This is our kind of cleaning tip: Short, sweet, and simple. When you put it into practice, you will be amazed at how much cleaner your home will stay. When there’s less dirt, you can spend less time cleaning it and more time enjoying the spring sunshine!

Find out the world’s simplest and most effective solution for a cleaner home, here:

Mom was right: If you take your shoes off at the door, less dirt finds its way into your house.

The neighbors may have regarded my mother as a bit of a crank (even while my playmates thought it was fun to run around the house in sock feet), but her carpets were always spotless and she spent half the time mopping and dusting as her friends. Mom just smiled and said, “Pretend you’re Japanese. Most Asians take off their shoes when they come indoors. It’s a mark of respect.”

It also saves a heck of a lot of housecleaning time: This is one small step that is a giant leap for the person who cleans the house!