Do You Have a No-Shoes Policy?
Posted
Friday, April 18, 2008 5:53 PM
When interviewing experts on the subject of how to keep toxins out of your home, I’ve heard many times that one of the simplest things to do is to always take your shoes off right after you walk in the door. I’d known people who enforce a no-shoes rule to keep dirt off of the rugs, and honestly I’d always thought that those people were being stupidly uptight. But I realized what a good idea the no-shoes thing is when an environmental scientist for the NRDC pointed out to me that shoes don’t only track in old-fashioned dirt (whatever that means) but also things like lead paint residue, lawn herbicides, diesel exhaust, and anything else that might be lingering on the sidewalk, grass or driveway. So, for at least a year I’ve been planning to institute a no-shoes rule in our house, but only now am I finally getting serious about it. One of my eco-minded friends (who even makes her guests take off their shoes at parties, which is a bit extreme I think—I mean, you’ll have to vacuum and mop post-party anyway, right?) said to me, “Wearing shoes inside the house is just gross” and I realized how silly it is that I obsessively avoid toxic glass cleaner, hand soap, sunscreen, diaper cream, etc., etc. and then track who-knows-what allover my home when I walk in the door. So, I bought this basket (which is made out of sustainably grown hyacinth and rattan) and placed it next to the door in hopes that we’ll remember to put our footwear there. It’s only been a few days, but so far, so good. I just have to remember to empty the basket every once in a while so my entire shoe wardrobe doesn’t wind up spilling out of it.
Do any of you have no-shoe policies? What are some of the challenges of it? Any tips you’ve found for making it easier? Do you make guests go barefoot too—and if so, how do you politely tell them to de-shoe upon entry?