Green Living Works!

Requiring family and guests to remove their shoes when entering a house always seemed like an annoying custom of some anal-retentive neat-freak, hardwood floor lover, or sock fetishist. But, there is a really good reason to leave your shoes at the door: it helps keep out pesticides. Think about it. You do all that walking all around town (because you’re trying to reduce your carbon footprint by not driving, of course), and you inevitably walk in chemicals in the street, grass, etc. So, when you come home, your sole have been tainted by harmful chemicals and pesticides. You definitely don’t want to have dangerous pesticides on the floor, especially if you have children and pets, both of which love to put any and everything in their mouths.
In addition to removing your shoes, be sure to get some door mats (for the inside and outside) and an entryway rug. They can help collect the toxins, as well as be cute and welcoming!