http://www.care2.com/greenliving/an-eco-mudroom-shoes-off.html
An Eco-Mudroom: Shoes Off
OK, I am as neurotic as the next person about keeping my floors clean. With dogs and kids, the inevitable mess happens. The kids are trained to take their shoes off. The dogs know that if they wait on the mat while their feet get cleaned they will get a treat, and my guests are kind and gracious. They usually offer without being asked.
Last week my husband and I stayed at my brother’s ski house in Vermont. Ski and snowboarding boots are messy. My brother and his wife have a whole room dedicated to shoes/boots/ski stuff. It is a neatly organized mudroom that provides a barrier between the outside and the inside with storage for lots of stuff.
Architect Susan Susanka, the author of the Not So Big House books, is a big fan of mud rooms that can keep shoes, outerwear, purses, keys, back packs and other belongings in a central place near an entrance to a home.
Mudrooms encourage friends and family to take their shoes off. Here are some of the benefits of removing your shoes before entering a home. Creating a healthier home by taking your shoes off is good for the environment. Cleaner air quality and less cleaning products consumed is an advantage. Even if you clean with vinegar and baking soda, taking your shoes off by the front door will save. More importantly, the EPA found that pesticides on shoes are considered to be a major source of toxic exposure for children.
While I surf the ecosphere often, it still surprised me to find a whole blog dedicated to leaving your shoes at the door. Shoes Off at the Door Please encourages people not to wear shoes in their homes. UK blogger Celestial Fundie provides 37 reasons why you should have a shoes-off policy.
A mudroom is a perfect place to leave those shoes behind while providing all the elements for a cleaner, healthier home. Here are some ideas for creating an eco-mud room:
• Floors should be dark and durable. Mudroom floors take a beating. Eco-friendly rubber floor tiles are made with recycled rubber and are perfect for messes. Stone floors are attractive and are great at hiding dirt. Floor mats made from recycled materials are another alternative.
• Paint mudroom walls with eco-friendly paint. Try natural American Clay for a durable and interesting textured wall.
• For seating, functional built-in benches with hinged tops for storage work best. This bench has open storage for shoes. For tight spaces this hideaway bench is a space-saver.
• Determine the type of storage you need–sports equipment, kids, dogs. Bins, baskets and shelves can give each family member a space. Pegs on the floor for upside down boots or a lattice-work shoe shelf with a drip tray underneath can keep melting snow and rain off the floor. Cubbies for each member of the family keep homework, lunches and other belongings organized. This small storage unit is made from Bamboo with eco-fabric upholstery created from re-purposed denim.
• Some additional decor like a mirror (hat-hair can wreck an entrance), coat tree, key holder, indoor/outdoor thermometer and bulletin board give mudrooms multi-purposes.
Got mudroom? I wish I did.
Ronnie Citron-Fink lives in New York with her husband, two children (when they come home to the nest), two dogs and a cat. Ronnie is a teacher and a writer. She has been a contributing writer for Family Fun magazine. She currently writes articles about education and home design. Her writings are in four books including Family Fun Home and Some Delights of the Hudson Valley.
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9 comments
add your comment »Taking off shoes at the doorway of American homes seems to have become popular over the past decade and some of the rationale does seem practical. However, sometimes I believe some of those that practice this caveat really are not "walking their talk" relating to the sanitary essence of this "keeping their kingdom sterile."
Case in point is this: a family member and others that I associate with employ this "shoes off" policy for their well kept abodes. Human visitors must remove their shoes to enter their house; however, they have several dogs (house dogs) that reside there and as I sit there shoeless I discern these pets lying with their private parts on their floor (rugs, tiles, etc.). It especially soaks in (no pun intended) when the pet just returned from a "potty break" from their being taken outside. The pets are escorted inside and begin to lounge all over the house, couch, floors, etc.
Oh, I guess this is okay for the pet; however, the human friends must purge themselves of their shoes which carry unspeakable bacteria? Something is wrong with this picture? I'd like to hear from some that enforce this policy but still allow their pets to perform as mentioned above.
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thanks...
Kabin
Konteyner,Prefabrik
mega kabin
Konteyner
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Here's a link to another bamboo shoe bench.
http://aikomei.com/takebako_bench.php
Joe
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Mudrooms are a great idea. Unfortunately most houses aren't designed with them in the plans, and also can't even be adapted for one; at least here in Utah. The only place I've ever seen mudrooms is on the pages of a magazine. I do agree with taking shoes off at the door, especially once the weather turns wet and/or snowy. We have a tile entry since it doesn't get slippery when damp and take heavy traffic and dirt.
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Amelia,
Here's the link for the Feel More Human Bamboo Bench, http://shop.feelmorehuman.com/p-5429-shoe-bench.aspx
Best,
Ronnie
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i like that bench that can hold shoes-but it doesn't give any information as to where i can get it. does anyone know? thanks.
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We call them boot rooms in the UK
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Hi. This is a great article. People should take their shoes in their house. Simply having a chair or bench near a back door with a basket can encourage people to take off their shoes.
When I built my house we created a mudroom where the kids come in an take off their shoe, etc. We built an open locker type system similar to what you see in Pottery Barn. If you do this make sure to use no formaldehyde plywood from Columbia Forest.
I purchased boot trays from Gardener Supply to put under the seat so it is much easier to clean.
My floor is tile since it is very easy to clean. In addition, there are big rugs that are made for the outdoors for durability but I have found that I can not get out dark marks!
I am not a fan of rubber based flooring because of the chemicals in rubber. Rubber tires contain a host of chemicals in them. I would opt for a skid resistance floor that can get wet from snow boots,etc. such as tile. If eco is what you want, Crossville has recycled content flooring which would fit the bill.
Anna www.green-talk.com
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Great article. We don't have mudrooms in Australia, but it's a good idea. Thanks for all the links, I'm gonna check 'em all out.
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