Unclutterer

1. Posted by Denise Butterfield - 05/13/2009

   I have these. They are unitaskers, but they sure make it easy to go to the bathroom when you are gardening or shoveling snow!!

2. Posted by Cheryl - 05/13/2009

   These may sound like a silly thing but my husband uses them all the time. He is a carpenter & when he needs to come into the house from his shop he can put these on over his muddy/dirty steel-toed workboots & walk through the house without leaving dirt clods or damaging the hardwood floors & without taking off his boots then putting them right back on.

3. Posted by Leah - 05/13/2009

   My family owns a pair of these, and they’re absolutely fantastic for quick trips to the workroom to grab tools or supplies without getting the laundry room all mucky. They sound like a terrible unitasker waste, but they get a lot of good use and don’t take up a lot of space.

   You be surprised how hard it is to sit down and take off your wet or muddy shoes when your hands are covered in garden dirt or motor oil…

4. Posted by Celeste - 05/13/2009

   I’m intrigued…I really hate having to clean carpet spots when my husband’s dragged in muddy dirt clods, driveway sealant, and paint when working on projects in the garage or outdoors. Bathroom and water breaks have to happen; he wears laced up workboots when he is doing these chores, so no way does he stop to take them off every time.

   Wow. I think I have to have this Unitasker. Never thought I’d say that!

5. Posted by kai - 05/13/2009

   Seems to be an entirely logical unitasker -if you’re a mover. They’re easy to step in and kick out of, and much handier than taking shoes on and off if you’re in and out a lot. They market them precisely as that sort of short-term thing. The unitaskers are more fun when they’re completely inexplicable. This is along the lines of poking fun at an alarm clock that *only* wakes you up in the morning. And doesn’t even cook you breakfast!

6. Posted by Andy - 05/13/2009

   Most of the things featured in Unitasker Wednesday are ridiculous, but this seems like a brilliant idea. Great for workers going to other people’s houses, but also good for having in the cases where you are inviting other people into your house and expecting that they will just remove their shoes. Some people are just not comfortable doing that and this solves that problem.

7. Posted by Lori Paximadis - 05/13/2009

   Definitely a Unitasker, but a very useful one for us gardeners, when we need to run inside to use the bathroom or grab a drink or answer the phone and have muddy boots.

8. Posted by Steve - 05/13/2009

   These are very similar to the covers that are used within buildings once carpets are laid but workers still come through. It might SEEM like a silly idea, but there are a large number of applications where they can be pretty useful.

   Unitasker? Perhaps. Useful? Perhaps.

   Funny? Well, they are funny if you start doubling up

9. Posted by Aimee - 05/13/2009

   I have to agree with the other commentators, that this is actually quite a useful item. Perhaps not with the pictured wellies, which are easy to slip on and off, but with other types of work boots that lace up. They could also be useful to keep around for contractors or guests to use when they visit. Not everyone is comfortable taking off their shoes in someone else’s house (even if you provide slippers) and shoes track a lot of dirt into houses.

10. Posted by Sunny Paris - 05/13/2009

    Yup, I want a pair. It would be very helpful when I am doing yard work.

11. Posted by Angela - 05/13/2009

    This is a unitasker in a way, but it does enable you to get several things done more quickly and with less mess. When in engaged in a outdoor task you might need to run in to answer a phone, use the bathroom, get something from inside the house, etc. Work boots can be very tough to remove, even more so with gloves or messy hands. These seem like a great way to save time during the task at hand — and to prevent cleaning up after greasy or muddy footprints.

12. Posted by Anita - 05/13/2009

    As all previous commenters noted, these can be very useful for short-term use, for movers, gardners, workers needing washroom breaks etc. After having a couch delivered yesterday (and cleaning up the inherent mess), I wouldn’t have minded having these around…

    I guess this is another case of a tool that only seems useless because your lifestyle has never required it. Sometimes it’s a good idea to put yourself in someone else’s shoes

13. Posted by Aisha - 05/13/2009

    I’m thinking about this in an admittedly sexist-stereotype way. But I can so think of SO many couples where the wife is saying: “No, No, No, I JUST mopped that floor” and the husband is saying: “But it’s too much work to take off my work boots when I’m going right out again!”. Of course, the roles could be reversed to get out of the sexist stereotype, but the point is, the drywalkers would prevent this conflict.

14. Posted by Eleanor W. Craig - 05/13/2009

    I have these and they are worth every penny. When I am out in the garden with wet/muddy boots, I am routinely in and out of the house for supplies, drinking water, etc. Drywalkers allow me to move in and out of the house frequently without having stop to remove and then put shoes back on. You’d be surprised how much time they save!

15. Posted by Laura - 05/13/2009

    I just don’t see how rain and oil and dirt still doesn’t drip off the boots! Even though there is a grip line on the bottom, they still look scary-slippery to me.

    I’ve just never had a problem taking off boots to go indoors.

16. Posted by Kathryn - 05/13/2009

    They do seem useful, but for 30 bucks I’m thinking surgical scrub booties would be a better deal.
    http://www.shoecovers.net/

17. Posted by Steve - 05/13/2009

    These Drywalkers are simply an exact copy of a traditional house shoe that’s an integral part of the way things are done on the farm in some parts of the world like Switzerland.

18. Posted by Joe - 05/13/2009

    I’ve seen these when on tours of castles & palaces in the Czech Republic. That country is NUTS about taking off shoes while indoors, but they can’t expect an entire tour group to leave their shoes at the door. Enter the crazy felt or leather shoes to slip over your real ones. I have to say that they are no fun when walking up flights of stairs, but the floors stay looking good, so there’s that.

19. Posted by Courtney - 05/13/2009

    Wow, yeah, this is the only unitasker you’ve ever posted that I think is a great idea. Every time the cable guy or other utility workers come into my house, they put on those silly plastic overshoe things. This is just a reusable version of that.

    I can’t count the number of times my husband has stomped dirt through the house in his Army boots on a mission for a screwdriver or something.

20. Posted by Jasileet - 05/13/2009

    Never for $30. But ABSOLUTELY would buy.

    We’re a shoe-less house and it pains us to have people come in with shoes on. We demand it from anyone able, but we don’t mention it to older people. This would be an awesome solution for us.

21. Posted by MAM - 05/13/2009

    I bought a pair for my dad to use when he’s hauling firewood into the house. It IS difficult to sit down and take off your shoes when you’re carrying an armload of firewood. –Mary

22. Posted by Jessica - 05/13/2009

    My Aunt & Uncle used to live in Alaska, and they had a pair of shoes like these by their front door. Theirs were sturdier looking. Many times they would have to go trudge through the snow just to start their car and come right back in and wait in the house. With the many layers of socks and laced up boots I can see a definite advantage to having a pair of these by the front door.

    I agree with other commenters – my husband will be working out in the garage on a car and want to come in to use the bathroom – I hate cleaning up oil spots on the carpet! I would appreciate having a cheap (less than $10) pair of these by the front door for him to slip in to.

23. Posted by Christine - 05/13/2009

    I get how they can be convenient, but like another person mentioned I’m sure dirt and water still come off your shoes and onto the floor.

    That, and I can’t even imagine how nasty the insides of them look after they’ve been used a few times.

    I’d just as soon use plastic bags over my shoes before spending $30 on something that’s going to get filthy so fast!

24. Posted by Anonymous Coward - 05/13/2009

    Ooh, looks like Unitasker 16, Unclutterer 0, 1 draw.

25. Posted by Erin Doland - 05/13/2009

    @Anonymous Coward — Actually, I’d put it Unclutterer 50,000+, Unitasker 16. Readers tend not to comment to posts if they’re laughing in agreement

26. Posted by Mary - 05/13/2009

    Kathryn – surgical scrub booties wouldn’t protect floors in the same way, and are wasteful.

    As to cost, the heavy duty ones like this last for years and years – you could go through many pairs of booties in a long snowstorm. Dirtiness? Snow and mud dry and flake off them. Oil from garage projects might be more of an issue, but they are felted wool for a reason – it soaks stuff up. They are made to be used, not kept clean.

    Also, if you know how to knit or crochet and felt the output, this would be an easy DIY project.

27. Posted by Karen - 05/13/2009

    I have a pair of rubber garden clogs. Easy to step in or kick off. Footies for boots? That’s just silly.

28. Posted by Kris - 05/13/2009

    I could definitely see a use for these… like quick trips to the bathroom when you are in the middle of yardwork, but I’m too cheap to pay their price for the convenience.

29. Posted by knitwych - 05/13/2009

    I can see how they might be useful in some situations, but I’m a fan of the old-fashioned boot jack and the “Leave your nasty footwear OUTSIDE until you can de-nasty them” rule.

30. Posted by Ericka - 05/13/2009

    Erin: Your tone on these weekly posts is hilarious, this one especially. Thanks for the laugh.

31. Posted by B - 05/13/2009

    Erin I know you’re trying to be funny but his is the type of post that drives me crazy about this blog. I dislike the tone of most of these unitasker wednesdays where you sound so patronizing because you can’t see a personal use for the item. So many of your other posts could (and do) fit more into this unitasker post but don’t end up there because you see a personal use for that particular unitasker item — ie the Hanger Holder from February.

    I think Anitia said it best that it is “another case of a tool that only seems useless because your (Erin’s) lifestyle has never required it.”

32. Posted by Erin Doland - 05/13/2009

    @Barbara — Relax. Laugh a little. No Unitasker police are going to show up at your door and raid your home. If you want or need the Drywalkers, buy the Drywalkers! The reason we have Unitasker Wednesday is to remind people that this blog isn’t about something incredibly serious like cancer or brain surgery. It’s okay to have fun and laugh and be happy. This blog is about home and office organizing–which CAN be funny.

    I own a bunch of the unitaskers we have featured. Matt, Brian, and Gary do, too. Heck, where do you think most of our ideas come from?? Our own homes, that’s where!

33. Posted by Nana - 05/13/2009

    My daughter, who’s a wildlife technician in Alaska, would LOVE these — and would use ‘em constantly. Since I knit, I may try felting a pair for her.

34. Posted by Timo Kiravuo - 05/13/2009

    Everybody else has already said it, so just to emphasize: in many places of the civilized world we do not walk in the house with shoes on and anybody who has worn boots with laces and especially with gaiters can understand the raison d’être for these slippers.

    This is a unitasker fail. Which is understandable, as the level of quality control required for never failing a unitasker would mean having a blog that would be a unitasker recognition unitasker.

    kiravuo

35. Posted by Another Deb - 05/13/2009

    My sister does not let people wear shoes in her home so I am obliged to remove my shoes to walk on carpet, marble and tile. I never go barefoot at home due to arch pain and these might be a good way to keep us both happy.

36. Posted by Sara - 05/13/2009

    @B don’t know where Barbara came from, but i assume erin was replying to you and maybe got your name from you email?

    anyways…i completley agree with you 100% well said.

37. Posted by OogieM - 05/13/2009

    have to agree with the rest of the folks who say they are useful. And I too think I’ll try to knit and felt a pair. When you’ve suddenly find an animal spurting blood and your boots are covered in manure, blood, mud and worse it sure would be nice to not have to also spend an hour or so cleaning the floor after you race for the emergency supplies, some of which have to be refrigerated. BTDT

    Also useful for quick trips to the bathroom.

38. Posted by Adam - 05/14/2009

    They only seem cheesy until you have a pair. I’ve got them, I use them, I couldn’t be without them. Taking off work boots everytime I need to make a phone call or get a glass of water just isn’t practical.

39. Posted by Laura - 05/14/2009

    Sorry, just have to follow up on my earlier post.

    People, use these if you want, but I still wouldn’t have them in my home. To wit:

    1. $30. No way.
    2. Brush clean or hand wash and air dry. ???? How are you going to get oil, mud and blood off of that??
    3. They don’t make suitable slippers because they are way too big.

    We are a shoe-less home too. We built cubbies in the garage next to the door, enough to hold several pairs for each of the 5 of us. The kid’s playmates know to kick off their sneakers.

    Just saying.

40. Posted by satt - 05/14/2009

    As a general contractor, we are constantly in & out of customer’s homes. Living in a northern state with lots of inclement weather, these are incredibly handy. It’s that or leave mud on our customer’s floors. Or spend at least 5 min each time we enter & leave a home to remove/put back on our steel-toed boots. Unitasker it may be, it saves trash build up by using these instead of the disposable surgeon-style “booties” many others in my field choose to use instead. In my opinion, those “booties” are the TRUE waste. I am incredibly disappointed Unitasker fails to see the true value of these.

41. Posted by Sian - 05/14/2009

    I’m a veterinarian. I want a pair!

    I wouldn’t get them for ‘just on the off chance’/occasional gardening though.

42. Posted by Liz Kay - 05/14/2009

    Wow, glad to see this didn’t generate as many strong feelings about the shoeless household post! My parents prohibit shoes on most of the carpets in their house and came up with a simple solution for their own quick trips as well as workmen with filthy boots: plastic bags. Grab two plastic grocery bags, slip them over feet in shoes, continue with task at hand.

    It wasn’t a tripping hazard. It wasn’t hard. It definitely looked silly. I’m sure some contractor out there is still making fun of my parents to this day, but hey: they haven’t had to replace their carpets in 20+ years.

43. Posted by Liz Kay - 05/14/2009

    Sorry, meant to say: “as many strong feelings AS the no-shoes=less cleaning post”. This one: http://unclutterer.com/2007/10.....-cleaning/

44. Posted by Betsy - 05/14/2009

    I gotta tell ya, my Mom and Dad live on a farm. And when my Dad comes in to use the bathroom after he’s been in the chicken coop, these would come in pretty handy. It’s been years. The man just isn’t going to take his shoes off for a pitstop.
    Also, these aren’t really unitaskers. They keep the floor clean AND they save time with outdoor chores.
    Hello Father’s Day present!

45. Posted by Peter (one of many ; ) - 05/14/2009

    Sorry, but when you have to run into the house for a moment with dirty shoes these would work well. So many times I slog through the house with snowy boots saying…’eh, it’s only water’ leaving water spots and bits of sand on my floor I need to clean up afterwards.

46. Posted by Marie - 05/14/2009

    We solved the “in and out” problem in the opposite direction. Our garage has a phone, utility sink, and mini fridge. As for the bathroom, DH has plenty of trees to choose from if he’s extraordinarily messy when nature calls. :p

47. Posted by Angela - 05/14/2009

    Those are really neat. I’m from Pennsylvania and I’ve never seen anything like those. I think they would great next winter!

48. Posted by Stefan - 05/14/2009

    Amusingf discussion. Those slippers are quite common in Germany (do an image-search for “überpantoffeln” and you’ll see) for those who have an expensive wooden parquet floor.

    They are especially useful during the wintertime when people often have grit sitting underneath their shoe soles, which can leave very ugly scratches on wooden floors.

    And as those slippers are made of felt, they also have a bit of a nice polishing effect on the floor just by walking around.

49. Posted by Karyn - 05/15/2009

    @ Erin: “…this blog isn’t about something incredibly serious like cancer or brain surgery.”

    What? Oh, hell. NOW you tell me.

    

    Re: the Unitasker in question, it seems like a good idea in theory, and apparently works for some people. However, my experience is that the kind of people who refuse to remove their shoes couldn’t care less about your carpet in the first place. If they lack the respect to be bothered to remove their shoes or boots, will they take even the small bother to slip their feet into these things?

50. Posted by the milliner - 05/15/2009

    @Karyn Totally have to disagree.

    As the person who does most of the vacuuming, mopping and sweeping in our house, I can assure you that I totally have the respect to remove my shoes and boots, and even to wipe & dry my dog’s paws so she won’t dirty the floor. But I do use the surgical shoe covers (similar to this unitasker) all the time.

    When you’ve got a 20 lb. kid in one arm (and you can’t put him down or he’ll get into everything) and you need to go back in to the house because you forgot your cell phone or something, these are easy to slip on (with one hand) over snowy, muddy or dirty shoes, go back into the house, get whatever you need, and not leave the floors a mess in the process.

    Just sayin’.

51. Posted by Mike - 05/15/2009

    I used to call on a metal working company. They would have rows of these shoes outside the door leading from the plant into the office. I would prevent plant workers from bringing oily metal filings on their shoes into the office/showroom carpet. Even the office workers would put them on whenever they went into the plant to protect their shoes. I thought it was brilliant.

52. Posted by Karyn - 05/17/2009

    @ the milliner: How can you “totally disagree” with my experience? I’m talking about people who ignore my request to take off their shoes because they don’t give a damn about my carpet, not people who are considerate but have their arms loaded and can’t reach their shoes at the moment. Look again at what I wrote: people who “refuse” to remove their shoes, people who “lack respect” and “can’t be bothered.” Such people do exist, even if (thankfully) you are not one of them.

53. Posted by Vanessa - 05/18/2009

    I wasn’t going to post my opinion, I usually just like to laugh at these to myself, but I have to add my two cents. I guess it’s good for some people, but it doesn’t seem like it would hold all the water, mud, and dirt that falls off the shoe. Also, for the people who want to make this themselves, wouldn’t water from the shoes soak right through the knitting and felt?

54. Posted by Karen - 05/20/2009

    Betsy, my grandfather was a farmer, and his solution to tracking in dirt while on a bathroom stop was very simple: An outhouse. Even when i was a kid and he was mostly retired from farming, the outhouse was still in use, so while he was out gardening or working on his car, he didn’t have to track dirt into the house.

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