7 Boot Scrapers That Will Keep Your Home Clean—It’s Science

Earlier this month, we explored what happens when you and your guests wear shoes indoors, and, well, it’s gross. So we hunted around the Internet for the best boot scrapers on the market that will, at the very least, keep your floors as clean as possible if removing shoes isn’t an option. We won’t go into the nitty-gritty of the studies and wise words of the University of Colorado at Boulder’s environmental studies professor Jill Litt, who spoke to House Beautiful, but we will say this: On average, 421,000 units of bacteria, including sometimes fatal E. coli, can cling to the outside and bottoms of our shoes. So if you can’t commit to becoming a no-shoes-indoors house, you may as well invest in a boot scraper—especially if you have toddlers who spend a lot of time on the floor and putting things in their mouths.

The best thing about boot scrapers is that they’re rarely expensive, and you can’t really put a price on your family’s health, right? The most expensive find on our carefully curated list is still only $89, but that’s probably because it’s in the shape of a hedgehog and made of super-durable palm fibers. Otherwise, some of our top picks are as cheap as $18. No matter which one you decide to get, you’ll be able to take a sigh of relief knowing the dirt and feces (yes, from dog poop) will stay where it belongs: outside.

If you didn’t know how dangerous and gross your shoes can be, you’re not alone. Now that you’re in the loop, though, go ahead and protect yourself, your family, and anyone else who spends time in your home.