Your House: Shoes on or Off?? (floors, opener, pool, color)

[Ohiogirl81]

I walk barefoot in the street all the time. Weather permitting, of course.

[MrsSteel]

I allow people to do what makes them comfortable. Our floors are mostly wood & easy to clean - no white carpet for us! - so it isn't a big deal. In my opinion, my job as a host is to make sure my guests are happy and comfortable. If they're more comfortable leaving their shoes on, then so be it. Their presence in my home is worth the one minute of sweeping I may have to do after they leave. I mean, I'd be mopping and sweeping my floor after a party anyway, so it's no big deal.

By the by, my husband and I rarely wear our shoes in the house, but that's just because we like walking around in our stocking feet. Also, I have large welcome mats outside of every door to our house and long rugs inside of every door, too. They catch most of the dirt that people may track into the house.

Note that there are always exceptions. For instance, if it was really wet or snowy outside, I might ask people to take off their shoes so that there wouldn't bedangerous, wet puddles all over the house (I have slipped on such peddles before), but in my experience, people automatically take off their shoes in those circumstances without me even asking.

It feels rude to tell anyone that they MUST remove an item of clothing. I understand that it's different if you live in a culture where this is the norm, but it isn't the norm here in the USA where I live. I just think that when you demand that a person must remove an item of clothing in your home, you are crossing a line. It's extremely personal. What if that person has smelly or sweaty feet that embarass them? What if they have a foot fungus? Would you rather have that on your floors? Or in your communal basket of slippers? Yuck!

I'm amused by these people who claim that shoes bring so many harmful chemicals into the home. Don't these people shop? Don't they go to restaurants? Don't they work ... all in environments where people keep their shoes on? Have they actually experienced any ill-effects from their exposure to these pro-shoe environments? And what about their pets? Do they make their cat wear booties while using the litter box? Do their dogs wear shoes when running around in the back yard?

[Prettygyrl777]

Well my original reasoning behind asking guests to removes shoes (besides the light and white carpeting) is that I like to lounge on my floors: thats the most important of the two. I have alot of open space in several areas and I like to be REALLY comfortable. I would agree that its ridiculous to treat ones home like a showroom or a museum. I use every square inch of it-- the furniture and the floor!

So my position remains that I find it very disgusting to have shoes all over the carpet and as normal habit. I don't have a problem making an exception or two. I would never turn away a guest under any circumstance. I understand the pet example in the last post, but I don't have any so I suppose that wouldn't apply to me. But how about this: would you walk all over your bed with your shoes on? It would all depend on how someone utilizes their space...every home is different, I guess.

Also, I don't lounge around on the floors at work or at the mall so I honestly wouldnt think that's the same issue.

[MrsSteel]

Here's my thought process: See, floors are made to be walked on. Beds are not. And if someone did walk on my bed with their shoes on, I'd simply clean the bed clothes. If someone walks on my floor with their shoes on, I can clean the floor. Simple.

I agree that it depends upon how one uses their space. I lay around on my carpeted floors (usually when I'm playing with my cat), but I also vacuum and clean my carpets, so it isn't a big deal. I enjoy hosting dinner parties, so I have a floors that can handle the traffic. For me, the comfort of my guests is more important than my floors & my home reflects that.

[denverian]

We're a shoes off house. I guess that's more common where we moved from in Southern California. Now we live in Denver and it seems more common with Asian families around us, but other people seem to think it's odd. We even have a sign above the door I got in Hawaii that says "no shoes". We have a big front porch to dump shoes on, so no big deal. It just seems weird to me to be in a house with shoes on, and I don't want to walk barefoot (or in socks usually) and have stuff stick to my feet.

[zanna vaida]

[quote=rubytue;3437496]I guess I am in the minority here, but I hate taking my shoes off at someone's house.]

As a Realtor I visit many houses and have different experiences. It's up to the owner and listing agent to make a rule. However, when the rule "Take your shoes off" is in process, the sign is posted on the front door. It's visible. Everyone understands when he/she sees a new installed carpet. Nobody asks any questions. It means owners and agents appreciate and respect hard work and invested money and time. I hope buyers understand this issues, too.

[JFRRACING]

WELL , all i've got to say is that none of my friends or family have a problem with it. It's your house so you can do what ever you like. happy trails

[rubytue]

Originally Posted by JFRRACING

WELL , all i've got to say is that none of my friends or family have a problem with it. It's your house so you can do what ever you like. happy trails

Its really hard to know what your friends and family have a problem with. Polite guests won't tell you it makes them uncomfortable - even if they are miserable. In the two cases I mentioned, I never told anyone (except my husband) that it made me uncomfortable to be forced to be barefoot in a house.

[NYnowNC]

Originally Posted by MrsSteel

I allow people to do what makes them comfortable. Our floors are mostly wood & easy to clean - no white carpet for us! - so it isn't a big deal. In my opinion, my job as a host is to make sure my guests are happy and comfortable. If they're more comfortable leaving their shoes on, then so be it. Their presence in my home is worth the one minute of sweeping I may have to do after they leave. I mean, I'd be mopping and sweeping my floor after a party anyway, so it's no big deal.

By the by, my husband and I rarely wear our shoes in the house, but that's just because we like walking around in our stocking feet. Also, I have large welcome mats outside of every door to our house and long rugs inside of every door, too. They catch most of the dirt that people may track into the house.

Note that there are always exceptions. For instance, if it was really wet or snowy outside, I might ask people to take off their shoes so that there wouldn't bedangerous, wet puddles all over the house (I have slipped on such peddles before), but in my experience, people automatically take off their shoes in those circumstances without me even asking.

It feels rude to tell anyone that they MUST remove an item of clothing. I understand that it's different if you live in a culture where this is the norm, but it isn't the norm here in the USA where I live. I just think that when you demand that a person must remove an item of clothing in your home, you are crossing a line. It's extremely personal. What if that person has smelly or sweaty feet that embarass them? What if they have a foot fungus? Would you rather have that on your floors? Or in your communal basket of slippers? Yuck!

I'm amused by these people who claim that shoes bring so many harmful chemicals into the home. Don't these people shop? Don't they go to restaurants? Don't they work ... all in environments where people keep their shoes on? Have they actually experienced any ill-effects from their exposure to these pro-shoe environments? And what about their pets? Do they make their cat wear booties while using the litter box? Do their dogs wear shoes when running around in the back yard?

I agree with your post 100%. Floors are made to be walked on. I do not have hardwood floors as of yet, but they are in the 2008 plans.

I am thinking about buying plastic runners for the upstairs area for when I have about 20 people over and I want to show them the house.

[Skywings]

I'm a staunch believer in "my house, my rules; your house, your rules". Everyone's different when it comes to what they feel comfortable allowing to happen within the walls of their own home and so I don't think there is any Right or Wrong 'house rule'. I may not agree with someone's preferences and if so, I just don't visit their home. I know many people don't agree with my preferences and so I don't invite them to mine. That's what restaurants and other public places are for. I'm not a big fan of having guests anyway; my home is my private personal retreat and I like to keep it that way.