Shoes in the house

[Tenacious_D]

We have a shoe basket, too. DH sometimes needs reminders, but DS is quick to remind him.

For those who don't allow shoes in the house, do you ask your guests to remove their shoes? I am always afraid to ask people to do this, but nothing creeps me out more than shoes in the house. And it drives me nuts when someone comes in from the rain and wipes their feet on the rugs. Umm, I'd rather have the wood floors get dirty.

We are a big shoes off house...Living in the filth that is NYC, I can't fathom bringing the all that into our house. We have our shoes lined up in the entryway of the apartment so we try to be subtle with new guests but have told all family and friends about the shoe rule.

[Tenacious_D]

One weird thing though...My grandfather doesn't like it when people aren't wearing shoes in the house so DH and I have to bring comfy slip ons when we go down to visit...

[samssugarmomma]

I would love to be a "no shoes" house. That is how I grew up but DH grew up the opposite. One reason that I haven't pressed it is because of the dogs. We have two large dogs that love to dig in the dirt in our backyard and I think that will weaken my argument that a no shoes policy will be cleaner. We do wipe their paws if they are muddy from the rain but only then.

For those of you that are "no shoes" but have dogs - does the no shoes rule really help with the dirt?

Have you always been no shoes or did you switch one day?

[madeintaiwan]

I would love to be a "no shoes" house. That is how I grew up but DH grew up the opposite. One reason that I haven't pressed it is because of the dogs. We have two large dogs that love to dig in the dirt in our backyard and I think that will weaken my argument that a no shoes policy will be cleaner. We do wipe their paws if they are muddy from the rain but only then.

For those of you that are "no shoes" but have dogs - does the no shoes rule really help with the dirt?

Have you always been no shoes or did you switch one day?

We have a dog and still do no shoes. We wipe his feet if they are muddy but if it is dry outside we don't bother. I don't notice dirt but maybe I'm a dirty girl. For my kids and I, it has always been no shoes. DH did not grow this way. He grew up in a house where they were allowed to play hockey with pucks in the kitchen and throw darts at the walls.

[DCJenn]

I've always been no shoes- even as a kid. I got stung on the bottom of my foot by bees every day for a week I think and even that didn't change me.

Does it help w/ the mud. kinda sorta. Petey is a 45-pounder and tracks in a fair amount- but he has to cross over a pretty big rug in front of the door so that gets most of it.

Jenn

[samssugarmomma]

He grew up in a house where they were allowed to play hockey with pucks in the kitchen and throw darts at the walls.

And we thought we were radical with our bed jumping and allowing a beach ball to be kicked around down in the basement!

[samssugarmomma]

Petey is a 45-pounder and tracks in a fair amount- but he has to cross over a pretty big rug in front of the door so that gets most of it.

Hmmm.....maybe I can just get a bigger rug for by the kitchen door......

[SuzySunshine]

We too wipe Molly's paws if it is rainy or muddy. She really doesn't bring that much mud in. Of course it helps that our entry ways are tile so DH and I have gotten pretty good about kicking our shoes off if they're messy. I don't notice a difference in the dirt really whether we wear our shoes or not unless its wet or muddy outside.

Here it seems to be the norm that you take off your shoes in almost everyone's house. We have a couple friends that will tell people they can keep them on but for most I think its just habit. Must be a MN thing, we never took our shoes off at others homes in CA.

[fluffhead]

Traditionally, Jewish homes in Europe were opposed to shoe removal because it was a sign of mourning. So first and second generation Ashkenazi American Jews frequently carry that with them, and keep shoes on in the home.
It's been a point of contention around here, at times.

Traditionally, Jewish homes in Europe were opposed to shoe removal because it was a sign of mourning. So first and second generation Ashkenazi American Jews frequently carry that with them, and keep shoes on in the home.
It's been a point of contention around here, at times.

Interesting - I didn't know that! So it's only done when sitting Shiva?

See - and if one of those folks walked into an Indian, Muslim, Chinese, Japanese, or Korean home, it would be seen as disrespectful, but certainly wouldn't be intended that way!

Sometimes I just think we should all carry a little manual around: this is how we do it where I come from, not trying to tick you off!

[fluffhead]

Remember George Costanza's father wouldn't take off his shoes in his Korean GF's parents home because he had stinky feet, and they got really offended?

[alison]

Remember George Costanza's father wouldn't take off his shoes in his Korean GF's parents home because he had stinky feet, and they got really offended?

"I don't remove my shoes for anyone! -- I've got what you'd call a foot odor problem!"

[Bittersweet]

Well, I didn't know I was such a rare breed. I always wear shoes in my house. If they are dirty or wet I'll leave them at the door. Otherwise, I wear shoes from when I get up in the morning until I got to bed at night. I had never really thought about it. I do always ask when entering other people's houses if they would like me to take my shoes off, though.

[Vishenka69]

Traditionally, Jewish homes in Europe were opposed to shoe removal because it was a sign of mourning. So first and second generation Ashkenazi American Jews frequently carry that with them, and keep shoes on in the home.
It's been a point of contention around here, at times.

Really? I've never heard of that. Growing up in Ukraine, everyone I knew had houseslippers. Even here, all the Russian households (Jewish or not) have houseslippers for all family members and a stash for guests. I wonder if that covers the no bare feet thing.

[houseelf]

I'm with bittersweet. We were shoes in my house. One of the best quotes I ever heard was that if people don't want you wearing shoes on the carpet, you'd better be carpeting the ceiling.

Kelly