How the Japanese Keep Dirt Out of the House — 12 Rules, Even Without a Genkan

How do the Japanese keep dirt out of the house? It starts at the front door. Here are 12 Japanese entryway rules, from drawing the line to the stone that says stop, and every one of them works in an American house, even one without a genkan. Most American homes open straight onto carpet, with no step and no line. You don't need to remodel. You need a line, two mats, slippers by the door and a few small habits, and your second door, the one from the garage, needs them too. CHAPTERS 0:00 Your front door, tonight 0:48 The gate to the house 1:47 1. Draw the line 2:58 2. Outdoor shoes stop at the line 4:05 3. Two mats, not one 5:14 4. Turn your shoes around 6:18 5. Keep the entry floor empty 7:30 6. One cabinet, this season only 8:43 Save this for later 9:03 7. Slippers waiting for guests 10:09 8. Leave the coat at the door 11:17 9. Clean the entry floor, not just the house 12:27 10. Use the second door 13:40 11. What Japan gets wrong 14:43 12. The stone that says stop 16:02 All 12 in one breath 16:35 Your turn #japanesehome #entryway #genkan