I can't belive I'm asking this, a steam mop question!

Oh dear, I really don't know. I always moan at OH when he does not read the instructions so I have to stick with that and say don't add them there drops. Go for your safer option I say or just have a cuppa and forget the lot because the cats (and Mr P) will only make it mucky again as soon as your back is turned

Too late, I'm plugged in, albeit without the Zoflora.

However, I am having a very small glass of wine . My friend "withit" just rang, and it's practically a Pavlov's dog response! I pick up the phone, hear her voice and before I know it I'm standing in front of the fridge with a glass in my hand! Anyway 10 minutes of inane chat later, half a glass down..................

Two days? I mopped my kitchen floor last week, where there were footprints and general grime of the past three months, I think.

I can't do it again until the hardware shop man comes back from his holiday, because my mop head is knackered. Well, that's my story...

feetle Very good to hear that you are supporting local businesses!

I've seee some special little booties that you can put on the cats to keep their feet clean and dry saw them on some daft American programme.

So there are cats that go out in the rain? Ours needed help o go outside if it was wet

OMG glamma I think that would just about finish Lily off! Although, to be fair the paw prints are definitely not hers as Miss Havisham Lily does not go outside, no matter what the weather.

I think Maurice would object too, but in a gentlemanly way. Squeaky Fatarse Digby would probably wear them. He does have a tendency to just sort of "accept" things happening in his world. For example if I put him on the bathroom scales, he just sits there until I lift him off again.

And when I am shutting the sitting room for the night I cart him upstairs, plonk him on the cat blanket at the end of the bed, where he sits bolt upright looking a bit confused until I get back from the bathroom. It then seems to permeate his brain that it's bed time, so he then lies down and goes to sleep. (Even though that's what he has been doing for most of the evening)

Thank you ladies for making me LOL

Stans yes, both Maurice and Digby will go out in the rain. However once Maurice looks out of the door and actually sees the rain, he seems to go into Clint Eastwood mode. You can almost sense him hitching a metaphorical poncho up around his shoulders as he pulls his hat further down over his eyes, before striding forth.

Digby on the other hand looks, blinks a bit and trots out with everything wobbling.

There is a difference when they come in too, Maurice likes to be given a brisk rub down with a towel. Digby thinks this is some sort of torture and wriggles backwards until only his ears are within grasp. He does however choose the times when he is a soggy moggy to insist on a "pick up" cuddle, thus sneakily getting himself semi dry by transferring the water on his fur to the clothing of the person doing the cuddling.

Having diverted on to the subject of cats I thought I would update as I seem to have found a good compromise!

Just put a few drops of your chosen Zoflora onto the mop cover before steaming, and Bob's your Aunties live in lover! Result!

Another steam mop question!! I can feel myself succumbing to the advertising for steam mops . Are they really good? Is it worth paying extra for the handheld attachments e.g. for cleaning the cooker or tiles? And finally (not really advertising) what brand and how much should I expect to pay for a decent one without being ripped off?

Bump!! Afraid this might fall off the bottom - genuine enquiry!!

My daughter bought a steam mop from Costco a couple of weeks ago because she has a white tiled kitchen floor which acquires orange and yellow stains when her twins turf their food on the floor whilst learning to feed themselves. She was on the point of having it covered with lino for a year or so.

It's very efficient, and she's been singing its praises. Certainly better than a traditional mop on the floor. She's busy cleaning her bathroom with it today, because it brings grouting up like new.

Mine is a Morphy Richards 9 in 1. You can use it as a hand held as well. Some things it does brilliantly (floors, the bathroom tiles and shower screen), although I haven't tried it for steaming clothes etc. The kitchen floor dries faster than with an ordinary mop and there are no streaks.

I must also confess that I haven't tried it on the oven, because Mr P takes full responsibility for oven cleaning!

Just how dirty do your kitchen floors get to need steam to clean them?! What's wrong with a quick swipe with a floorcloth and a bit of washing up liquid?

I have textured (anti granny slipping) Italian tiles on my floor and a steam mop is the only thing that cleans them.

It's these fancy modern floor tiles, Jingle they absorb stains like mad and new kitchens and bathrooms seem to need more specialised cleaning. My rustic old slate kitchen floor prefers a good steamy wet mop, Chairs up on the table whilst it dries and a lovely smell of pine disinfectant. Job done!

Get 'er-next-door' to do it more often?

That was to Galen btw

That's belt AND braces, steam and disinfectant.

'Er next door doesn't do my cleaning. My cleaner Kate (married to Gary the gardner) comes in three days a week to do it.

Oh yes. It's the grumpy one lives next door. Kate then.

The old git is 'er next door's husband!

Oh yes! Sorry!