Back before the snow really started, I dwelled about how I really needed to come up with a good way to store my wet boots and protect my nice hardwood floors from snowy dog paws. I wrote briefly about a few ideas here, but actually followed through on this plan to line the doorway with carpet runners.
So, as you can see, I picked up two (two!) carpet runners – get this: they were only $10 each at Bed Bath & Beyond. And because the store is always sending the “Get $5 off your purchase of $15” I saved another $5, bringing my total winter carpet solution to a total of $7.50 for each runner. One is positioned parallel to the door itself, and the other extends alongside the dining room table into the house; no matter where the dog goes, the paws have 7′ of carpet to brush off on neatly. And it really is helpful in keeping the floors dry and clean – and considerably more convenient than trying to wrestle down a 100-lb dog to hand-dry the feet.
If you can’t find inexpensive runners or remnants, another idea I had (and might try next year) is getting a cut of the super-inexpensive indoor/outdoor carpeting from one of the big rolls at Home Depot… at .49 cents/sq. ft., it’s hard to go wrong.
Not only do I have a place to take off the muddiest of boots (OH, did I mention I got the kick-ass Muck Boots that I asked for at Christmas?), but I’m not even concerned about getting the runners ratty since they’re practically disposable at $7.50/each.
