears my mind and saves on fees for mindfulness classes.......but then maybe I am odd

[Olly]

Not at all, and maybe I should try it. Weirdly, I enjoy things like polishing silver for exactly that reason, it's just the day-to-day stuff. I never seem to get everything clean at the same time.

[Cat tails]

You lot are all making me feel bad. My kitchen floor is disgusting. I think I've washed it twice in the almost year we've lived here

 

No worries, same here! I hate jobs like that... And only do them when I have people coming around other than my parents!

[Groovychook]

Ooh, can I butt in here and ask what kind of steam mop you have gavclojak?

I brought a really cheap one from Argos and it cost about £25.00. It's called the dirt devil, I love it!

Thanks for that... I like the idea of having one to freshen up the carpets without having to go to the faff of shampooing them!

[mullethunter]

I would rather move house than get on my hands and knees with a sponge.

 

My mum always says if the oven gets too bad or the muck heap gets too big it's time to move house

[patsylabrador]

I didn't used to bother much when the house was full of kids and pets. It seemed a pointless exercise but now I feel it should be clean.

I did a Soapdragon today and washed some of it with a sponge. The bit I did is so clean and fresh looking. I like rowdy music so I put on some loud metal and considered it part of my fitness regime and had a thoroughly good time. The weather is rubbish so I kept an eye on the England/Australia rugby and did a mindless task. It seems like quite a productive way to spend half an hour.

[soapdragon]

Yay, PL

[chickencam]

I have Lino in the kitchen which has quite a smooth surface and seems quite dirt repellent apart from some bits of wet cat food. I have a steam mop which does a good job of this and the bathroom and cloakroom but I can't be bothered most of the time and just spot clean.

[Egzandra]

Mop and bucket of water for me with the occasional scrub on hands and knees. I do have a steam mop which I bought to help me with some tough cleaning jobs when I moved here but found the steam mop wasn't much use for those! It is OK for day to day moppings. Also at least with a mop and bucket of water you can rinse the mop head as you go whereas with the steam mop the dirt gets collected up and pushed around unless you keep changing the pad.

[The Dogmother]

Another steam mop fan here; I have old quarry tiles, and what with 2 lurchers, a cat and numerous teenagers too, it quickly looks like a swamp those of you who have been to my place will admit that it has a 'homely air' rather than being spotless, but I once borrowed a friend's steam mop out of curiousity..... it was marvellous and I haven't looked back since. It gets a very speedy going over twice a week, and looks pretty clean most of the time now.

 

Mine is a Vax, bought from Aldi when they were on offer.

[Alis girls]

A few songs to clean to (with Olly in mind)

Wake me up before you vacuum - Wham

Stand by your hoover -Tammy Lynette

Dysons are a girls best friend - Marilyn Monroe

How deep is your dust -Bee gees

I'm in the mood for hoovering - The Nolans

[Olly]

thanks!

[Alis girls]

Have you noticed people talk to you when hoovering -today OH was "yak yak yak" and I was "cant hear you I'm hooooovering and singing" yes I was singing the one line of a Little Mix record over and over (only line I knew) heard it on radio 2 and thought "thats a song to hoover too " So OH is talking to me and I am not listening - I am slightly deaf so what he thought he'd accomplish in it I dont know Funny I only sing when I hoover not when I dust. Strange that, relief for others they cant hear me wailing. Probably we should have an Omlet singalong or several in different parts of country. Bring your own booze and a picnic and we'll serenade each other. A sort of Glastonbury for chicken keepers.