KEEP OUTSIDE DIRT OUTSIDE
Use This Asian Custom to Protect Your Family
Although this is not the perfect solution, it is an excellent start. In most Asian countries, they leave most of the outside dirt outside by removing their shoes at the door.
Remember Mr. Rogers always took off his shoe at the beginning of his show and put on a pair of slippers?
This mostly Asian tradition is catching on in many other countries. This tradition has spread to many other countries and cultures because it just makes sense.
Think about your poor children or visiting children crawling around on the floor. You come stomping in with your dusty, dirty boots or work shoes, spreading whatever dirt you tread through during your day. Outside shoes track dirt, dust, and possibly contaminants.
With a worldwide pandemic going on, it just makes sense to take whatever measures are possible to protect our family.
Likewise, when we don’t have guests, I strip and put on a robe, stow my shoes, and throw my clothes in the laundry right away. After a shower, I have washed away all the outside dirt and possible corona contaminants, and I am ready to relax.
The Shoe Cabinet
In most Asian homes, the line between inside and outside is clearly defined. There is typically an entryway or “dirty” room designated for shoe removal. In some homes, you simply slip out of your shoes and slip on a pair of slippers. By doing that simple task, you leave the outside dirt outside.
There is usually a shoe cabinet there to keep new visitors from tripping over your shoes as they enter, but some not. It might depend on the residents’ financial ability to afford such a luxury, but everyone can afford to take off their shoes.
We like the mirrored door hanger that slips over the back of the door. You can even check yourself in the mirror before you go out. It’s quite convenient.
This tradition has spread to many other countries across the globe, though it is rarely as formal as that of Asian homes. This tradition makes total sense, though.
How would you feel if the home you visit has a white carpet in the living room, and you track some off-color substance onto their beautiful carpet? Even if they do not make a fuss about it, you would still feel shame, at least most people would.
This tradition keeps the dirt, chemicals, and possible contaminants out of the home, making it easier to clean. So, it’s healthier and cleaner. But it also saves wear and tear on your floor coverings.
In many countries, it is only natural to remove your shoes at the door. If you watch an Asian as they come into your home, they will hesitate, wondering how to proceed. Most would not even think about just walking into your home with shoes intended for outside.
What We Should Wear Instead
Keep a few pairs of house slippers available for your guest, offer medical shoe covers, flip-flops, or what I like is the Under Armour slip-ons, which are not as expensive as you would think.
Good Reasons to Wear House Slippers or Slip-Ons
1. Wearing house slippers rather than shoes will eliminate the need to shampoo your carpets as often.
2. Expensive floor coverings are easily damaged by outside toxins, chemicals, and dirt, brought in by shoes. Outside shoes scratch and damage wooden floors, linoleum, and tiles by the sand and grit trapped in your shoe’s tread.
3. Infants and young children playing on the floor often put their toys in their mouths that have been on the floor. Some get busy playing and put their food on the floor and then into their mouth.
4. Possible pesticides, petrol, and pollutants stuck to your shoes will come off onto floor coverings. Also, chewing gum! Getting chewing gum out of a carpet is tough.
5. Whatever the weather is outside, you bring it in on your shoes. Snow, rain, and mud are easily tracked onto the floor and picked up by the children who play there.
6. The innocent child playing on the floor picks up those contaminants and invariably puts it into their mouths. Even when you watch them to ensure they don’t put their toys in their mouths, you usually cannot keep them from putting their contaminated fingers in their mouths.
7. We keep a box of medical shoe covers for our guests, so they can keep their shoes on but contain the outside dirt in the covers. By the way, you can get a box of 100 from Amazon for less than $15, and both guests and workers can slip them on easily.
Once you discover the reasons for adopting this no shoe tradition at your house, your family will be safer because contaminants will not be tracked onto your floors. Your floor coverings will stay cleaner longer, and you won’t need to replace your carpets or pay for expensive shampooing as often.
Note: This post contains affiliate links. I make a small percentage from your purchase that doesn’t affect your price. Read my disclosure statement for additional information.
More of My Stories
Stephen Dalton is a retired US Army First Sergeant with a degree in journalism from the University of Maryland and a Certified US English Chicago Manual of Style Editor. Currently living in the Philippines, Stephen is a Top Writer in Virtual Reality.
You can see his portfolio here. Email [email protected]
