15 Nov 2025 6 Pro Tips to Keep Your Floors Clean Longer
Minimize the mess—and the mopping.
See the full article on Real Simple
It always feels like the second you get your floors all clean and shiny, someone tracks in mud or drops a PB&J on it. (Or is that just me?) Fortunately, there are some smart, pro-recommended strategies you can use to minimize the mess and prevent set-in stains.
1. Take Off Your Shoes—and Wipe Muddy Paws
Puppy paws and outdoor shoes can track in a lot of mud and ick—so instituting a strict no-shoes policy will go a long way toward keeping your floors cleaner. And unless you’re better at getting your dogs to wear shoes outdoors than we’ve been with our guys, you might want to find a way to get the worst of the grime off their feet before it hits your floors and rugs. “A quick wipe with a damp cloth or pet paw mat after walks makes a big difference,” says Alicia Sokolowski, president and CEO of the cleaning products company AspenClean.
2. Pop Down Mats at Every Entry
Ideally, you want something both inside and outdoors at each entry point to give you more opportunity to keep dirt off your floors. “Choose sturdy doormats outside—to knock off debris—and washable rugs inside, to catch finer dirt,” Sokolowski says.
3. Be Proactive About Addressing Messes
Take it from me: It’s much easier to clean up spills and spots when they’re fresh than when they’ve been ground in and left to dry. (A smashed blueberry took so much scrubbing to get off my hardwood floors that it traumatizes me to this day!) You have to be especially careful to address stains early with rugs, for obvious reasons, but other floor types can also be damaged by spills and stains—especially if moisture is left to sit. “To prevent warping or staining of the hardwood, ensure that you clean up any spills promptly,” Sokolowski says.