It’s springtime in the Midwest. That means it snowed 8 inches last week and it will be 60 degrees this week.
Friends. I’m not even kidding.
If there’s one thing I know about spring in Illinois, it’s that it comes with plenty of MUD. And we live in the country – so that means even more mud. And then some more mud.
But I’ve figured out a few ways to keep our home relatively mud-free. Here are my simple tips.
Remove shoes at the door (or in the garage).
We are a shoe-free household. It’s pretty much impossible to keep floors clean when everyone is wearing shoes. Even if you think your shoes are clean – they aren’t.
It’s pretty easy to get in the habit of removing your shoes in the house. If you need something on your feet, grab a few pairs of slippers.
We keep almost all our shoes in the shoe cabinet in the mudroom. And we also all have mud boots that stay in the garage.
Invest in small, washable rugs.
Unfortunately, having a shoeless house isn’t enough to keep our home free of all mud. Because we have two little dogs who drag it in. And a five-year-old who still manages to bring in mud without his shoes. (It’s a talent.)
But one thing that helps a lot is having small rugs by the backdoor that can be thrown in the wash. Cotton rugs are great for this, and come out looking as good as new.
Have carpet cleaner at the ready
Even when you do everything to keep the mud out of your home, it will make its way inside. It’s science.
That’s why I have a can of Spot Shot®Instant Carpet Stain Remover on each level of our house. It works so quickly that it’s easy to tackle dirt and mud right when I notice it.
I have used it to remove pet stains, muddy paw prints, drink spills, and even mystery stains.
Our new living room rug is pretty light, so stains pop up from time to time.
To use, I apply the stain remover, let it set, and then wipe it off with a clean white towel. After a bit, I clean the carpet well with cold water.
Here’s a small muddy print I just cleaned off our rug.
I sprayed Spot Shot and let it set before wiping it away.
Easy peasy.
And there was a pesky stain on our kitchen rug that I also took care of.
It just took a quick few sprays.
It’s still wet here, but it removed the stains completely – before I even wiped them.
So, I guess that my secrets to keeping mud out of our house include a little bit of prevention, a realistic amount of grace, and a few cans of Spot Shot for when the mud still makes it inside.
Pick up Spot Shot at a local retailer near you, like Target (to keep mud out of your home, too).
Do you have any must-have tips to keep your home mud-free?
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Gretchen says
oh, how I long for a mudroom!
Donna B says
I used to direct a preschool. NOW we’re talking dirt and floors! 😄 Our janitorial company recommended heading it off before your get through the door. At your entrance, your outside door mat should be the kind that has holes in it. The dirt falls through and doesn’t sit there for the next pair of feet to pick up. And this is followed by a sturdy mat right inside the door to wipe the leftovers. If you’ve really got mud a “boot scraper” on the porch is recommended. All of these can become part of your “door decor” now. There are so many good looking choices available 🏡
Kim Woodward says
These are AWESOME tips. I think we need a better mat by our back door. It doesn’t have holes.
Ellen from Ask Away Blog says
These are great tips. I have to follow these all the time around this time of year. GRRRRR