Don’t Drag the Demons through the Door!

On average, an astonishing 85 percent of household dirt is tracked in from outdoors, primarily on your shoes and your pets’ paws. And that crud includes just about every kind of noxious substance you can name, from viruses and bacteria to mold spores, pesticides, animal waste, insect eggs, construction debris, and even heavy metals. The list goes on. The good news is that while you can’t avoid picking up a little bit of everything from the surfaces you walk on, these three simple ploys will help you keep most of that stuff outside:

Ploy #1: Leave your shoes at the door, and have everyone else in your family do the same. What you do once you’re inside is your call. You can walk around barefoot or in your stocking feet, as many folks like to do, or trade your outdoor footgear for versions you keep for indoor use only. Likewise, you can decide whether to extend the shoes-off demand to visitors, or simply have them comply with Ploy #3 below.

Ploy #2: Wipe your dog’s paws thoroughly after every outing, preferably using a glove or mitt that’s specially designed for the purpose. (You can find them in pet-supply shops, both online and in brick-and-mortar versions; just do a quick search for “paw cleaning gloves.”) And if you know the pup has been walking on a toxic surface—for instance, a lawn that’s been treated with pesticides—give his paws a soak in a povidone iodine bath.

Ploy #3: Invest in a high-quality doormat for every exterior entrance in your home. Make sure it’s the kind specially designed to trap and retain dust, dirt, and water.