HINTS FROM HELOISE
Dear Heloise: I have a pet door in my basement and keep an indoor/outdoor rug on the outdoor side of the basement door. The rug is not exposed to the elements.
When I vacuum the rug, I vacuum the carpet side, turn the rug over, vacuum the rubber side of the rug, move the rug and vacuum the floor where the rug was. It is surprising how much dirt comes off the rug after vacuuming its underside. Mary H. in Arlington County We, too, have “doggie door” mats, on both the outside and the inside. Our dogs really bring in the dirt, leaves and who knows what else. Sometimes I can follow the trail of leaves from the doggie door down the hall. Heloise