Your House: Shoes on or Off?? (hardwood floors, smell, installed, carpets)

[Ohiogirl81]

Isn't it easier just to clean the carpet than to find new friends?

What about people who have certain foot problems and can't go barefoot/stockinged feet? Are you going to turn them out just to keep a bit of dust off your floors?

[JFRRACING]

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?

my wife and i have the same rule. just remember they are not going to replace your carpet or refinish your floors. we put up a sign and set up an area by the door. it's your home if they don't like it, to bad. if they put up a stink than that means they don't respect you or your wishes.

[hypocore]

Originally Posted by JFRRACING

my wife and i have the same rule. just remember they are not going to replace your carpet or refinish your floors. we put up a sign and set up an area by the door. it's your home if they don't like it, to bad. if they put up a stink than that means they don't respect you or your wishes.

While that's true, it's also a two way street. By demanding someone remove their shoes or else, you've not shown them any respect for their wishes...and many of them have very valid reasons for wishing to keep their shoes on.

If you are going to invite people over and have the rule of no shoes, they need to be notified ahead of time so they can make the choice of whether or not they want to come at all or see if they can make modifications that will still meet their needs while meeting your demands.

Honestly, if someone told me that they have a no shoe rule and were clear there was no choice, I wouldn't even attempt to go to their house. If they instead were pleasant and seeking an answer as to whether that would put me out or not, I'd be willing to work towards a compromise.

[JFRRACING]

well , when you have spent alot of money on new floor such as i have. most of my friends bring slippers with them. everyone that visits us knows. we have had this rule for years. but if you choose , you can get some surgical booties for them to put on over there shoes so nothing get's tracked on your floors.

[Hobokenkitchen]

I sometimes have issues with this when showing homes for sale.
I have had several clients who refused to go into houses that demand shoes off. They just disregard them from their potential purchase list.

I don't mind removing my shoes in winter, but hate it in summer when I'm wearing sandals and now have to go barefoot. I don't really want whatever is on someones floor all over my formerly clean feet.

I prefer to see a welcome mat and a sign saying 'please wipe your feet'. That's a reminder to keep things clean and be careful, but doesn't require people to struggle removing shoes.

If you do require removal of shoes then please provide somewhere for people to sit when removing and then replacing their shoes. I feel so bad when older people are forced to hop around or sit on the floor trying to get their shoes on and off. It's just plain bad manners to require shoes off and then not provide somewhere for people to sit IMHO.

[Beretta]

This is a very interesting thread. My husband wears boots 100% of the time (he's a Texan) and when we go places that want shoes off it is a bit of a hassle for him to take off, and then put back on, his boots. He really needs to sit down to do this and frequently there isn't any place to do so.

Question for those of you that take off shoes at the door. Do you carry the shoes to your closet or do you always leave them in a basket or what have you at the door? I am no different than many women and have many, many shoes and a basket would never do as I would never find what I was looking for and would need several very deep baskets.

[KevK]

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. Workman rule - either they come w/ "booties" to wear on their shoes when they come in or they are told to take off shoes/boots at door.

I used to live in a region where "everyone" put white or off white carpet in their houses. It was so common, people rarely even considered anything else, LOL. It was "standard." I have seen friendships ruined b/c 1. people went nuts if shoes were not removed at the door and 2. people ruined carpets when they didn't remove their shoes, LOL. I had neighbors who just refused to visit in each other's homes b/c of "rules" about carpeting!!! "She's too uptight about that carpet - if she can't keep up w/ it - why did she put it in." I just take my shoes off when I visit and that is that, but some people are quite offended at the prospect of visiting in someone's home and being asked to take off shoes at the door!

Just weigh it out . . . In rain, I would perhaps consider enforcing a shoes off policy when usually I didn't have one! Good luck!

The telephone man will not take his boots off. He is prohibited from doing so. If you tell him he cannot wear them, he will fix your line only to the outside box and no further.

[JFRRACING]

I do have aplace for people to sit and take off there shoes. most of my friends are the same way. if you come to my house you would get nothing on your feet because there are no shoes aloud. so your feet will be nice and clean. my wife and i keep only the shoes we wear by the door all other shoes stay in a closet untill we wear them. if your friends respect you and your wishes when they come to your home there won't be a problem. my friends don't have a problem at all. even my telephone guy doesn't have a problem with it. the first time he came in he asked me about it.

[anifani821]

Originally Posted by KevK

The telephone man will not take his boots off. He is prohibited from doing so. If you tell him he cannot wear them, he will fix your line only to the outside box and no further.

As I said . . . these guys have booties w/ them that they throw on in my house - and take off when they leave. Never have had a problem - phone guys have always been so considerate.

[LeafsFan85]

To me not taking off your shoes in the house is like walking bare feet in the street, It doesn't make sence. And i don't understand why we have shoes racks in the walk in closet.