Your House: Shoes on or Off?? (floor, flea, couches, family room)

[Coldjensens]

As they come in, just tell them "You can leave your shoes right over there.
Slippers are a nice touch, but what do you do about re-using them? I am not sure I want to wear slippers that some unknown prior guest wore. Ick.

[mrstewart]

We take our shoes off in the house but I find it hard to ask others to do the same.

I have a friend that has a large basket by her door and she keeps several pair of woven slippers in a variety of sizes for guests. There is never a question about taking shoes off at her home! She swears her home is much easier to clean without having to sweep and mop as often.

[Greenchili]

It does bug me to have people with dirt on their shoes walk all
over your carpet. But, that being said, I just feel weird about asking
them to remove them. So, we are buying a new home here and I
think about that alot...I will just keep telling myself, hardwood in a couple
years, so who cares.!

Greenchili

[dens]

I have hardwoods on the main and I still do not allow shoes on in my house...most guests enter from the garage and I have a large shoe rack in the garage so that gives the clear message that if I keep my shoes there then must be a reason. Secondly, I escort them in so they see that I take my shoes off before stepping into the house. Major pet peeve for me is any sort of shoes in the house.

[BlueWillowPlate]

Originally Posted by mrstewart

We take our shoes off in the house but I find it hard to ask others to do the same.

I have a friend that has a large basket by her door and she keeps several pair of woven slippers in a variety of sizes for guests. There is never a question about taking shoes off at her home! She swears her home is much easier to clean without having to sweep and mop as often.

Originally Posted by anifani821

Family rule - all shoes off. Visitor rule . . . I don't mention it. Just have good rugs available to wipe off feet.

I've seen baskets like that, too. They do send a message, don't they.
We're mostly hardwood floor w/rugs; we basically operate like anifan.
In day-to-day family life, it's Shoes Off at the door.
We do have doormats on the outside, and little rugs on the inside.
If guests take off their shoes, great--and many do in inclement weather.
I certainly offer to do it when I visit someone.
But for me there'd be a major ick factor putting on slippers that others have worn. And no way will I hover expectantly in the doorway. That just seems so dictatorial and unwelcoming.
To me, having company is showing hospitality, making others feel at home.
Life is short, better to clean up a bit of dirt later than agonize over it when you are supposedly "enjoying" company.

[anifani821]

Originally Posted by bibit612

Ani - more reason why you should sell that house and move into my neck of the woods. We had our neighbors over for dinner one weekend, nice elderly couple, and they started to take their shoes off at the door. We told them no no no, not necessary as we have hardwoods on the first floor. Nope, they took it off anyway. But unless we've had a torrential downpour and know for sure that they have an inch of red clay on their soles, they could come in with their shoes on. Now if I could only get H to take off his when going upstairs where everything is on light carpet, that would be a different story!

There are many reasons to come move near you, Bibit!!! But this was in my former neighborhood in Kansas City, LOL! Well - in Johnson County, KS - where the white or off-white carpet was soooo common - that all the carpet stores literally had sales people who referred to several shades of carpet in their lines as "Johnson County White." ROFL! I am soooooo serious . . .

I have hardwoods here, except upstairs . . . and would love to tear that carpet out and put hardwoods in the bedrooms, too!!!!

[anifani821]

Originally Posted by rubytue

Do they actually take their shoes off? My husbands company provides booties for them, so its not an issue. But it would be a huge safety issue if he did not work in his boots.

This only applies to guys who are "in and out" - such as the HVAC people, alarm company, cable tv, etc. All those guys actually showed up w/ "booties" they put over their shoes at the door. The exception has been when I have had furniture delivered - can't take a chance on guys moving furniture and slipping b/c of "booties" or socks! Now our handyman - he just takes his shoes off b/c he is doing things like installing faucets . . . and he just takes them off w/o my asking.

However, we have hardwoods so it is not the issue for me that it is for others, except when it is raining - then it can get nasty, even w/ wiping off feet at the door.

[anifani821]

Originally Posted by dens

I have hardwoods on the main and I still do not allow shoes on in my house...most guests enter from the garage and I have a large shoe rack in the garage so that gives the clear message that if I keep my shoes there then must be a reason. Secondly, I escort them in so they see that I take my shoes off before stepping into the house. Major pet peeve for me is any sort of shoes in the house.

I totally understand why you have the rule - shoes are nasty! But this is exactly why some of my neighbors (former neighborhood) cooled friendships - they were highly aggravated w/ taking shoes off when visiting. It sometimes sends the message that visitors are not really welcome and "my home is a museum" and you might mess it up. Not saying this is the case at your home! But I am just saying for anyone considering what to do - I know it did offend some people and really cooled off friendships. I just carried a pair of tennis socks w/ me when visiting and slipped them on! I was not going to let that "rule" affect my relationships. After all, that is what I do in my own home - wear socks (or slippers) in the house.

[anifani821]

OH! Something else I should mention. My sister and her DH went to a Christmas cocktail/dessert party at a colleague's house and it was "country club casual dress." So everyone showed up in Sports coats/polo shirts/dress shirts and khakis, women in nice dresses, pant suits, etc. They were all greeted w/ a basket at the door and clear instructions to take off their shoes.

My sister said she was only mildly aggravated as she felt stupid walking around dressed up and barefoot - plus she had gone out and purchased a lovely pair of shoes to match her outfit, LOL. But one woman was nearly in tears b/c she has a "thing" about her feet - won't even wear sandals b/c she says she has ugly feet. This lady left the party to go to the nearby pharmacy in hopes of finding a pair socks to put on!!! And she was quite embarrassed about the ensuing discussion about her feet and why she didn't feel comfortable taking off her shoes, etc.

My sister said it looked really goofy for the hostess to be walking around in her very nice dress - barefoot! She said it was just awkward to have a cocktail party this way. So I just mention this for anyone who may be thinking about entertaining and enforcing the "shoes off" rule.

[Prettygyrl777]

Interesting stories, everyone! That last one was a doozy. I think in a formal situation I would allow guests to leave their shoes on. I think if it matters that much, I would've hosted the party somewhere else. With that being said, I think close friends and family should be a bit more understanding. I have to feel embarrassed for the lady with the foot problem-- maybe next time the hostess will keep a 12 pk of plain white socks nearby for the really unprepared guests. That way, you can pull out a fresh pair in front of them.

Well, just to update, I did have my first guest over last night and while he didn't take his shoes off, I still managed to have a good time with him. LOL. Most of the visit was spent in the dining room and patio area having drinks so there wasnt much of an issue of shoes all over the house.