Yesterday, we pondered the folly of lax ways with food and kids.
Today's lesson is short. You must confine the outside dirt; you must corral it. And this means mats.
If you read Don Aslett's books, you should come away with one key learning: there must be industrial mats at the doors. As he points out, what do the stores do? They can't ask people to take off their shoes! No, they place the proper materials at the door, to stop dirt from getting all over.
We are not talking about those accursed little rag rugs that seem to be made to keep the ER in business. Throw them away, spitting on them first.
We are not even talking about rubber-backed glorified bathmats, that sort of stay in place but are too small — and that practically leap up into the beater-bar of your vacuum, choking it to death.
We are talking about a rubber, loop-twist, water-absorbent, quite large, door mat. You can hose it down, you can vacuum it, you can sweep it.
It's not beautiful, but you will come to see it as beautiful once you realize how much work it saves you! Your own children take their shoes off upon entering the house. But guests, workmen, dogs — their dirty tracks stop there, on that awesome mat. Trust me. It's worth every penny.
So, to sum up, we're going to keep the outside dirt from tracking in, and we are going to keep food from getting all over the house. Confine and corral.
Betsy says
Love this post. You know, I have the same exact two front mats as you! What odd coincidence. Can I tell you my little pet peeve? When people insist that all of their guests remove their shoes upon arrival but yet have no place to offer a seat to sit down and remove them (ESPECIALLY for elderly guests). Add to that when the floors are very cold for their shoeless guests while the hosts wear their house slippers. I understand their reasoning perfectly; just think that that idea needs to be altered a bit sometimes.
CarlynB says
What I want to know is WHERE to get those industrial strength mats?I love your blog!
Leila says
Yes, Betsy, I agree. I don't ask my guests to take off their shoes… I can't stand being in my house without slippers, and wouldn't ask them to do so!…and my mudroom is full of stuff — no room for a chair. So the mat really comes in handy for my peace of mind about any dirt.Carlyn,I got mine at BJs long ago. I'm thinking that Lowe's or Home Depot would have them, and I'm going to check soon, because I think I need new ones…mine are just really old! Get the biggest one that fits in your space!If anyone knows where to get a good price, let us know!
Anonymous says
Here in the UK we have "Turtle" mats – rubber backed mats which are brilliant for stopping dog and human footprints. They go in the washing machine too. Quite expensive to buy but I've had mine for years and they wash as good as new.Please don't forget the decluttering post you promised – my house is bursting at the seams -I've got the motivation to do the cleaning but the clutter hampers progress.Heather
Pippajo says
I was going to ask where, oh, where does one get one of these miracle mats, but someone beat me to it? I know LL Bean has them; they seem kind of pricey to me but perhaps I'm just being miserly? I'll check BJ's, Home Depot and Lowe's.I'm thinking of putting a shoe receptacle of some kind near our main entrance. We all tend to de-shoe as soon as we walk in simply as a matter of preference and, as a result, there is always a mound of shoes cluttering up the entryway. Any suggestions?I've done some real good thinking about cleaning this place. I'm supposed to go out this weekend to make sure I'm armed with the appropriate weapons to plunge in next week!
Margo says
I agree! I got my big industrial mats at Home Depot.I also have 2 black shoe trays by my front door (back door has quarry tile – hooray!) that I got at Linens n Things before they went out of business. The shoe trays are just shallow plastic trays with some bumps (so bottoms of shoes can dry off in due time).In Russia, everyone takes their shoes off at the front door (actually, I think this is widespread in Europe and Asia) and there is a little rack of slippers next to the door. So you borrow a pair of guest slippers. I don't have room for that, but guest slippers would be a fun sewing project :)On sloppy weather days, I actually carry my slippers with me (I still am in diaper bag days) because I hate to leave muddy water tracks across someone's floor and I hate to walk around chilly in socks!
Anonymous says
Don Aslett's books are very helpful.Thanks for posting again. You are a wealth of varied and intelligent information and ideas, always delivered with care and wit. (Linda)
Briana says
I need to get some mats! We do have tile by both doors and that seems to help.My biggest problem is the paper messes my children make. Tissues, bits of torn up paper, napkins, everywhere. I don't get it! Maybe I need more trash cans?
sue says
Don't forget Bed, Bath and Beyond. In fact I think you can find them almost anywhere. I got my last bunch at Ocean State Job Lot.
Peter and Nancy says
The grown-ups at our house use the boot tray under our coat hooks, but the children use a rubber-backed throw rug. It gives them a bigger space, and a chair to hold onto for balance. Our (most-used) back door leads right into our family room though — wish we had an entryway, because all the coats, backpacks and boots usually make the room look cluttered.Nancy
Mrs Bossy says
This comment has been removed by the author.
Mrs Bossy says
Don Aslett saved me 12 years of dirt. I bought two 36" X 60" commercial mats at Home Depot and set them length ways at my front & rear entrances. If the first step on them doesn't lose the dirt, the next 3 steps before you hit the door will. Simple! We have hard wood floors and rarely did anyone track dirt inside. Removing shoes in someone's home is reserved for the familial. I would not ask my guests to comply for the sake of my floor because – aren't people more important than things? Good suggestion!
Whitney says
haven't been here in so long – i forgot how much i love your blog.
Sue says
Where I live even the workmen take off their shoes before entering! Still, "confine and corral" is a concept I can use. I'm going to go ponder that for a while.
Leila says
Sue, I knew you would say something about shoes, but never in my wildest dreams could I imagine a country in which workmen took off their boots before entering…Although I think I once had someone who tried to respect my mats, until I took pity on him with all his laces and told him I'd clean up after him!I'm sure your house is spotless; I cringe at what you would think of mine.
Kate says
I think you Easterners are a little spoiled and don't really know what dust and dirt are. I live on acreage in the West. No rain usually for 5 – 6 months and in our book you don't waste water on a lawn. Plus with an old drafty farmhouse you get a lot of dust inside continually. I lived on the lush, green, wet East coast for a few years and was completely blown away by how long I could go without dusting. Keeping the house clean here is such a chore. I usually ignore the dust and dirt and try to focus on keeping the house clutter free. You pick your battles.
Patty says
Nice post and blog, I will visit again soon.
Sue says
So, I've become that predictable? ;o)Come to think of it, Japanese workmen don't usually wear boots. Their get up looks much more like a ninja. I don't think I could do justice describing their footwear in words. If you are so inclined, check out this link: http://www.product-reviews.net/2007/08/27/jikatabi-sneakers-split-toe-canvas-shoes-favored-by-japanese-construction-workers/And, no, my house is far from spotless in spite of the cultural mandate for no shoes indoors – definitely lived in!
Leila says
They are very noble footwear!
Jasmine says
Love your two confine and corral posts. It is all being put to practice. We went Saturday morning and got our new door mats (huge commercial mats from Lowes and larger bristle welcome mat for outside the door.) and the kids MUST eat and drink at the kitchen table now, no more being lax about it.
Aimee says
So, I’m going back and rereading these. The link from your cleaning page didn’t work for this post but I really wanted to read it so I did a search! I have pondered getting these mats before but I always seem to be inspired to do this when there isn’t any wiggle room in the budget. I’ll work on it. I do wonder, do you use one of these at the front door? I don’t think my hubby would like this in the foyer. He spent many hours installing picture frame molding and painting there and I think he would balk at this industrial mat.
Leila says
Aimee, I’ve fixed the broken links, thanks!
No, I don’t have a mat like this at the front door, because we don’t use the front door as a usual thing. We use the mudroom door or the sliding door from the deck. The front door is more formal and you need other solutions there.
The mats are for the doors where all the daily traffic is.
For the front door, it would really depend, but you still must have something. A good sturdy coconut or coir mat for outside the door is essential — or a very decorative water-hogging type mat — they do come in formal designs.
For inside, actually, the best choice is a medium-sized wool oriental rug. The pattern will hide dirt for long enough for your guests to go in and out, and it’s the easiest to clean.