Real simple: need a boot cleaner because my wife is...not so pleased when I walk into the house with my work boots on and get dirt everywhere.  This boot cleaner works great.  I placed it outside the house (bottom of the steps) and it works great.  HOWEVER, you'll need to build a base for it to mount it on.  I used a big 4"x12"x4', as it allowed me a place to step up and on the board so when cleaning the brush didn't move.  Thats the only real negative is that, by itself it will move all over so you'll need to mount it to something sturdy.