Dirty Ficus Trees

Here's the deal with me and ficus leaves.

Our house is small, but has an atrium in the middle. Three skylights, lots of natural sunlight. Nice. The ceilings are vaulted, and we have two mature ficus trees on each end of the room. One has a braided trunk, the other is just straight and tall.

Another thing about our house - it is very dusty. I'm certain it has to do with the air / venting original system, but the two dogs and two cats don't help any.

Anyway, these trees are sappy. They ooze some sticky sticky mess that gets on the floor, furniture, or anything underneath them. Then, everything sticks to that goo: dust, dog hair, etc. It's gross. Easy enough to mop the floor and wipe down a chair or such, but to keep the tree 'clean' - well, that's an ever present vexation.

It is a time-consuming and discouraging task to wipe (scrub) down individual leaves and even branches. Believe it or not, I do attempt it several times a year.

I try in vain to get others to join me......that is the reference I am always making to Daughter #1 and Son-In-Law. They want to exercise, I invite them to tackle a tree. They want to earn extra money, I offer a opportunity. They want stimulating conversation and fellowship, I have an event. My helping hand is always slapped away. I can and have made subsequent children assist me, but the efforts are so small on so great a task. I've asked the Husband to take the trees outside in the summer and let us hose them down; this request falls on deaf ears.

If someone has a solution to offer (BESIDES getting rid of the trees. . . ), my ears are open. The coffee is hot.