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Ideal Home’s October 2026 Ask Lucy column features home-cleaning advice from contributor Lucy Kalice. Her suggestions include using Bar Keepers Friend powder on a curry stain, adding felt-style pads to chair legs and setting up habits to limit dirt on floors.
Ideal Home published a new Ask Lucy column in October 2026, with contributor Lucy Kalice offering practical advice on a curry stain, chair-related scratches on wooden flooring and keeping floors clean in a home with young children and a dog. The column gives household suggestions, but it does not report independent testing or confirm that every remedy is suitable for every surface.
For a curry mark on a work surface, Kalice recommends Bar Keepers Friend powder. She advises putting a small amount on a damp cloth or kitchen towel, rubbing it into the mark, then wiping the area with water or a kitchen spray. Kalice says the stain should fade quickly, but the article does not specify the worktop material or cite the product maker’s directions for different surfaces.
For scratches caused by kitchen chairs, she suggests attaching soft pads to chair legs to reduce direct contact with the floor. Kalice says the pads should be replaced when worn, suggesting they may need changing every couple of months. She also cautions that removing existing scratches may require replacing the flooring, a costly option; the column does not discuss refinishing or repairs for particular floor types.
To limit dirt brought in from outside, Kalice recommends a no-shoes rule indoors, mats at entrances and exits, and a towel nearby to wipe a dog’s paws after it comes inside. She also suggests vacuuming daily to prevent dirt from accumulating. These are the contributor’s household tips, rather than a tested cleaning schedule or a guarantee that floors will stay clean.
Small Habits That Protect Floors
The advice addresses common upkeep problems that can lead to stained worktops, scratched floors and repeated cleaning. Preventive steps such as chair-leg pads, entry mats and wiping muddy paws may help households reduce the amount of dirt and wear they have to deal with. For readers, the practical value is in matching a suggestion to the problem rather than treating all stains or floors the same way.
That distinction matters because cleaning products and surfaces vary. A powder that works on one worktop may not be appropriate for another, and a pad that is worn or poorly fitted may no longer protect flooring. The column offers accessible recommendations, while leaving product compatibility and individual results to be checked at home.
Bar Keepers Friend powder for kitchen stains
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Three Everyday Cleaning Questions
Ask Lucy is part of Ideal Home’s Open House contributor series. The source describes Kalice as a content creator who writes about cleaning, home decor and making the most of small spaces. The October column is framed around reader questions, rather than a product review or a reported investigation.
The questions cover separate parts of domestic maintenance: removing a food stain, preventing further damage to wooden flooring and managing dirt tracked in by a busy household. Kalice’s answers focus on quick cleaning and prevention, including using a damp cloth, adding pads to furniture and creating routines around shoes, entrances and pets. The article provides no dates for when the reader questions were submitted and does not identify the specific brands or materials involved beyond the named powder cleaner.
“Whatever you do, don’t panic.”
— Lucy Kalice, Ideal Home contributor
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Surface Details Are Not Specified
The article does not say whether the stained work surface is laminate, stone, wood or another material, and it does not provide surface-specific product guidance. Readers should check the cleaner’s label and the worktop maker’s care instructions before applying an abrasive product, and test in an inconspicuous area where appropriate.
It is also unclear what type of wood flooring was scratched, how deep the marks are or whether a repair could address them. The column does not compare chair-pad materials, provide evidence for the suggested replacement interval, or report results from testing its cleaning advice. The recommendations should be understood as Kalice’s practical suggestions, not a guarantee of a particular outcome.
entryway door mats for dirt control
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Check Care Instructions Before Cleaning
The column does not announce a follow-up test, product review or scheduled update. Readers considering the advice can first identify their worktop and flooring materials, then check the relevant care instructions and the cleaner’s label. For recurring floor dirt, the suggested entryway routines can be adapted to the household and the layout of its entrances.
Ideal Home presents the piece as part of its ongoing contributor content. The source also invites readers to sign up for its newsletter, which it says includes style inspiration, home projects, garden advice and shopping guidance. No further publication date or next Ask Lucy topic is given.
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Key Questions
What does Lucy Kalice suggest for a curry stain on a work surface?
Kalice recommends applying a small amount of Bar Keepers Friend powder with a damp cloth or kitchen towel, then wiping the area with water or kitchen spray. The column does not identify the worktop material, so readers should check product and surface-care instructions first.
How can chair legs be prevented from scratching wooden flooring?
Kalice suggests attaching soft pads to the bottoms of chair legs and replacing them when they become worn. She says they may need replacement every couple of months, though the article does not report testing that interval.
What does the column recommend for keeping floors clean with children and a dog?
Its suggestions include a no-shoes rule, mats near entrances and exits, a towel for wiping the dog’s paws, and daily vacuuming to limit dirt buildup.
Does the article confirm that Bar Keepers Friend is safe for every worktop?
No. The column recommends the powder but does not identify the worktop material or establish that the product is appropriate for every surface. Check the product label and the worktop manufacturer’s care instructions before use.
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