Mud is annoying fact of life, especially on rainy days and in winter when everything takes so much longer to dry.
As annoying as it is on sports fields and backyards, it’s even more annoying to find it inside the house.
Cleaning mud doesn’t have to be hard though, but knowing the best way to do it will help protect your floor and furniture from damage.
READ MORE: The three-ingredient ‘superpower’ mix a professional cleaner uses to get dirty grout clean again
To find out the best way to clean muddy messes, 9Honey Living spoke to Godfreys cleaning expert, Rob Roy.
Cleaning dry mud from carpets
Roy recommends starting with a brush or broom over the mud to help break it up, which will help protect the carpet fibres as well.
The next step is to vacuum the area and finish by using a carpet shampooer, just make sure to dry the floor afterwards.
“Properly drying the floors after shampooing will prevent mould and unpleasant odours caused by moisture left on the fibres, so consider a device that can both wash and dry,” Roy says.
READ MORE: Our favourite cordless stick vacuums for every budget
Cleaning dry mud from hardwood floors
If the dry mud is on floorboards then you might just need a brush/broom and/or a vacuum to clean it up because you don’t need to worry about protecting carpet fibres.
“If your hardwood floors need a little more TLC, you can follow up with a mop. But if you’re not up for manual mopping, steam mops, and hard floor cleaners can lend a helping hand,” Roy says.
18 cleaning tasks you can get done in less than 5 minutes
Cleaning wet mud from carpet
Now this mess is a bit tougher to deal with, especially if you have carpet, but it can be safely done.
Roy suggests wiping the muddy spot with a cloth, rag or paper towel before getting out the carpet shampooer. This helps remove some of the mud before you start shampooing.
Once you’ve given the dirty spot a wipe, then you can use a carpet shampoo.
“After deep cleaning, it’s always a good idea to empty and rinse your shampooer’s tank, then run it over the carpets again using just clean water. Rinsing like this will ensure that all the solution and leftover dirt are sucked right up preventing future dust from sticking to the fibres,” Roy adds.
READ MORE: How to use vinegar to clean your home
Cleaning wet mud from hardwood floors
Now this is much easier. Just wipe the mud from the floor with a cloth or paper towel as soon as possible to keep the mess contained before it ends up walked through the house.
Cleaning mud from upholstery
To get mud off things like sofas and armchairs brush and wipe as much of the mud as you can first and then use a shampooer or spot cleaner.
“Smaller lightweight spot cleaners make this easier than ever – just follow the same steps as your carpet and you’ll be looking at fresh upholstery to match your de-muddified floors,” he says.
For a daily dose of 9Honey, subscribe to our newsletter here.
Unlikely carpet cleaning tool solves annoying hair problem
