An Easy Trick To Keep Your Home Clean

Shoes Off At Home, Keeping Your Home Clean
Photo by Minh Pham on Unsplash

TAKE YOUR SHOES OFF AT THE DOOR

One thing that never fails to make my husband and I cringe is when we see people on television or in movies walking around their homes in their shoes or worse yet sitting on their bed fully clothed with their shoes on. We both grew up in Asian households where it's customary to remove your shoes at the door. I don't know of any other way and even if I didn't grow up with it I'd probably still do it since it makes all the sense in the world. The streets are a dirty place and since the bottoms of shoes walk over all manner of dirt, germs, excrement particles and goodness knows what else, you're just tracking it all over the place by walking around in your house in them.

And it's probably even worse if you have rugs or carpet. I don't care how clean your house is, it's not really clean if you walk around in your outside shoes. We have a bench/shoe storage unit right by our doorway to facilitate the process. I'm admittedly a little OCD and clean our floors once a week. We like to sit on our floors and visitors won't have to worry about dirty floors. We also keep slippers handy for guests who want to wear them. The only time this doesn't happen is when it's some type of service or delivery person and in that case and we line the floors with newspaper or plastic. By that same token, we also never sit on the bed in our outside clothes or put our bags on our counters, tables or chairs.

Do you take your shoes at home off? Why/why not?

The lucky winner of the Fresh Sugar Lip Set giveaway is Regine K! Congratulations!

Stylish Entryway, Shoes Off At Home, Keeping Your Home Clean, Take Off Your Shoes at the door
Photo: Entrance

26 comments

Lilli said...

Morning Rowena! Oh, yes, I have rugs so I usually take off my outside shoes and generally I wear inside pair, just for home, slippers or slides. More comfy yet clean lol! xo

Jackie Harrison said...

Great tip I had knowledge of.

Emmylou said...

Oh my gosh! Not taking off your shoes when you go to people's houses drive me insane too! We were raised this way as well, and so was my husband. Just so unhygienic. I also never lie down on our bed with my outside clothes. I just shudder thinking about it:P
*whispers* When we had dogs, it kinda drove me crazy coz we have carpet.

PS Ehrmahgerd! Rowena, product placements always work on me. I don't know if I told you, but I actually bought the Laneige lipstick SHK used in DOTS.:D And I knew you wouldn't like Goblin. I remember you said you didn't like My Love From Another Star and that is kinda along the same line:)

Doctor Anne said...

I do take them off, but to be honest the main reason is because I just love to be barefoot. In the winter I wear slippers or fuzzy socks instead of my outdoor shoes. My kids are raised to be the same, but my parents, who we share the house with, never change out of their outside clothes until the evening.

Linda, Libra, Loca: Beauty, Baby and Backpacking

FASHION TALES said...

I agree, this helps keep things clean. We have an area for guests to take off their shoes at the front door. I also have a front utility room for the outdoors that connects so we can keep the house clean, especially when it rains. It is considered rude to keep shoes on in my mum's family & also I have allergies and have always had to have my shoes off growing up at my parent's home.

Shireen L. Platt said...

Yep, the same goes to our household, shoes must be off at the door. It's a strict rule and I wouldn't have it any other way. As you said, streets are dirty so why walk around the home with outside shoes.

little luxury list said...

I most definitely do not wear shoes indoors. I find it pretty appalling as well when people wear shoes in bed (yech!) We are fortunate to have a cleaner and my floors are cleaned pretty much daily. I also try to keep all our shoes in a few closets and shoe rack. My husband and daughter are very diligent about changing into indoor clothing, but I'll admit to being lazy about that.
I have a giveaway for designer home decor and furniture - enter if you'd like to get some fab stuff for your home!

Oh to Be a Muse said...

Yes, we take off our shoes at the door. Our entryway has a shoe holder so we can remove our shoes before we step on any carpet.

www.ohtobeamuse.com

Paola Lauretano said...

Yes, great tip... thanks for sharing!
Love, Paola.
Expressyourself

Pilar said...

You know taking your shoes off at the door makes perfect sense! I usually take my shoes off when I come in the door out of habit, but it does keep my floor cleaner!

Jane said...

Oh oh oh, Rowena. I'm so so with you on this. We don't take shoes off in our homes and even the dogs paws get wiped before coming inside our home - even when go to out to the backyard. One of the hardest things was letting out clients know that we don't wear shoes in the house (for meet and greets, etc.) because a majority of them wear their shoes inside and they found it to be a great inconvenience. Some guests came in wearing shoes, others had to for medical reasons (older, diabetic, etc.) and it really stressed me out and I always cleaned and wiped and used Woollite on our carpet after they all left. I think some people think that if you have dogs then your house is automatically dirty because dogs trek in dirt anyway, but we keep our home and dogs clean - even their pee and poop areas get wiped down and regular baths. Some guest dogs may not practice that in their homes but when they come to ours they become part of our routine! :)

Valerie said...

We definitely have a no shoe policy in our home as well! I totally agree that it keeps things much cleaner!

http://roadesque.com
http://ourruins.com

Beauty Unearthly said...

Interesting post my dear, thank you for sharing :-)

Unknown said...

I don’t know why but I’m having the hardest time keeping my house clean. I usually have no issue but ever since I moved into my apartment it’s been sooooooooo hard keeping everything in order. I always take my shoes off at the door, it’s my number one rule.

Unknown said...

I grew up in an Asian household too. I was taught since young not to wear shoes into the house, sit on my bed whilst wearing outside clothing and to always wear slippers around the house. Whenever a delivery man or repair man comes in with their shoes on we cringe a little and never fail to give the floors a thorough clean after they leave.

Blackswan said...

I can't imagine wearing shoes at home. It's also a no-shoes policy for me! xoxo

María Pilar Bernal Maya said...

Your reflexion is full of wisdown. Sometimes we don't repair on that tip but it has sense for me.
Kss
=)
New post in my Lifestyle Blog

A Very Sweet Blog said...

Since remodeling my home Rowena, I definitely do! HaHaHa I'm OCD about my floors too ;) I'm so jealous of newer homes, because now they're incorporating "mud rooms" where there is a place for shoes, umbrellas and dirty clothing.
http://www.averysweetblog.com/

Lyosha Varezhkina said...

very useful tip indeed! I'd add wash your pets paws at the door at ones, same reasoning

Lyosha
Inside and Outside Blog

tr3ndygirl influencer e fashion blogger said...

great suggests my dear
new outfit on my blog Miasuite materassi
have an happy day, kisses

Chelsey said...

Good slippers are the best! What a coincidence that you published a post on keeping your home clean, check out the post I published today! Haha Great minds x

Unknown said...

I always smile when I see people on TV walking around their homes in shoes on light carpets. It's tv and not real but it certainly looks strange when I see people do it.
Our house is most definitely a shoe free zone. We have a bench by the door where everyone can comfortably remove shoes. Slippers are kept under the bench to change into and shoes are kept in a separate utility room.
I've never worn shoes in the house and always failed to understand why anyone would choose to do so.
Thankfully we live in an area where it's the norm to remove shoes, so asking isn't usually necessary. However, I'm not afraid to ask people to remove them as some people are.

j said...

I totally take off my shoes the second I walk in the door. I agree it's easier to clean, I know where my shoes have been and I don't want that tracked in. I also have the same bag and shoe rule - I thought I was the only one! :)

Unknown said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Smith said...

Shockingly, a home that isn't cleaned viably may turn out to be more than what it appears.

Unknown said...

This is a really good read for me. Must agree that you are one of the coolest blogger I ever saw. Thanks for posting this useful information. This was just what I was on looking for. I'll come back to this blog for sure! Check It Out