Outdoor Foot Washing Station

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Tired of having to clean up dirty footprints tracked into the house after being outside? Learn how to make an easy and inexpensive Outdoor Foot Washing Station below.

Tired of having to clean up dirty footprints tracked into the house after being outside? Learn how to make an easy and inexpensive Outdoor Foot Washing Station below.

Outdoor Foot Washing Station

When I come into the house from the garden, I have to walk through the mudroom, the dining room, and around the bathroom with dirty feet to wash them off. I can’t tell you how often I’ve said I need something to wash my feet! I needed to be able to wash them off outside before I headed in and tracked dirt all around my house.

This little “rug” solves the problem by cleaning my feet before I enter the house. The water and the dirt slip through the cracks, so my feet get clean and dry before I head inside. I keep this handy foot rinse station by the door and can head right in after my feet are cleaned without making a mess. It also works well for little feet (or just little people in general!), especially those who love a good mud puddle. 🙂

This outdoor foot wash station is easy to make and very inexpensive! Just a few dollars for wood, and if you have leftover house paint, you are in business! Let’s make one!

Outdoor Foot Washing Station

What You Need:

  • Outdoor Paint
  • Paintbrush
  • Heavy Duty Thin Rope (I used clothesline rope)
  • Masking Tape
  • 1″x2″ Boards (3 8 foot boards)

Outdoor Foot Washing Station

Start by cutting the boards into 12 pieces of the same length. My hubby cut these for me using a chop saw. We decided to make them 16 inches long.

If you don’t have a saw, you can ask the hardware store to cut the boards for you before you leave the store. When you purchase your wood there, they are usually willing to do this for you at no additional cost.

Line up the boards on their sides and mark them.

Line all of the boards up on their sides and mark them for the hole placements at the 3-inch, the 8-inch, and the 13th-inch marks.

Drill holes at all the marks in the boards.

Drill the holes at the marks on the sides of the boards using a drill and bit. You will need to make sure you use a drill bit that is able to make a hole large enough to put your rope through, so make sure you check it before you drill all the holes. Drill 3 holes in each board, along the marks.

Painting the wood

Using exterior or outdoor paint, paint each of the boards in the colors desired. Make sure to use water-based (not oil-based) paint. Otherwise, they will take a long time to dry.

To save money, use leftover exterior house paints or check the clearance section of your local hardware store paint department. The fancy maroon metallic paint I used for this project was regularly $25 per quart. I found the same color in a slightly damaged can for just $1! It’s always worth checking.

Colored wood

Paint all the boards. You can paint them different colors, all the same color, or any combination of patterns that you want! Let the pieces dry.

Outdoor Foot Washing Station

Grab your rope and cut 3 long pieces. Tie a knot at the end of each piece and wrap some of the masking tape around the other end of each piece. (That will make it easier to get the rope through each hole in the boards.) Pull the rope through each board and tie a knot after each board.

String the board

Continue this until you string all of the boards together and tie a final knot at the end. Cut off any excess rope.

Repeat this for the 2nd and 3rd sets of holes in each board until you’ve tied the entire mat together.

Outdoor Foot Washing Station

Now it’s ready to use! Step up on the foot rinse station and use a hose to wash off your feet! The little feet next to mine have found another mud puddle, but at least we have our pretty washing station to get them clean before we walk into the house!

If you don’t need a foot-washing station, this mat still makes a fun little rug to put in front of any door. Use it to hold your dirty shoes, wipe your feet or just as a pretty decorative mat. It would also be great outside of a tent or RV to keep your floors clean and it rolls up and stores easily when traveling.

More Frugal Projects

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Do you need a foot-washing station by your door?


Me and KadyMerissa has been blogging about and living the simple life since 2009 and has internationally published 2 books on the topic. You can read about Merissa’s journey from penniless to freedom on the About Page. You can send her a message any time from the Contact Page.


 

This post on creating an Outdoor Foot Washing Station originally appeared on Little House Living in August 2014. It has been updated as of September 2023.

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13 Comments

  1. I read your post in a “reader” that didn’t show me your pictures, and was utterly confused. Why are we washing feet? Now I see.

    My little piece of the prairie is covered in THISTLES so I never go past the mowed yard without boots on.

    Love your website. 🙂

    Becky

  2. This is an awesome project. I could use one of these for when we come in from the backyard after playing. It has a xylophone feel to it making it fun for the kids too.

  3. This is so cute and useful. I have a couple of mud puddle lovers myself! And it would be great to put outside our camper when we go camping. Pinning and adding this one to my list.

  4. Another great idea (I’ve just popped over from the salt scrub post). I reckon this would be great outside out tents when we go camping. Off to add it to my gift ideas list!!

  5. I have been trying to figure out a way to “easily” wash my two year olds feet before she gets in the house from playing outdoors. This is a stylish, but super effective design. Thanks for sharing! 🙂

  6. Great idea, Merissa! So cute too. 😉 I think I definitely need one of these outside my backdoor… Thanks so much for sharing it at Savoring Saturdays, I’m going to feature it this weekend!

  7. Merissa,

    What a unique an attractive DIY project you’ve creatived – I just love it!
    Congratulations – you are one of my Featured Guests at this week’s Inspire Me Monday Party #139 at Create With Joy! 🙂

  8. This is a great idea! I love that it could be used for either shod or bare feet! I would use that fun bright yellow nylon rope if I made this.