| If you could do one simple thing and have a much | | | | If you still aren't convinced this habit is for your |
| cleaner house, carpets that look like new, and a | | | | household, consider these EPA findings. In 1991 the |
| reduction in the number of chemicals and bacteria in | | | | EPA conducted a study called the "Door Mat Study" |
| your home, would you do it? You might be surprised | | | | that measured the amount of lead dust in homes. |
| to find out that you can just by removing your | | | | The study found that in homes where there was a |
| shoes before coming into the house. | | | | doormat at the entrance and where shoes weren't |
| More and more Americans are making habit of | | | | worn, there was a marked reduction (about 60%) of |
| removing shoes before entering their home. It used | | | | lead dust and other chemicals in the home. Not only |
| to be a custom more widely observed in Asia, but as | | | | that, but in homes where shoes are removed, there |
| Asian decorating and customs grab hold in America, | | | | was a reduction in allergens and bacteria being |
| we're beginning to see more and more households | | | | tracked into the house. |
| ban shoes upon entering the home here in America. | | | | One carpet manufacturer's website also explains that |
| In the late '80's, I lived on a Johnston Atoll, a small | | | | when you wear dirty shoes in your home, the carpet |
| island about a thousand miles southwest of Honolulu. | | | | acts like a "cleaner" for the shoes, scraping off debris |
| Living there and traveling through Hawaii on a fairly | | | | and dirt from the shoe. Over time, the carpet |
| regular basis, it became second nature for me to | | | | becomes saturated by the debris and a stain begins |
| remove my shoes before entering someone's home. | | | | to spread into a "lane." That's why walking in one |
| It only took one or two very nasty Hawaiian scowls | | | | area of a carpet, a stain can become much larger |
| before I learned to leave my shoes at the door. | | | | over time. Essentially, the carpet has absorbed so |
| Over time I began to notice how clean the floors | | | | much dirt that it's gone past the point of saturation |
| were in the home. Walking in bare feet or socks, my | | | | and spread out. |
| soles were never dirty. And, I noticed that the | | | | If that still doesn't convince you, then think about |
| carpets also looked like new. | | | | how much longer and nicer your carpets and floors |
| Once I became a homeowner, I adopted the custom | | | | will stay and how much easier it will be to clean if |
| of removing shoes before entering the house. If | | | | shoes aren't permitted in the house. When you look |
| you've just moved into a new home, installed new | | | | at it this way, it's not hard to remove your shoes |
| carpet, or if you're just tired of always cleaning the | | | | before entering. |
| floors, consider adopting the habit of leaving shoes | | | | What else can you do to keep floors and carpets |
| by the entrances to your home before coming in. | | | | clean? To keep floors clean and carpets looking |
| More than just a nicety or custom, removing shoes | | | | newer longer, don't wear shoes in the house. Have |
| before entering a home makes good sense. After | | | | carpets steam cleaned once or twice a year, and |
| walking into public restrooms, city streets, yards | | | | avoid using carpet cleaners that use surfactants |
| where there are animals, and so on, bacteria and filth | | | | (soap). Even some professional carpet services use |
| is not only carried into the home on the soles of | | | | soap-based cleaners. Avoid these because these |
| shoes, but that same dirt and grime gets trapped in | | | | products will attract more dirt and make carpets |
| carpets. | | | | dirtier faster. |