Taking shoes off at a party??

[Luv2Scrap]

I've lived in northern Minnesota most of my life, and almost everyone I've ever known here has automatically taken their shoes off in everybody's house, with the exception being on very dry days in the summer (maybe in the middle of a drought...?) at SOME people's houses SOME of the time.

 

[pipersmom]

We take shoes off routinely as we come into our house, and anyone that visits does the same. For us though, it's less of a floors issue, and more of a germs issue. The bottoms of shoes that have been out and about test positive for tons of nasties when they're swabbed! DD just picks things up too easily for us not to take the small step of removing our shoes.

What's on your shoes?

 

[RF536]

As a general rule everyone takes their shoes off when entering homes in our family, mainly because that is how we were raised. Even my kids do it automatically when going over to their friends' houses, it is a habit they have anad will do it even after being told they don't have to.

But there are some people in my family who can't or don't remove their shoes anymore and I am fine with that as well, because for the most part there is a reason why. We are blessed to still have most of mine and DH grandparents still living and it is hard for them to take their shoes off and on, and then there is the fear of one of them falling so their shoes stay on. My mom normally brings a spare pair of shoes to wear in the, because she is diabetic and walking around without shoes hurts her feet, but if the rest of the year she just wears what ever shoes she has on.

 

[NAB]

As a general rule everyone takes their shoes off when entering homes in our family, mainly because that is how we were raised. Even my kids do it automatically when going over to their friends' houses, it is a habit they have anad will do it even after being told they don't have to.

But there are some people in my family who can't or don't remove their shoes anymore and I am fine with that as well, because for the most part there is a reason why. We are blessed to still have most of mine and DH grandparents still living and it is hard for them to take their shoes off and on, and then there is the fear of one of them falling so their shoes stay on. My mom normally brings a spare pair of shoes to wear in the, because she is diabetic and walking around without shoes hurts her feet, but if the rest of the year she just wears what ever shoes she has on.

This is us too.

I prefer sock feet or even bare feet like I am now. My FIL is always asking me if my feet are cold.

And we are having a snow storm as we speak so all footwear stops at the door.

 

[NMAmy]

I don't care one way or another but most people I know in Michigan will automatically lose the shoes when they enter a home. And, yes, there's just a big pile of shoes by the door.

When I lived in New Mexico, people tended to keep their shoes on. DD was a little shocked when we moved here and a group of kids came in and immediately kicked their shoes off when they came in the house.

Personally, because I grew up doing this, I'm really uncomfortable wearing shoes in the house. It just feels weird like wearing shoes to bed.

 

[apirateslifeforme]

I never ask people to take off their shoes, but they just seem to do it anyway. I personally never wear shoes in my own house, so they're either following my lead and/or are conscientious of snow/dirt.

When I go to someone's house, I actually take an old piece of newspaper with me on which to lay my wet/dirty shoes, and my slippers to wear in the house!

 

[3prettyprincesses]

You know, I'd feel funny asking people to remove their shoes when they come to my house. I don't care if they wear their shoes or not unless of course their feet stink!

I was at a friend's house for a party and she had her DH stand at the staircase telling people arriving to take off their shoes. It was kind of bizarre. Some people aren't comfortable going shoeless all evening!

 

[Christine]

Tina,

I want to stress, this behavior is NOT normal for Virginia. I don't WHO these people are that you're hanging with...

 

[Nancyg56]

Oh Tina. A shoes on/off DIS thread right before the holidays? This can't end well.

My Mom used to make us take or shoes off and often posted signs. We were mortified! I never ask anyone but a lot of people do. My sister always brings her slippers, she likes comfy feet

I have wood floors and they are easy to clean. My DGD will never enter the house with her shoes on, she takes them off at the door so we keep her slippers handy for her.

For the record....DC is "South" to me

 

[Christine]

Well, for the record, we in the DC area (and in Northern VA) do not consider ourselves "southerners." Nor do we consider ourselves from the North either...Not sure what we are. But I can say that we do not have the type of weather that warrants habitual shoe removal.

 

[mickeyboat]

We take our shoes off in our house and prefer that others do too, but we do not have a sign and do not ask them to do it if they don't take theirs off. If someone asks we would tell them no need to take off their shoes.

We live in Vermont and have wood floors and do not want the moisture, sand and salt to damage the floors, but we would never do anything to make our guests feel uncomfortable.

If I had a condition where I needed to wear shoes at all times, I would probably bring some clean, soft-soled shoes with me when I visited someone else's home. I would hate to track crap all over the place.

 

[C.Ann]

Hot topic on the DIS..

I have never asked anyone to remove their shoes - and can't think of anyone off hand that does.. It was nice of them to offer though..

 

[MouseketeerOvaHere]

I always remove my shoes when entering a home, whether it be mine or someone else. And yes, I will ask someone to take their shoes off when entering my home. Personally, I think it's rude not to remove the shoes when entering someones home. Why would I think it's ok to track everything my shoe's have encountered through their living space? I know I wouldn't want to lay on the carpet where someone just tracked in all the nastiness they've obtained. I can clean the hardwoods but thinking of someone walking on my carpet makes me....

 

[pigletgirl]

Yes, when I have people over at my place for a get-together/party, I ALWAYS require shoes off. Nobody really minds though. They know that I'm OCD about shoe marks on carpet.

At my parents house, people don't usually remove shoes at a party unless they feel the need to. Most of the time we're outside, so people want to keep them on.

 

[My sister's princess]

I always take my shoes off when I come through a door, living in Maine we deal with snow and mud all the time.
I hate when someone else hasn't and I step in a pile of melted snow and get my socks wet

 

[jrmasm]

For those that 'require' shoes to be removed what would you do if someone refused?

 

[2binak]

I've lived in the NE my entire life so I've always dealt with snow, slush, mud, etc. I hate wearing shoes and look for any opportunity to take them off so I always wear slippers at any friends' or family members' houses, even if there's a party going on. Most people we know have doors that open directly into living rooms or kitchens and most guests do remove their shoes just to keep the floors dry and clean. No one really asks that we do it, we just do. I guess we all feel comfortable enough around each other to walk around in our slippers or socks all night long. My brother is the only person I know who refuses to take his shoes off at anyone's house, except his own.

 

[MouseketeerOvaHere]

For those that 'require' shoes to be removed what would you do if someone refused?

Push them down the stairs.


Seriously, I don't know anyone that would be in my home than would refuse.

 

[snapppyd]

My Dh and I never wear shoes in the house. He's a bit of a germophobe and the thought of all that dirt and possible doggie doo on the bottom of shoes being tracked through our house grosses him out. Living in the city, where people spit all over the sidewalks, I would never wear my shoes inside.

 

[pigletgirl]

For those that 'require' shoes to be removed what would you do if someone refused?

Ask them kindly again.
If not, I'd rip their shoes off anyways and throw them into the pool......j/k...

No, i have some surgical booties under my sink for those instances.
I'm very anal about my carpet if you can't tell.