How to Keep your Slippahs Organized

A lot changes when you move from the mainland to Kauai. While enjoying your new tropical home, don’t forget one little detail: You don’t have flip-flops anymore. You have slippers – or, as you’ll soon start calling them, “slippahs.”

Kamaʻaina (residents of Hawaii) love their slippahs, and we wear them almost anywhere: the beach, restaurants, work, bars. You’ll need regular slippahs for strolling on the beach and everyday use, and glamorous slippahs for parties with your new Kauai neighbors.

The one place we don’t wear slippahs? Inside people’s homes. That means that you’ll see a pile of slippahs outside the door when you visit a friend, and you’ll need a space for your guests to kick off their slippahs before they come into your house.

Kamaʻaina just think it’s icky to track outdoor dirt (and all that sand) into our homes. Taking your shoes off keeps your house cleaner for everyone who lives there, including pets and kids playing on the floor, and cuts down on the time we have to spend sweeping or vacuuming. So kick them off at the door - Mahalo!

How are you going to keep all your slippahs organized, plus all your friends’ slippahs when they come visit? (Especially since you don’t want anyone to break the cardinal house party rule and leave with a better pair of slippahs than they came with!) Here are 5 ways to keep your slippahs clean, dry, and tidy.

#1 Grab a slippah rack or stand

A slippah rack or stand keeps slippahs organized and off the ground. You can find lots of different types and designs for sale on Kauai, so you can choose one that goes with your decor.

#2 Create a slippah station

Outside your front door, create a slippah station where guests and family can kick off their slippahs before coming inside. Choose a rug or mat, and add a stylish basket or bin to put slippahs in. Using several bins can keep slippahs organized so people are less likely to wander off with the wrong pair.

#3 Wash your slippahs

While you’re strolling around Kauai all day enjoying the sea views and beautiful weather, your slippahs are picking up dirt, sand, dog pee and chicken poop. Wash them regularly with soap and water to keep them clean and smelling fresh. You can also use a disinfectant or alcohol spray to kill any bacteria or germs.

#4 Keep slippahs dry

Kauai is humid, which means slippahs get damp… and smelly. To avoid a smelly slippah, let them dry out in the sun or in a well-ventilated area after wearing them (a sunny spot on your porch would be perfect). Avoid leaving them outside overnight, since dew can make them damp.

#5 Label slippahs

We’ve all been there: you get home from a dinner with friends and realize you’re wearing the wrong slippahs. They’re easy to mix up! To keep your family’s slippahs organized, label each pair with the owner’s name or initials. That won’t guarantee that nobody walks away in your slippahs, but it will help.

If you’re like me, you don’t live on Kauai because you love sweeping up sand, searching for a matching pair of slippahs, or tripping over slippahs on your front steps. You live here because you want to enjoy life in one of the most beautiful places on earth! Putting in a bit of time now to create a well-organized slippah system will make it easier for you to enjoy a clean home, good times with friends, and all those long walks on the beach in your comfiest slippahs.