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Ideal Home’s October 2026 Ask Lucy column features contributor Lucy Kalice answering reader questions about a curry stain on a work surface, scratches from dining chairs and dirty floors in a home with young children and a dog. Her suggestions include using Bar Keepers Friend powder, adding felt-style pads to chair legs, setting up entrance mats and wiping a dog’s paws after outdoor trips.
Ideal Home contributor Lucy Kalice has shared advice on removing a curry mark from a work surface, limiting chair scratches on wooden flooring and keeping floors cleaner in a busy household. The October 2026 edition of the magazine’s Ask Lucy column offers practical suggestions for common home-care problems, though the cleaning method may not suit every surface.
For a curry stain, Kalice recommends sprinkling a small amount of Bar Keepers Friend powder onto a damp cloth or kitchen towel and rubbing it over the mark. She says to add more powder if the stain is larger, then wipe the area with water or a kitchen spray. Kalice says the task can take less than 30 seconds, but that is her estimate, not a tested result for every stain or worktop.
On wooden floors scratched by kitchen chairs, Kalice suggests attaching soft pads to the chair legs to reduce direct contact with the flooring. She says the pads are inexpensive and should be replaced when worn, suggesting a check every couple of months. She also cautions that removing existing scratches may require replacing the affected flooring, which she describes as an expensive fix.
For households dealing with mud and dirt tracked in by children and pets, Kalice recommends four habits: take shoes off at the door, place mats by entrances and exits, keep towels nearby to wipe a dog’s paws, and vacuum floors daily. These are her personal recommendations for reducing tracked-in dirt, rather than a guarantee that floors will stay clean.
Practical Fixes for Everyday Mess
The column addresses three recurring household concerns: stains, floor damage and tracked-in dirt. Its advice focuses on prevention as well as cleanup, particularly using chair pads and entrance routines to reduce the chance of further marks. For readers, the main value is a short list of steps that can be tried without immediately turning to a larger repair or more involved cleaning routine.
There are limits to applying the suggestions broadly. Cleaning products and abrasive powders can affect finishes differently, and flooring varies by material and coating. Readers should check the manufacturer’s care instructions and test any product in an inconspicuous spot before using it on a visible area.
Bar Keepers Friend powder for stains
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Inside Ideal Home’s Ask Lucy Column
Ideal Home describes Kalice as one of its Open House contributors, writing about cleaning, home decor and making the most of small spaces. The October 2026 article is structured as answers to reader-submitted household questions, rather than as a product test or a formal cleaning guide.
The source presents the advice in Kalice’s first-person voice and draws on her own experience. It does not report independent testing, professional assessments or product comparisons. The recommendations should be understood as column advice, not as verified results for every work surface, floor type or household.
“Whatever you do, don’t panic.”
— Lucy Kalice, Ideal Home contributor
Surface and Flooring Limits
The article does not identify the material or finish of the reader’s work surface, or specify which surfaces are safe for Bar Keepers Friend powder. It also does not provide product-label instructions or independent testing for the suggested method. Whether it is suitable for a particular counter therefore remains unclear; readers should check the product directions and the surface manufacturer’s guidance before use.
The flooring type and finish in the chair-scratch question are not stated, and the column does not discuss repair options for existing marks beyond saying replacement may be necessary. The advice also does not establish how often chair pads need replacement in every home: Kalice’s suggestion of every couple of months is based on her own recommendation, and wear will depend on use and the pads themselves.
Readers Can Check Care Guidance
The article does not announce a follow-up, product test or further update. Readers considering the cleaning or floor-care suggestions can first check the instructions for their work surface, flooring and cleaning products, then test a method in a less visible area where appropriate. The source also points readers to Ideal Home’s newsletter for style inspiration, real-home stories, project and garden advice, and shopping coverage.
Key Questions
What does Lucy Kalice recommend for a curry stain?
She suggests rubbing a small amount of Bar Keepers Friend powder into the mark with a damp cloth or kitchen towel, then wiping the area with water or kitchen spray. Check product and worktop care instructions first, as the column does not specify the surface material.
How does she suggest preventing chair scratches on wooden floors?
Kalice recommends sticking soft pads to chair legs and replacing them when they wear down. She suggests checking them every couple of months, but the article does not assess different pad types or flooring finishes.
What are her tips for keeping floors cleaner with children and a dog?
Her suggestions are to take shoes off indoors, use mats at entrances and exits, wipe the dog’s paws with a towel after outdoor trips, and vacuum daily.
Does the article prove that the cleaning method works on every work surface?
No. The source presents Kalice’s personal advice and does not identify the counter material or report independent testing. Readers should follow the product label and the worktop manufacturer’s care guidance.
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