Removing shoes before entering your home?

[Angelhalo]

Ditto! All the service workers that come to our house use those little bootie things, on their own, we don't ask them to.

I've never asked anyone to remove their shoes, but most people do around here, anyway. We have a dog and we don't wipe his feet before he comes in unless it's muddy out, but like a PP said, he spends most of his time on the grass, licks his feet clean all the time, and gets baths more often than most people's shoes do, so I don't think they are as dirty. Plus, he's only 20 pounds, I don't think his paws are grinding the dirt into the carpet the way a 150 pound adult wearing hard sole shoes would be, and the little rocks and things that stick to the bottom of a shoe would be felt by a dog and removed before he dragged them over the hardwood floors.

About the slippers available for borrowing, the pp didn't say she insists that people wear them, she just said she keeps them available. I know people who do the same thing, but no one cares whether I'm barefoot or socked, or in their slippers, they are just there for the people who don't like to be barefoot or in socks, to use if they prefer. Anyone who finds it "putrid" to borrow a pair of slippers from a friend would not be required to do so.

I absolutely know it is not required Eyyyyeeee rolllllll. My option is to leave so I do. We are not comfortable in other people's homes being required to remove our shoes. I think its gross and uncalled for. If it is raining or something of course I would not track stuff all over someone's house. I'd probably just not go that day or I would make my own arrangement for some type of acceptable shoe that comes from my own closet. I think even offering someone used slippers is repulsive and I am allowed to feel that way.

 

[JohnsPrincess]

I live in Florida where it rains...a lot. That means Lots of mud, lots of dirt, etc etc. Our friends know that we have a no shoe rule and if they forget, I have no issue reminding them (nicely!). I'm the one that has to clean and I don't like scrubbing muddy/dirty stains out of the carpet or having to constantly wash the floors that don't have carpet.

That said if, say, we had people from work over (who were not "friends"), I wouldn't mention it.

And...depending what the weather is outside I may or may not ask "workers" to remove their shoes. I know it's a pain for them if they're constantly in and out...but again, big muddy shoe prints are not my idea of a good time!

Edited to add: we have a dog and we keep a towel by the door to wipe her feet on when it's rainy out - and other times we're teaching her to "wipe" them on the mat. She actually does pretty good on the front ones. LOL

 

[janey99]

It's just so gross to me. I have a baby crawling around on these carpets, and you are walking everywhere outside, in public restrooms, possibly stepping in dog poop and other people's gum and spit and everything else..and you give me a hard time about taking off your shoes?

This is exactly why I have people remove shoes in my house - DS1 is a crawler. It's bad enough when you see your baby looking at you with that "Guess what I have in my mouth" look - I'd probably have a seizure if I thought it could be something tracked in from someone's shoes!

Also, interestingly enough, when residences and businesses are trying to qualify for LEED status (which is a type of "green" seal of approval), you get extra points if you have an area where shoes can be removed and stored, in a nod towards keeping outside pollution from getting into interior environments.

Jane

 

[disykat]

I agree. I keep reading back because for some reason this topic is bizarrely fascinating. I think the strangest thing is the whole slippers for people to borrow. I find this to be absolutely putrid! If I went to someone's house and they asked me to put on some used slippers out of a basket I would probably laugh thinking they were joking, and then leave once I realized that their disgusting request was serious! LOL!!!

I'm glad someone else thinks the "borrowing" slippers is gross. It's like a bowling alley, but without the disinfectant spray!

 

[janey99]

Sorry but I find that truly gross- wearing shoes that other people have worn- no thanks.

What do all you shoes off people do when service workers come to your home because around here they walk in and do their work with their shoes on - do you offer them little pink slippers to wear????? Last night after reading this thread I talked to my neighbor who works for cable in and out of peoples homes all day long and he said he has never once been asked to remove his shoes before doing his job- and if he was he would just leave and call his company because no way was he doing that. Then I thought about the meter reader guys that have to come in your house and go to the basement to read your meter, can you even imagine if every house asked them to take their shoes off, they would never get their jobs done with so much time spend removing and putting on their shoes at every home!

Around here, service people always ask if you want them to wear booties.

Jane

 

[jrmasm]

I honestly feel anyone who thinks wiping their dog's feet makes them germ/dirt/chemical free is deluding themselves. And the "they only walk on grass"...isn't that where they poop? Now if you're only worried about wetness being tracked through your house then wiping is good enough.


Add me to the list of "no way in hell" people on the subject of wearing someone else's slippers.

 

[Planogirl]

Is it time for this thread again?

I have never been asked to remove my shoes and I have never seen anyone do so. I have only ever heard of this on the DIS to be honest.

 

[HerdOHuds]

I have never been a shoes-on-in-the-house kind of gal. I don't insist that my friends or visitors remove, though most do. Now, my kids MUST remove their shoes. They are reminded daily and have designated baskets for their shoes. No pets so I can't help you out JRMason.

We have a very large rug at the front door that protects the hardwoods. Most folks leave their shoes there. If they didn't-like in a party situation-I wouldn't hunt them down. My kids bring in enough dirt and my carpets are shot!

 

[maraki527]

I dont wear my shoes in the house and I would never ask anyone to remove theirs but it does bother me when they do and when I go to someones house I remove mine.

 

[monkey68]

I'm glad someone else thinks the "borrowing" slippers is gross. It's like a bowling alley, but without the disinfectant spray!

Generally, the only people that come to our house are friends and family. We know those feet, so it's a bit different than a bowling alley when you don't know who's feet have been in those shoes. And I would trust my friends that they wouldn't have friends that did icky things to their shoes.

We keep slippers available for people, it's not required, but if you want a pair, go ahead. Usually, in the winter, pretty much everyone will take their shoes off because of the snow. Some people don't like walking in socks, and they don't want to walk in salty slushy shoes, so they can take a pair of slippers.

 

[Mrs.Toad]

And the "they only walk on grass"...isn't that where they poop?

IME, dogs will pick an area to poop in, they know where it is and they don't play or lay down in that area, so they don't generally get poop on themselves from the grass. I've seen far more humans step in dog poop than dogs.

And here's my question for those of you who are so grossed out by borrowing slippers from a friend. Do you try on shoes before you buy them, and/or do you disinfect new shoes before wearing them? Neither of these things bother me, but I'd rather share shoes with a friend than with complete strangers.

 

[Mrs.Toad]

Just have to add, in my circle of friends, we mostly take our shoes off at other people's houses, especially in the winter because of snow, slush, mud. There is one friend, though, who has real foot issues. She cannot stand the sight of feet, even her own kids. Her husband had to trim the kids' toenails when they were little because she could not do it.

Now, we all know her issue and know that she doesn't remove her shoes in our houses and we're fine with that. We don't remove our shoes in her house, either, because she doesn't want us to. As much as we want to keep the muck out of the house, her feelings are more important to us than that, and we would never dream of letting her leave a get-together rather than remove her shoes.

I think you have to be flexible with it. Consideration goes both ways.

 

[MusiqChic99]

I see I'm in the minority but yes I ask people to remove their shoes. In most cases everyone already does and I never have to ask anyway.

 

[npmommie]

What I don't get is what is the difference between whiping a dog's feet and people whiping their shoes on a mat before they come inside? Heck I'd guess people's shoes are probably cleaner than a dogs feet because people usually care what they step in.

well people step in things all day long they don't even realize they are stepping in. chemicals, saliva, blood, urine, who knows what else.
when I wipe my dogs feet, i wash them, go in between the pads, and get everything off. I have to , they are large dogs and when their feet get dirty with mud etc its bad.

Sorry but I find that truly gross- wearing shoes that other people have worn- no thanks.

What do all you shoes off people do when service workers come to your home because around here they walk in and do their work with their shoes on - do you offer them little pink slippers to wear????? Last night after reading this thread I talked to my neighbor who works for cable in and out of peoples homes all day long and he said he has never once been asked to remove his shoes before doing his job- and if he was he would just leave and call his company because no way was he doing that. Then I thought about the meter reader guys that have to come in your house and go to the basement to read your meter, can you even imagine if every house asked them to take their shoes off, they would never get their jobs done with so much time spend removing and putting on their shoes at every home!

I don't make service people remove their shoes, but I wash the floor as soon as they leave

I honestly feel anyone who thinks wiping their dog's feet makes them germ/dirt/chemical free is deluding themselves. And the "they only walk on grass"...isn't that where they poop? Now if you're only worried about wetness being tracked through your house then wiping is good enough.


Add me to the list of "no way in hell" people on the subject of wearing someone else's slippers.

My dogs don't poop on the grass in our yard, they go into the woods behind the house. we don't use any chemicals of any kind on our property so they won't be stepping in chemicals.
and like i said, mine get a foot bath, not just a short quick wipe, if you saw their feet you would know why it has to be a wash down of the feet LOL

 

[HGD24]

We always take our shoes off when we're home because we're more comfortable without shoes on, but we don't ask other people to take them off when the come into our home - most of our friends and family just do it out of habit because it's what they do at their own homes too. I have a pair of travel slippers that goes with me whenever we go to visit other people's homes. As soon as I walk into their house, I take off my shoes and put on my slippers - I'm so much more comfortable in my slippers.

 

[RachelEllen]

I believe this is a very regionally based custom. And, with people being so mobile, its started to spread to places where other people are not as familiar/comfortable with it.

I grew up in Georgia. While growing up, we never took our shoes off indoors. I never met anyone who took their shoes off indoors. Nor was I ever asked to take my shoes off indoors.

Then, I went to college in Montreal. Total reversal. Everyone had a rubber mat just inside the house for shoes. And, it makes total sense. The weather there is insanely cold for most of the year. You have to wear thick treaded "snow boots" to get around. And, they put gravel on the streets for traction. If you look at the floors of stores and lobbies, you see tons of scatches and dirty pools of water from melted snow. No one would think of walking in someone's house with those sort of shoes.

People were a little less rigid about it during the summer, but the habit stuck.

In our house (back in Georgia), we have wood floors downstairs and carpet upstairs. We have a no shoe rule upstairs, but guests almost never go up there. (It's just the bedroom) It's easy enough for us to clean the wooden floors, but we also have a crawling baby and don't want the carpets full of junk. We already steam clean them every few months.

 

[clgwli]

Where we live it is common practice to just take the shoes off as soon as you get in even without being asked.

I think it is regional based on weather conditions. Or a lot of farmers I know definitely do this as well. Many of them had screened in porches on their homes that would store the outdoor shoes.

 

[HGD24]

Or a lot of farmers I know definitely do this as well. Many of them had screened in porches on their homes that would store the outdoor shoes.

We're not farmers, but in our area, mudrooms are common. We made sure when building our new house that we put a mudroom between the garage and the kitchen.

 

[luvmy3jewels]

We're not farmers, but in our area, mudrooms are common. We made sure when building our new house that we put a mudroom between the garage and the kitchen.

Yep, I agree a mudroom is a must have for a LOT of reasons!! Our house was not originally designed to have a mudroom and I am so glad dh and I had the plans re-drawn to provide a mudroom!

I would never ask someone to take their shoes off, but most people come in our mudroom door and take them off when they see our shoes on the floor in there. There is also a rug in that room that ends up constantly dirty from stuff the kids bring in, so we vacume in there quite regularly.

Several years ago, I was suprised when I took my dd to visit a friend and the mom asked me to take me shoes off (or rather "told" me to take my shoes off.) Of course this mom is the same woman who made the comment to me that moms who work don't raise their kids... but that is a whole different subject.

However, what really shocks me about this thread is the number of dog owners who wash their dogs feet every time they come in the house. I don't do this unless the dog has been in mud or is obviously very dirty. That would be time consuming and a pain in the rear to wash their feet five or six times a day!

 

[Fintastic]

We don't ask people to remove their shoes. They're welcome to do whatever makes them comfortable, so if they want to go barefoot they can. I'd personally be annoyed if my host requested that I take my shoes off before going into the house. It makes me uncomfortable to be barefoot or in my socks at somebody else's house. We've been house hunting and some of the owners ask potential buyers to take their shoes off, which I can understand because it's more foot traffic than normal, but I still don't like it. Especially if I'm wearing tennis shoes or boots or something that's not easy to slip in and out of.