Wearing shoes inside the home is a surprisingly divisive subject. While some people see it as convenient or cultural, others view it as an open invitation for dirt, germs, and grime to enter the house. Regardless of where you fall on the debate, there’s no denying that keeping shoes on indoors can make your home dirtier – particularly your floors.
Because of this, your cleaning routine needs to be a little more diligent. According to one professional cleaner, households that allow shoes indoors should take three simple, near-daily steps to maintain a cleaner space and offset the added mess.
These tasks are designed to prevent buildup, reduce allergens, and ensure your floors stay fresh and hygienic, even with regular foot traffic from the outside world.
3 cleaning tasks for shoes-on households
If you opt for the former option in the shoes on vs shoes off debate, your floors will get dirtier more quickly. There is no two ways about it. Leaving shoes on is one of the many things that make your rugs dirtier and shorten their lifespan.
However, if you like the convenience of not having to remove your shoes every time you pass through your home, some cleaning tips can negate some of the mess and damage, Sofia Martinez, cleaning expert and CEO of Sparkly Maid Austin, assures us.
1. Vacuum daily
It perhaps comes as no surprise that Sofia’s first tip is to use one of the best multi-surface vacuum cleaners regularly.
She begins, ‘Vacuum more often than you think you need to, especially near entryways, kitchens, and high-traffic areas.
‘Bringing in shoes means more dust, dirt, pollen, and even bacteria likely coming from sidewalks, public bathrooms, or gas stations. If you do not stay on top of it, it will pile up quickly. A lightweight cordless vacuum, such as the Shark Detect Pro [available at Amazon], is perfect for daily or every other day touch-ups without it seeming like a troublesome task.’
Deep cleaning carpets is also a must if you have soft flooring or lots of area rugs. While you can clean a carpet without a machine, the top-rated Bissell Little Green HydroSteam Portable Deep Cleaner from Best Buy makes light work of dirt and debris, sucking it out from between the fibers for a thorough clean.
Alternatively, if you want a more versatile tool, turn to the best steam cleaners and steam mops. They do not pull dirt from fibers, but steam cleaning carpet sanitizes and loosens debris, making it easier to vacuum out without taking up as much home storage or blowing your budget.
We recommend the Black & Decker 7-in-1 steam mop from Walmart, which comes with a carpet glide attachment for easy cleaning.
2. Use a washable doormat – and wash it
Sophia continues, ‘Keep a washable doormat both outside and just inside the door, and wash them weekly.’
Want to limit dirt and debris? Opt for two of the best doormats, Sophia continues, ‘A two-step mat system does way more than people think – it grabs a good chunk of the grime before it even hits your floors. Just make sure you toss the indoor mat in the wash regularly or at least vacuum and shake it out.
‘I often suggest clients look for machine-washable doormats from Ruggable for this exact reason.’
As the happy owner of three Ruggable flatwoven rugs, I can vouch for their durability and ease of use. They split into two sections, a top rug covering which is moveable and machine washable, and a bottom padded section which offers cushioning and prevents the rug from slipping. They are by far some of my favorite rugs.
The Ruggable doormats come with a washable top cover and a rubber mat base, designed to drain water to avoid build-up and mildew.
The Ruggable doormats are made from heavy-duty polyester bristles to help remove dirt from shoes without damage. Plus, the removable top covers are interchangeable, so they can easily be swapped to match the season.
Available in four sizes and three colors, this indoor doormat is machine washable for quick maintenance in shoe-on households.
3. Mop weekly
Any hard floors where you wear shoes need to be mopped weekly at the very least. This includes entryways, mudrooms, bathrooms, and kitchens.
Sophia says, ‘Mop weekly using a neutral floor cleaner, and don’t forget those corners.
‘Even if floors look “fine,” shoes track in invisible oils, bacteria, and allergens. A simple weekly mop with warm water and a gentle cleaner like Aunt Fannie's Multi-Surface Floor Cleaner, from Target (which is vinegar-based but smells great), can help cut down on lingering germs.
‘Bonus tip: Microfiber mop pads are better than traditional string mops for this – they trap more dirt and dry faster.’ The Bona Floor Mop Starter Kit, from Target, comes with everything you need to clean floors without streaks right out of the box.
For particularly tough messes, especially when cleaning vinyl floors or cleaning tile floors, opt for a floor scrubbing brush instead. The Libman Floor Scrub Brush, from Walmart, is shaped specifically to help you tackle corners so no mess is left behind.
What to shop
If you don't want to faff with a bucket and mop every day, consider the Swiffer floor cleaner. Having tested this system in my own home, I can vouch for its efficiency at removing gunk from flooring in seconds. Plus, the included cleaning solution smells wonderful, too.
I swear by this quick-use floor spot treatment to keep my cream rug looking its best. The built-in applicator means that I can treat spills and stains in seconds for the best chance at removal. I am yet to come up against a spill it can't treat.
Rated our best budget cordless vacuum, this Ultenic vac is lightweight, making it easier to complete daily chores. Plus, it has a built-in laser light to show up hidden dirt for thorough cleaning.
Meet the expert
Switching to being a shoes-off household and leaving footwear at the door is a good place to start if you want to break bad habits to save time on chores. Just be sure to implement some rules for an organized entryway to avoid a clutter pile-up.
