Messy Eater = Dirty Floors

I have the Bissel Steam Mop and I LOVE IT!!! It is quick, easy, environmentally friendly, costs around $100. I spilled a half gallon of paint on my ceramic tile floor and my steam mop even got that mess out! I didn't even ruin the washable pads that came with it. I was truly amazed. I loved it before the paint incident and I love it even more now.

Good luck.

Get a dog. My husband swears women domesticated them as soon as they realized that they'd clean up after toddlers. No crumbs or evidence of eating anywhere ;-)

I have the Eureka floor steam cleaner. I love it. Dries really quickly...no mops/buckets, no buying swiffers every week. The pads are washable. There are several different brands out there. If you go out on Amazon, you can read the reviews on all the different models. That really helped me!

The dust buster will become your best friend. And, once your child is mobile they will get a kick out of operating the dust buster to 'help' you out. Sure it'll take a little bit of time for them to suck up every morsel but before you know it, you'll have clean floors AND a non-sore back!

I hate to break it to you but I think the only way to get the floor really clean is the old fashioned way on your hands and knees with a bucket and rag. For quick clean-ups the Swiffer with the wet pads works great. If your floor finish is not shiny then the Swiffer Wet Jet works great. I cannot use it because my floor has a shiny finish and it leaves streaks all over it.

You don't say what kind of surface your floor is. Is it hardwood, laminate, vinyl, or carpet? for most surfaces I use a natural cleaner from a company called Melaluca. They have an does all cleaner called Solumel, I use prespot,even though it is for laundry I find it works to take stains out of a lot of surfaces, even formica.

Hi S.,

I have the Shark steam mop and I love it! It comes with several cleaning pads so you can use one for the hardwood floors, the kitchen and a separate one for the bathrooms.
It's pretty easy, just like using a mop except it uses very hot steam, so be careful around your little guy.

I was a little skeptical if I would even like this product so I purchased it from Kohls. Kohls sells it for retail at $89.99 but if you go on-line and purchase it you can usually find a coupon code for 20-30% off on the site retailmenot.com. Also, right now if you spend more than $75 it's free shipping or you usually can double up on coupons with Kohls and get free shipping anytime, not to mention tax is less on-line.

Here's the bonus, if you do not like it...you can return it back to Kohls at any time with a receipt. No receipt, they just give you store credit for the price it's selling for.

If you have a Costco card, they sell it there too but no discounts.

Good luck with the floors.

I have one of those steam cleaners, but I did not buy mine from an infomercial... I bought the Shark, and they carry it at Target and Lowe's. If you hold it on a gunky spot & steam, steam, steam it does a good job of loosening whatever. I use mine on my pre-finished hardwood and on ceramic tile, and I've used it to clean up minor gunk on carpet. I like it because: You are not using any chemicals... just good ol' water. No residue left behind! The floor is dry instantly. I'd recommend it!

I have a shark floor steam cleaner. I love it, if you get one, spend the extra $20.00 to get the deluxe model. It has a longer cord and extra pads. It leaves the floor dry in about 1 minute or less and gets up anything we have. There are no chemicals, the floor is sanitized, and it's quick!!

A friend of mine had a great idea. Newspapers on the floor! Roll them out, throw them out!

S. Botana
Host mom and Local Childcare Coordinator with Cultural Care Au Pair.

Mom of a great 6 year old.

Hi S.:

Another vote for the shark. I was hesistant about buying anything from an infomercial too, but it works great.

If you buy it at bed, bath and beyond you can always get 20% off with a coupon.

Best,
A.

I have a messy eater too. We've tried many things. The wet messes are the worst! What seems to work best is a good old hard bristle brush and dustpan. Then every day I use a microfiber mop under the table.

I too let my dog do the first clean up, but whatever is left now I clean up with a steam mop.
I found one that I quite affordable and does the job for me.
http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=5064496.
It is summer, try to eat outside, that truly helps with not having the mess in the house and is a nice change to the usual lunch routine.

My dog cleans up most of what falls on the floor, then i mop. Maybe thats not an option, but it does help so there isnt anything stuck on there for any long period!

S.,

We like the Method O-MOP, which is available at www.methodhome.com and some Target stores. It's not great for cleaning caked-on food (it does do a pretty good job of it if you really go at it), but if you clean regularly it's a breeze -- it's a more ergonomic version of the swiffer and more environmentally friendly. There are compostable swiffer-like cloths that go with it and reusable mopping rags. You use it with a squirt bottle of cleaning stuff -- just squirt and mop up. And there is a separate product you can use with it for wood floors, too. Yes, and we highly recommend putting something down on the floor (try an old sheet or towel before you get a mat). We use an old wipe-off tablecloth.

Best,
R.

Hi S.,
You know what works well - a dog.... I have a dog that always picks up, licks all the food off the floor....

I'm actualy trying to find a new home for my dog if interested... let me know. I just had my 3rd baby 3 weeks ago and have to get rid of the dog, but she is an awesome food cleaning machine.... ha ha

If you still don't have one get a plastic mat that goes under the high chair. I bought one (Greco) at Babys R Us or Target, they're pretty cheap. I just swipe it with a rag when my son is done throwing down his food. Than again it depends how good her arm is at flinging stuff. lol Kids, aren't they fun?

Hi S.!

I use the magic eraser mop for my floors. I LOVE it! I used to clean them on my hands and knees, not any more.

M.
Mom of two boys, 2 year old and 10 month old

I have a HAAN steam cleaner. Not too big or bulky and works real well. I got it from QVCon t.v.

Buy a splat mat for underneath the high chair! That way your floor is protected (mostly) and it can go right into the washing machine. I bought one at the Hanna Anderson outlet store a long time ago, but I've seen them online & also at Land of Nod and other specialty baby stores...