It’s fall, which is my favorite time of year with changing leaves and comfortable temperatures, but it is also the season of mud. If you have pets or children (or active adults!), mud is easily tracked inside and can wreak havoc on your floors, carpets and clothing. Here are some tips on removing mud stains, and keeping mud where it belongs - outside.

Stop mud in its tracks

If you have a dog, set up a clean up station outside your door, or if you have the appropriate space, just inside your entry way. The best thing to do is to hose your dog’s paws (and any other muddy areas) off with water before you come in or if you don’t have a hose, a basin of water is good too - just dip your pet’s paws in to clean. Keep some clean towels (old ones!) by the door to dry off your dog and catch any excess mud you missed.

As for kids, if you don’t have a “take of your shoes and boots (and soccer cleats and other sports shoes)” rule upon entering the house, start one now, at least for the fall. This is a good general practice as it helps keep your house and rugs clean all year round. What about the floor underneath the muddy shoes and boots? An absorbent doormat works well, plus protect your floor and invest in this boot tray (under $10) from Amazon that is sturdy rubber and has a curved lip so when wet or snowy boots come in, the water stays on the tray and not the floor.

Mud on Rugs

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What about when mud inevitablly makes its way onto your rug? Mud is one of the few stains where rather than working fast, you should let it dry and then gently brush off the caked on mud with a brush or old toothbrush, or vacuum. If a mark remains, gently dab with warm water and dish washing solution until mark is gone, and rinse with clean water. If it’s especially stubborn, work with a solution of one part vinegar and one part water and blot stain, rinsing with warm water.

Mud on Duds

Kids love mud but their clothes don’t. Once the caked-on mud is shaken or brushed off the garment, pre-treat the stain with undiluted detergent, your favorite stain remover, or one part vinegar and one part water, then wash in the hottest water. Remember to check the garment before putting it in the dryer as if the stain remains and you dry it, you will set the stain. If the mud is still there after putting it in the wash, repeat the pre-treating process. I have also heard of a method of rubbing half a potato on the mud stain, soaking the item in warm water for a while, then laundering. I haven’t tried this but let me know if you do!

Your Car Needs TLC Too

Invest in some all-weather car mats for the floor of your car to protect your car interior. These are available at your local auto supply store or even stoers like KMart, Target, etc. These are easy to clean - just take out and hose down periodically and you will significantly save on wear and tear on your car.

Any other cleaning topics you would like the Cleaning Lady to cover, let us know!

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This entry was posted on Wednesday, October 28th, 2009 at 11:15 am and is filed under Blogroll, Friends. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.