quick and cheap please!

[supernanny1]

any help greatly appreciated.The usual- no money, house a mess!i would like my stairs to look as natural as poss.previous owners have left the stairs with loads of nailholes and painted down either side of where the carpet would have been.i have lived like this for a year without tackling it and now its time for action. can anyone recommend the cheapest and easiest way to sort out my stairs without using carpet.i am not afraid of good old fashioned elbow grease just want to achieve a good long lasting look that wont be slippy.thankyou