Spin-off to the Strange things post.."shoes off" homes

This came up recently..and I think its funny that it is on here too. It was with my closest friend, so this is all in good fun..no drama...

Just curious for those who have "shoes off" homes:

Do you have pets?

I get taking your shoes off, and trying to keep it that way for those that live in your house. But when guests come over, like say on Christmas Eve, I couldn't imagine requesting they remove their shoes. Did we forget what happened to Carrie Bradshaw? I can understand if there are certain rooms, like a babies room, etc.

If the person has no socks on, and thus would be barefoot, is that more or less sanitary than of they would just have left their shoes on?

Also, I assume that the "shoes off" homes do not have pets? If so, what do you do then?

Re: Spin-off to the Strange things post.."shoes off" homes

We don't have pets. I tend to be a little more lenient when guests come over but if people ask, I tell them that we take off our shoes and they're welcome to do the same.

Most people oblige, but almost always, my MIL and FIL never take their shoes off even though we ask. They say, "Oh they're not dirty" I can't stand that. DH once pointed out to my FIL that he just stepped in dog poop an hour before when they were at the park with DS so yes, his shoes were dirty. He said that it was all washed off by the time they were at our house so they were fine. Excuses, excuses.....

Message edited 11/28/2011 10:08:19 PM.

Re: Spin-off to the Strange things post.."shoes off" homes

My parents home has a no shoes policy. They have white rugs on the first floor and wall to wall carpeting on the 2nd floor. My mom is anal about clean carpets, and keeps extra slippers in the entrance vestibule for guests to use (the chinese slippers you would see some guests wearing at weddings). We never had a problem with it. In the summer, she would let ppl walk in with sandals but in the winter, it was always, "slippers in the hallway where you cam change into".

Re: Spin-off to the Strange things post.."shoes off" homes

MIL is a no-shoes person, everyone's shoes must be off. They have a dog - the dog has to be wiped down with wet wipes every single time it comes through the door.

I don't get it.

Re: Spin-off to the Strange things post.."shoes off" homes

I have no pets in my home and we are a shoe off household. I totally understand why you could correlate the two. Actually, one of the many reason I would never live in a house with a dog is the dirt they bring from the street, not to mention the fact that they sh*t on the street and then get their hairy dirty asses on carpet and furniture in my house.... Thinking of that makes me want to vomit, but I digress...

It is probably a culture thing as well. I can't imagine walking into someone's home from the street, NOT taking my shoes off and walking all over their floor. To me, that is incredibly rude.

If I ever go to someone house for nicer occasion, like New Years Eve, I take off my street boots at the door and put on clean pumps that I would have brought with me. Just to keep the outfit together, you know! :) However, if I was hosting a party and people didn't take their shoes off at the door, i would understand... But like I said, it's a cultural thing and none of my friends would walk into my house and keep their shoes on. Me, I honestly can't even imagine walking all over someone home in my dirty street shoes, on their carpet where their kids play, spreading G'd only knows what -- from dog feces to spit and rotten food--all over their house. I mean, think about what is out there on the street...

Re: Spin-off to the Strange things post.."shoes off" homes

Posted by WhatNow

I have no pets in my home and we are a shoe off household. I totally understand why you could correlate the two. Actually, one of the many reason I would never live in a house with a dog is the dirt they bring from the street, not to mention the fact that they sh*t on the street and then get their hairy dirty asses on carpet and furniture in my house.... Thinking of that makes me want to vomit, but I digress...

\

Re: Spin-off to the Strange things post.."shoes off" homes

We are shoes off and do not have any pets. I think you would have to be super vigilant wiping paws off and not have a doggy/kitty door.

Re: Spin-off to the Strange things post.."shoes off" homes

we are shoes off upstairs family. downstairs we have hard wood floors, so there is no issue. upstairs, we have nice carpet, so we dont want shoes. we have cats, but they are indoor cats. we ask guests, including delivery folks, to take off their shoes if they are going upstairs.

Re: Spin-off to the Strange things post.."shoes off" homes

My Grandparent-in-laws [lol] ... they have this rule no matter if we are there by ourselves or with the rest of the family.

In the summer when I have no socks on I always throw a pair in my bag before we leave because I don't like walking around barefoot

They say it is because of the hard wood floors they don't want the heels to scratch them... who knows

Re: Spin-off to the Strange things post.."shoes off" homes

We are a no-shoes house, and we used to have a dog and two cats. Growing up, I was in a no-shoes house, and we had two dogs.
The dogs feet get wiped when they come in the house, and none of the dogs were ever allowed on the couches.

Plus, it's just so much more comfortable taking your shoes off after having them on all day....

Re: Spin-off to the Strange things post.."shoes off" homes

Shoes off here. We have no pets. I dont ask that people take them off, but most do when they see we dont have any on. I have house shoes I wear once I come in, that dont go outside. My ds is trained, he goes places and just takes his off the minute he walks in.

Re: Spin-off to the Strange things post.."shoes off" homes

We are shoes off and we have no pets.

Family knows to take their shoes off. Although, one member has recently decided to ignore my preference, which annoys the crap out of me.

Non-family, I usually ask them to take their shoes off. I offer slippers if they need it.

Aside from the kids being on the floor, stuff justs stays nicer if you're not dragging dirt in the house.

If people are only going to be in the house for a short time, I don't ask that they take them off.

Re: Spin-off to the Strange things post.."shoes off" homes

We take our shoes off as soon as we enter our home. We prefer our guests to do the same but we don't tell them that they have to.

No, we don't have pets.

Re: Spin-off to the Strange things post.."shoes off" homes

Re: Spin-off to the Strange things post.."shoes off" homes

I would never,ever put on slippers that someone else asked me to wear I think that is so gross. How many other of your guests had them on and who knows what type of foot issues they have. Also, I think that is kind of rude, what if I don't want to take my shoes off, not to be rude but what if I didn't know your rules before coming to your home and didn't wear socks, haven't cut my nails in awhile, my polish is chipping, I have a fungus (ew), I have holes in my socks, then you offer your slippers which I don't want to wear because I don't want to get foot germs but I'd feel bad telling you that so that puts me in such an awkward, bad spot I don't think I'd come back to your house. I like to feel comfy at others homes. Gross I hate feet. I keep mine perfect because I am really, really grossed out by feet, I wouldn't even touch DH's feet but I don't know how my guests keep theirs and that is their business. If they follow my lead, then awesome that keeps my home that much cleaner but if they don't then out comes the vacuum when they leave if the floor gets dirty.

My landlord was here on Friday to fix a leaking faucet. He had to keep going in the crawl space like 5 times because of an issue with the pipes. He had boots on and tracked mud all over the house but I didn't tell him to take his shoes off, he kept going in and out and fixing stuff that as much as I hated seeing the tracked in mud from the crawl space on my area rug is DS's room (that's where the panel to the back of the shower was) there was really nothing I could do about it.

Like I said in the previous post, we are shoes off house and most of our guests see us taking our shoes off at the front door and do the same but then some don't and I don't say anything, I think it's rude to do so. It's my job to keep my house clean, not theirs. I have two indoor cats, I don't wipe their feet off after they go in the litter box, how am I suppose to follow them around the house to see when they use their box then make sure they don't jump on stuff? I keep my bedroom door shut so they can't go in there but when I'm not home I'm sure they jump on the table and counters and stuff, I know for a fact that my little one does because her hair is on there but I can't stop it when I'm not there. That's the chance I took when I got 2 cats.

Message edited 11/29/2011 9:14:43 AM.

Re: Spin-off to the Strange things post.."shoes off" homes

We have a shoes off policy. Like I said in the last post... I don't ask people to take off their shoes for a party or get-togethers. Some people do anyway.

We don't have a pet either. We eventually would like to get a dog, but not for a while. Right now I have two young boys. A 2 year old and 4 month old. They always play on the floors so I like to keep them cleaned. I also WFT so the less housework I have to do the more I get to spend with the kids and DH. I do a big clean-up on weekends or at night once a week (or more if needed).
My IL's come for the weekend and they bring their dog. I don't mind, but FIL has to make a big deal about the fact that I ask them to take their shoes off. We provide slippers for him. FUnny thing is when his dog needs to get walked he goes outside with the slippers. That's the whole point to keep them in the house.

Re: Spin-off to the Strange things post.."shoes off" homes

Just putting it out there.. I have Plantar faciitis in my feet. so I need arch support or my feet at all times or my feet KILL me!! And in general it's not good to walk barefoot for your feet...
I'd have a huge problem taking my shoes off at someone's house if they asked.

Re: Spin-off to the Strange things post.."shoes off" homes

I don't get it. I crawled around on a "dirty" floor as a baby right along next to my dog and I lived to tell the tale. I also think there is such a thing as being TOO clean. Isn't contact with the outside world how you get good bacteria and build up your immune system?

Re: Spin-off to the Strange things post.."shoes off" homes

we don't have any pets. we are a shoes off house but we don't impose it on people. we don't go crazy..if we are having a bbq and everyone is in the yard we don't ask people remove their shoes before they come in every single time but if we are in the house, pretty much everyone takes off their shoes and dons a pair on nice slippers or walks around in socks.

my floors are 200-year-old wide plank pine and they survived every house hold until mine...I can much more readily afford to supply everyone I know with slippers than I can to replace the floor!

ETA: more and more data is coming forward about what years and years of pollutants have done to the ground and therefore what we tread into our homes every day. the world simply is not the same as it was 30 years ago...neither is our dirt. they are linking all sorts of environmental toxins to developmental issues with our children. if something so simple as removing shoes can help that in any way...I can't for my life understand what the big deal is.

it's shoes, not your panties..take them off.

Message edited 11/29/2011 9:23:38 AM.

Re: Spin-off to the Strange things post.."shoes off" homes

I always take off my shoes when I come into my house, and I appreciate it when people do, but I only ask people to do so in the family room for my DD's benefit bc she rolls around on the floor all of the time. I really only ask our family and the babysitter though. Other guests usually do if they see me do it. I don't get crazy if people don't though. I just vacuum after they leave.

Re: Spin-off to the Strange things post.."shoes off" homes

Do the people that have "shoes off" homes have carpets or hardwood floors? I can see it if they have carpets because it is a pain to really sanitize a carpet. Basically you would have to shampoo it every week. But with hardwood floors, I steam mop every week, so I don't care what people track in.

Re: Spin-off to the Strange things post.."shoes off" homes

We are a "shoes off" household. I don't ask my guest to take off their shoes but most follow my lead when then come in. My parents wont and my inlaws wont.

No pets. We have light colored carpets and a 17m old. We vacuum everyday to make sure the carpet stays clean for the baby to be able to lay on or play on.

Re: Spin-off to the Strange things post.."shoes off" homes

Re: Spin-off to the Strange things post.."shoes off" homes

I have a mat in front of the door where my guests will wipe their feet and then just walk right in. They normally don't take off their shoes unless it is raining/snowing.

Re: Spin-off to the Strange things post.."shoes off" homes