topic Re: Cleaning Tips living in Newman WA Red Dirt in Community Spirit

Cleaning Tips living in Newman WA Red Dirt

donnashuggy — Sun, 22 Mar 2015 04:33:51 GMT

My daughter has moved to Newman, brand new house and everything is white including the tiled floor.

She has 3 children, 5,3 and 1 and is wondering how the heck she is going to keep the place clean.

I've never lived surrounded by red dirt and she was told by a friend there is nothing you can do, there must be something to make it easier, any tips? Much appreciated if you can help.

Re: Cleaning Tips living in Newman WA Red Dirt

donnashuggy — Sun, 22 Mar 2015 04:37:45 GMT

She is thinking of buying rugs for a start but I don't even know if that is a good idea, so far I have suggested buckets of water outside door and towels.

Re: Cleaning Tips living in Newman WA Red Dirt

imastawka — Sun, 22 Mar 2015 04:42:59 GMT

The poor thing. I don't know there's much she can do really.

I visited Port Hedland a few years ago, and everything is red.

Even the brand new cars for sale in the dealer's lot!

You end up eating that red dirt - it gets into and onto everything

Re: Cleaning Tips living in Newman WA Red Dirt

i-need-a-martini — Sun, 22 Mar 2015 04:44:09 GMT

I have never lived in a red dirt area either but I have heard there is little you can do about it.

If you have buckets of water outside and then they come in with red dirst, it will just cake on the floors I would imagine.

The only advice I can give is that rugs might be a good idea. When we caravan in red dirt areas we use small (its a caravan after all!) rugs. They not only collect whatever dust is on your shoes/feet but it also acts as a barrier to dust being blown in by wind - as the dust stops (and settles) on the rugs.

Re: Cleaning Tips living in Newman WA Red Dirt

i-need-a-martini — Sun, 22 Mar 2015 04:46:50 GMT

The other thing is that it isn't the dirt that comes in on your shoes that is the problem it is airborne dust - it moves easier as it is so fine and it gets in everywhere.

Windows and doors (particularly base od doors) need to be sealed.

Remember when Sydney had that red dust storm go over Donna? It took weeks to get rid of it and it was everyhere in the house.

Re: Cleaning Tips living in Newman WA Red Dirt

donnashuggy — Sun, 22 Mar 2015 04:52:30 GMT

Yes I remember that storm. I guess at least she will see it because everything is white but I guess she will just have to turn a blind eye to it till she is ready to do a regular clean.

She is looking on eBay for rugs and we have come across some very cheap ones with free shipping but what the heck is Heat Set Polypropylene? It sounds bluddy awful

Re: Cleaning Tips living in Newman WA Red Dirt

lurker172602 — Sun, 22 Mar 2015 04:55:54 GMT

Is it her own house donna, or a rental? If it's her own can she get rid of some of the white? I'm not suggesting she paints everything red 🙂 but maybe bringing in some colour or texture might help?

Re: Cleaning Tips living in Newman WA Red Dirt

i-need-a-martini — Sun, 22 Mar 2015 05:01:06 GMT

@donnashuggy wrote:
Yes I remember that storm. I guess at least she will see it because everything is white but I guess she will just have to turn a blind eye to it till she is ready to do a regular clean.

She is looking on eBay for rugs and we have come across some very cheap ones with free shipping but what the heck is Heat Set Polypropylene? It sounds bluddy awful

Heat set is c-rap. Just means the fibres are bonded to the back on a plasticised substrate.

I would suggest she get cotton rugs for the doorways and corridoorsand where only small rugs are needed (i buy mine from Ikea) cause these can just be chucked in the wash. And a good wool for the lounge area. Wool repels dust easily and if it has a busy pattern on it then she can take it ouside in summer and wash it herself. I do that with mine at home - big job but cleans them well.

Re: Cleaning Tips living in Newman WA Red Dirt

donnashuggy — Sun, 22 Mar 2015 05:03:57 GMT

@lurker172602 wrote:
Is it her own house donna, or a rental? If it's her own can she get rid of some of the white? I'm not suggesting she paints everything red 🙂 but maybe bringing in some colour or texture might help?

It is BHP owned, her partner is on a 2 year contract there. So she can't paint it

Re: Cleaning Tips living in Newman WA Red Dirt

donnashuggy — Sun, 22 Mar 2015 05:05:59 GMT

@i-need-a-martini wrote:
@donnashuggy wrote:
Yes I remember that storm. I guess at least she will see it because everything is white but I guess she will just have to turn a blind eye to it till she is ready to do a regular clean.

She is looking on eBay for rugs and we have come across some very cheap ones with free shipping but what the heck is Heat Set Polypropylene? It sounds bluddy awful
Heat set is c-rap. Just means the fibres are bonded to the back on a plasticised substrate.

I would suggest she get cotton rugs for the doorways and corridoorsand where only small rugs are needed (i buy mine from Ikea) cause these can just be chucked in the wash. And a good wool for the lounge area. Wool repels dust easily and if it has a busy pattern on it then she can take it ouside in summer and wash it herself. I do that with mine at home - big job but cleans them well.

Oh yes cotton is a good idea. The house is huge apparently with 4 bedrooms and 2 living areas and because it is only for 2 years I guess they don't want to spend a fortune.

Re: Cleaning Tips living in Newman WA Red Dirt

lyne-flyn — Sun, 22 Mar 2015 05:19:51 GMT

My cousin lived in Newman for 5 years.

He said you just have to learn to live with the red dust or drive yourself mad trying to keep everything clean.

I lived in an area in Qld with red soil and after a really windy day everything would be covered in a film of red dust.

You do learn to live with it but it takes time...my mum used to spend hours cleaning whenever she came to visit and I didn't have the heart to tell her that it would be all red again within a week.

Re: Cleaning Tips living in Newman WA Red Dirt

green.fields — Mon, 23 Mar 2015 01:59:32 GMT

Red dirt and water?.............NO

Rugs, cotton as Martini suggest so they are easily washable.

Train everyone to take their shoes of at the door before they come in.

Dust off anysurface that may have red dirt on it before wiping it down, red dirt makes such an awful mess mixed with water.

If the kids want to play in sand/dirt as kids do get them a sandbox with clean white sand.

A sard prewash stick with Eucalyptus helps getting out red dirt from clothing but may not get it all.

Polypropylene rugs, cheap but can be chucked when they get too gross.

Re: Cleaning Tips living in Newman WA Red Dirt

donnashuggy — Mon, 23 Mar 2015 05:16:32 GMT

Thanks for that

Re: Cleaning Tips living in Newman WA Red Dirt

the_great_she_elephant — Mon, 23 Mar 2015 05:51:42 GMT

We lived in Kalgoorlie for 2 years with 5 kids- same problem, and my only tip would be the same as Lynne's: learn to live with it.