Beat the winter grime: Smart tips to keep your home mud‑free

It's impossible to prevent external contaminants completely, especially if you leave and enter your home multiple times throughout the day. Weather conditions don't make tidiness easy, but decreasing the amount of mud trafficked in on shoes is pretty simple. A minor investment can save time and effort on constant vacuuming and floor washing.

Simply changing or treating your shoes won't suffice, as they are just a tiny part of the considerable demand. It's more efficient to add another doormat, even if one is already present at your home. The goal isn't to replace the existing mat but to place another one outside the door. Ideally, this mat should be made of plastic or rubber and more significant than the standard size. This way, the initial layer of mud and dust will stay outside your home. All that is required is rubbing your shoe soles against the mat a few times.

Upon entering the house, the second mat should be placed just inside the threshold, ensuring that your shoes are cleaner than usual. Make sure its appearance matches your home's decor to avoid clashing in color, material, or design. The mat should also have a non-slip underside to prevent accidents. Despite being lesser-known, this method makes a significant difference in maintaining an apartment's cleanliness.

During winter, many people struggle with where to store their shoes after coming home. Usually, shoes are too wet to place on a shelf and can leave marks if left on the floor. A wise investment is a rubber mat or shoe drainer, which allows the moisture to dry out and prevents the dirt from spreading all over the house. All that's required is an occasional wash under running water, and it will last for years.

Another helpful item by the front door is a mop with a sprayer. It's a breeze to use for removing dried smears and collecting melting snow. A wireless vacuum cleaner is also handy for quickly sucking up sand and mud bits.

There's no need for cables or heavy water buckets. With these tips, you can maintain order within a few seconds of home arrival. These practices not only help keep the house clean and reduce unnecessary stress, but they also preserve the condition of your floors, which can often suffer damage from residual dirt.