Your House: Shoes on or Off?? (phone, refinish, carpeting, light)

[Boomerang]

I wouldn't dream of asking visitors to take their shoes off. I usually walk around in slippers and my friends and family are welcome to do the same.
But I would never greet guests at the door and ask them to remove their shoes, nor keep a basket and extra socks by the door so guests would immediately feel uncomfortable about leaving their shoes on.

It makes me very uncomfortable when I go to someone's home and they're fussy about shoes. It gives the feeling that that they really don't want you there at all; you're invading their home. In my neck of the woods, the folks who are fussy about shoes are also fussy about a lot of other things too, so you end up feeling like you have to sit in a straitjacket and not move a muscle the whole time you're there! I'd rather stay home, and thanks.

I don't choose white carpeting for anything but bedrooms.

[Greenchili]

Originally Posted by Boomerang

I wouldn't dream of asking visitors to take their shoes off. I usually walk around in slippers and my friends and family are welcome to do the same.
But I would never greet guests at the door and ask them to remove their shoes, nor keep a basket and extra socks by the door so guests would immediately feel uncomfortable about leaving their shoes on.

It makes me very uncomfortable when I go to someone's home and they're fussy about shoes. It gives the feeling that that they really don't want you there at all; you're invading their home. In my neck of the woods, the folks who are fussy about shoes are also fussy about a lot of other things too, so you end up feeling like you have to sit in a straitjacket and not move a muscle the whole time you're there! I'd rather stay home, and thanks.

I don't choose white carpeting for anything but bedrooms.

Well said! I agree with you.

Greenchili

[sgresident]

In different magazines etc. they encourage you to take your shoes off in your house. it keeps the junk from the street, and pesticides, etc from being tracked around your house. there is nothing wrong with asking people to take their shoes off. If you are reluctant to ask people, a way to give them a hint is to have a pair of shoes sitting by the door when they come in, and be sock-footed! a lot of times, if someone sees shoes sitting there,they will just follow suit! it's worth a try.

[hypocore]

The way I look at it is this....I'm not giong to spend life worrying so much about the miniscule potential of germs like that, so shoes on or off either way is just fine with me. My carpet can easily be cleaned.

If someone walked in a nasty bathroom, as mentioned in another post, they also would have walked other places before arriving at my house. In doing so they've now wiped most of that nasty off on the grass, sidewalk, rug whatever. Add to that, I'd be more concerned they could be sharing all kinds of germs with your house if they didn't wash their hands after being in that restroom!

Then of course there are the germs from their own home that will be on their socks/bare feet they are bringing into your home. Most shoes are worn after walking around your own home barefoot or with just socks, so all kinds of things are IN the shoes now. Heck, I take my shoes off in my car, so there's all sorts of things there that could be transferred to my bare foot or socks. If there are animals or small kids who are not accident free, then you've got that coming in your house whether they have shoes on or not.

And one last thought....where ever they are removing their shoes, they still walk right back over with bare feet/socks where they JUST walked with shoes....so they are still bringing in whatever was on their shoes.

To me, it's just not worth the hassle and embarrassment of guests to require them to shed their shoes. If they want to do so, no problem, but I am certainly not making an issue of that.

[DanBev]

Originally Posted by Prettygyrl777

This is funny but I'm facing a bit of a dilemma..... My first visitors are coming to see me in my new place and I'm not sure if I should use the 'shoes off' or 'shoes on' rules with them. I have very light tan carpeting and white rugs in certain areas. Besides that, I LOVE to just lounge on the floor so I never walk around with shoes on. I have indoor slippers or something comfy like that to wear.

How do you (politely) enforce that rule? Should I just hold my breath during the visit and then vacuum like a mad woman after they leave? I'm always prepared to take my shoes off when I visit someones home but some people are put out by that and are kind of icked out at the thought of it. I don't want to put anyone on the spot, either.

How would you handle this?

Separate from this issue,we have gallon jug by back door which we dump on concrete to wash shoe's,have done this for years.We are shoeless in home.When we go to flea market and see children shoeless on filthy surface it almost seems like child abuse.What is difference between feet and face?Both absorb thru skin.Off the track comment.

[KristyLiz]

We always remove our shoes when we come in the house, and so when we go to other people's homes we do the same.

Maybe if you left a mat out by the front door with a couple of pairs of shoes on it, they would get the hint. Other than that, I don't know how I would approach that with visitors.

[ddavison]

I guess I'm in the minority here as I would rather people keep their shoes on in my house when visiting. Peoples' feet might be sweaty, have fungus, worts, or whatever. If they have socks on, it's no big deal for me but I really dislike when people walk around completely barefoot on the carpet after having worn sandals all day long. Most of what is on their shoes is likely wiped off on your welcome mat anyway.

If I visit someone who has shoes at the door, I always ask if they would like me to take my shoes off. It's not my preference but I try to be polite since I know a lot of people are like that. I haven't been to anyone's house like that when I wasn't wearing socks. That would probably put me off though in that situation.

[BlueWillowPlate]

Originally Posted by Boomerang

It makes me very uncomfortable when I go to someone's home and they're fussy about shoes. It gives the feeling that that they really don't want you there at all; you're invading their home. In my neck of the woods, the folks who are fussy about shoes are also fussy about a lot of other things too, so you end up feeling like you have to sit in a straitjacket and not move a muscle the whole time you're there! I'd rather stay home, and thanks.
.

I think this gets to the heart of it.

Is someone more interested in entertaining guests, or maintaining a showplace?

With family, I can get plenty aggravated if they track in mud or heedlessly make a mess in the kitchen.
But when I invite guests over for dinner or cocktails, I take off my Control Freak cap and put on my Hostess Hat.

[Srib]

Well, just my two cents worth - i just wish people had some common sense though. I don't mind if people wear shoes in our home, but when they venture into our family room which has a lighter carpet I hate seeing people in there with shoes on - especially my BIL who props himself up on our couches with his shoes on - thats disgusting and disrespectful in my opinion. The only times the shoe thing really bugs me though is when its raining or snowing out and people who are too lazy to use out walkway, drag their feet across the lawn and then track crap all over our house. Maybe we just have very clueless friends?? Very few ever think to take their shoes off even when they are full of dirt and grass.

[monkeygorilla]

I hate when I am asked to take shoes off in someone's house. Like others have pointed out, it makes me feel unwelcome. And in cocktail or dinner party situations, its plain silly to see everyone all dressed up with no shoes on. This happened to me recently at a friend's holiday party & I felt so uncomfortable in my black cocktail dress with stockinged feet. What I will remember most about that party is how ridiculous I felt.