Clay Soil - How To Clean and Keep From Tracking In To House?

14 years ago

Can anyone provide some suggestions on the best way to handle clay soil.

We just bought a home in Greenville County with clay soil. Not use to this, from FL, no clay. I have washed, and washed the same area of floor over and over and the water has to be changed a LOT due to the clay. It's taken me forever to wash the living room alone!

Can anyone suggest a good floor cleaner? Does anyone know where to find Krud Kutter for Clay in the Greenville area, I heard it was good.

Any suggestions on the best way to keep people from tracking it through your home other than them taking off their shoes?

Thanks for any tips. When purchasing a new home, I don't think people think of things like this, I sure didn't!

THANKS!

Featured Answer

tamelask

14 years ago

Yep- i second making a habit of taking off your shoes. Sure, ask guests til your grass or groundcover grows in enough to not be tracking clay constantly. You can keep extra guest slippers handy if you want. We have a shoe holder right by our door and most guests notice without being asked and we don't make an issue of the ones who don't. But we don't have lots of exposed clay people are dragging in, either. It will subside as your grass comes in, really. A sidewalk or walkway of some sort will help lots, too. Otherwise, you'll just make a track in the grass anyhow. Your carpets & or hardwoods will have less wear & tear, and you'll be less likely to track in wet and bugs if you make a habit of shoe doffing, anyhow. Lots less work for you!

Comments (6)

luvnaz61
14 years ago
Hi, I moved here from Tucson the red clay is new to me too! I bought a shoe scraper for the front porch which helps. But we usually take our shoes off! We have green carpet and red clay would stain it terribly! Unless you want to be a slave to the mop and bucket the easiest solution is to take off your shoes! I wear a clean pair inside or use my slippers or sandals.
eldemila
Original Author
14 years ago
I guess we'll do the same and take off shoes, but do you insist guests do the same? Have you found a good inside rug that's easy to clean the clay from? A good outside mat, possibly? I feel like I'm a salve to that floor already and I haven't even moved in!!!!

Thanks!
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Bumblebeez SC Zone 7
14 years ago
You must cover all the dirt with either mulch, plants, grass, stepping stones, etc. Be very careful about getting any red clay on your house, patio, driveway (black top doesn't matter)
as it will permanently stain forever.
luvnaz61
14 years ago
We have a gravel walkway into the house from the gravel driveway so I'm less concerned about the clay from guests getting tracked into the house, but if it had been raining I'd be more concerned.

In that case I would ask them to please wipe their shoes or by example remove my shoes at the foyer and suggest they do the same so the clay won't get tracked in.

A good door mat is the type with the rough bristles that will get the clay out from between the waffle groves in the soles of the shoes. But even that doesn't completely get all the clay out! I wash our tennis shoes and boots are left to dry and then I brush and scrape the clay off! A chore to be sure, but compared to trying to get the clay out of the carpet it is worth it!
eldemila
Original Author
14 years ago
Thanks for all the suggestions and tips, appreciated.

There's a walkway up to the front, so that's a plus, but it's a big yard and I hope to work in it, so I guess it will be up to me to make sure when I come in the take off my shoes and be mindful not to track in clay. My OH may not be so good at remembering to do so. As for family/friends, I won't have any problems with asking them to remove shoes. It's service people I may have a problem with asking, esp. if some guy has some stinky dirty socks under his workboots!!!! I guess I'll buy some of those shoe covers they use in hospitals.

Thanks again!!