Do people take their shoes off when they come inside?

Do you ask people or expect people to remove their shoes when they come in your house? It never bothered me before, but now that I have two babies crawling and rolling around all over the place, it seems really gross to have shoes tracking bacteria and dirt into our house. I started asking friends and family to at least remove their shoes when they come into the boys' play room, which is carpeted. One family member in particular thinks that I'm ridiculous for asking this. So I'm wondering if anyone else asks or expects people to remove their shoes in the house. And if so, how do you go about it? What about people that you're not too familiar with? Do you ask them as well? The A/C guy came over the other day and I kept thinking "take those shoes off!!" but I didn't say anything. Just curious what everyone else's thoughts are about shoes in the house.

- Carrie

 

It is a really good idea to have people take off shoes. We are going to start that when they start crawling.

a suggestion is to buy those shoe covers and have people put those on when they come in

 

They just said in Parenting Magazine this month that 85% of the dirt in your house comes in on your shoes. I have been trying to take my shoes off for the past week but it is hard to remember. When visitors come over they often ask if they should take their shoes off, which surprises me since I am usually wearing mine at the time. Guess I will take them up on their offers now. I'm going to try harder to remember myself. The babies spend so much time on the floor and I am all for needing to vacuum less!

Jen

 

one of my biggest rules is no shoes in my house!!! my mom - my entire family actually - never allowed shoes in the house. you don;t know what you've stepped in... dirt, mud, food, spit, puke, poo, pee, loogies, blood... yucky. my IL's never took their shoes off before, so it was something they had to get used to. i will not bend the rules for ANYONE. i ahve no problem saying, "can you please take your shoes off?" we're trying to sell this place, and even people who come and see it with their realtor, i have no problem telling them, either.

 

We have friends/family take them off at the door. We have hardwood floors in the kitchen, dining room and playroom, but the rest of the house is carpet and our one year old certainly does love picking up specs of stuff and eating it. We just ask people to when they come in, but I'm considering buying a basket or shelf of some sort so people have a place to put them. That way it'll just be an automatic thing...they see the basket, shoes come off. No awkward moments! :lol:

 

There is a 'no shoes in the living room' rule in my house. Its where the girls play and its carpet. When people come over and want to see the girls I just say "No shoes in the living room please! Oh and wash your hands before you touch a baby!" I know its kind of obnoxious, but its RSV season. My dad got p**sed at me, but I don't care.. I follow my own rules. The moment I come home from being out, I take off my shoes and wash my hands and then greet my girlies.

 

I prefer everyone to take off their shoes in my house, especially with two babies wiggling around.

 

I agree with the pp's. I grew up in an asian household and no shoes was the rule. I never had family or friends wear their shoes in my parents house and it's always something I've done in return. My IL's on the other hand always wore their shoes in their house (as did my DH) but when we started dating and then married I made DH remove his shoes. My IL's still do not remove their shoes in my house and I make a point of telling them 'Our house is a no shoes in the house-house'. My DH even enforces it (even pre-twins) with them. We even got a shoe rack to put by the door and we've labeled it (it has two shelves) "ours" and "guests"... it's our way of saying "TAKE A HINT/CLUE!!!"

 

The rule in our house is that your shoes come off at the door. If it's family, I tend to tell them. There have been a few friends that don't get the hint {shoes AT the door sitting there, I take mine off when I go over, etc} There is enough dust in this house without others bringing more in.

 

It has ALWAYS been "no shoes" in my house ever since I had two Asian roommates in seminary. I don't get upset when others don't take them off, but most do, since we always have a unruly pile of shoes by the door. My kids kick them off immediately - we all do. And we have ALL hardwoods - no carpet (we can't keep it clean anyway.)

I am so pre-programmed I take them off without realizing it the second I walk into ANYONE's house. I can't wear shoes indoors!

 

we live in hawaii and it is expected that you take off shoes. -- at any house. you have to. it is horrrrriiibly rude if you dont. shoes are left outside next to door. you could get a plaque that says "please remove shoes before entering" ive seen em around here., but its pretty much a criminal offense if u wear shoes in house heh

 

I do but it's a habit - my mom never let us wear shoes in the house.

 

We're canadian and it's custom in this country to remove your shoes before entering anyone's house and even some doctor's/dentist offices. I would be highly offended if anyone came walking in my house with their shoes on. It probably has more to do with all the slush,snow and muck than anything else. I once rented a house in Orlando and was disgusted at how filthy the ceramic tiles were from previous guests wearing their shoes inside. Yuck,yuck..

 

As kids, my mom always had us take our shoes off. We haven't enforced it in our house, but some of our friends always do it anyway. We're having our carpets shampoo'd tomorrow, so it might be a new rule!! If we ever get new carpet, it will definately become a rule!

 

I grew up in an Asian house so no shoes. I have never worn shoes in any place that I've lived and DH learned from his first wife (half Asian as well) that you don't wear shoes in the house. We did have to teach DH's family this "rule" but everyone has always been compliant with it.

We keep a rack by the front door as well as a bench to sit on and a rug shaped like a bear that says "bare feet welcome."

 

QUOTE(snoopytwins @ Feb 15 2008, 03:04 PM) [snapback]623287[/snapback]
We keep a rack by the front door as well as a bench to sit on and a rug shaped like a bear that says "bare feet welcome."



The rack and the bench are great ideas! And I love the "bare feet" rug... I wish I could find one!!

 

We've always worn shoes. DH every now and then will go on a clean spree and say no more shoes, but he is ALWAYS the first to break the rule.

 

QUOTE(ceb023 @ Feb 15 2008, 11:41 AM) [snapback]623343[/snapback]
The rack and the bench are great ideas! And I love the "bare feet" rug... I wish I could find one!!

My husband made the rack and bench out of extra landscape timber we had...just stained it. The rug...

http://www.collectionsetc.com/Item60072.aspx

 

I don't wear shoes inside unless i have to go somewhere or i just get home. I would make up a sign to hang on your front door asking people to take their shoes off before they come in because the babies are crawling. This might be a helpful reminder for you as well.

Lots of love!
Meshell

 

We have a little entrance way as you walk through our front door where we keep a lot of our shoes. When people come in, I think they see the shoes and assume they should take theirs off (even though I've never asked anyone to) so probably 75% of people coming in just do it without asking, and I never say otherwise!

I am a bit of a vacuum fanatic--I usually do it once a day (love that dyson!) so I'm not too worried about the dirt coming in.

Reyna

 

We never wear shoes in the house - to me, it's just yucky. Like pps said, who knows what you've stepped in?

 

This is especially important to help reduce bringing in LEAD from the soil too.

 

We always take ours off -- we come in through the garage door, and the laundry/mudroom is right there, where we keep our shoes, anyway.

When I host playgroup here, all the moms and kids take their shoes off -- it's just a habit.

Most other people don't take their shoes off, and I haven't asked anyone to, although I think I'd like to now that the babies are starting to crawl.

I also grew up in an Asian household where shoes were NEVER worn in the house, and most people who came over took theirs off at the door. But, I also never recall my parents asking anyone to do so, if they weren't familiar with our customs. I think they considered that equally rude!

 

An idea would be to put up a sign. I have a nice one made out of wood that says "Please remove your shoes" This was made for us bu a family member who works with lasers that cut designs into wood. But I have seen them for sale comercially. This way you don't have to say anything. I even have workmen who come in and just take them off at the door.

 

Like canucktwins said, I'm from Canada too, and I always found it odd when I would see pepole on tv shows wearing shoes in their house, I didn't realize it was custmary to so many of you. We have always automatically taken them off. I think if you have a mat at the door and a shoe rack then company should hopefully take the hint that you take yours off immediately upon entry to your house, and they will do the same.

 

QUOTE
we live in hawaii and it is expected that you take off shoes. -- at any house. you have to. it is horrrrriiibly rude if you dont. shoes are left outside next to door. you could get a plaque that says "please remove shoes before entering" ive seen em around here., but its pretty much a criminal offense if u wear shoes in house heh


We live in Alaska and its pretty much the same way here. No one would walk into your house with their shoes on. That would be unheard of. However, we don't leave ours outside by the door. Almost every house is built with an arctic entry or people have a place to put shoes and coats just inside the door. We also put up a sign in our entry that says "please remove your shoes" but we put that up before family came to visit from the lower 48 since they aren't in the habit. When we went to visit my family in texas last summer is was so bizarre seeing everyone walking around inside the house wearing shoes! HEHE

 

For years I've had a no shoes rule. My first exposure was with some Pacific Islander friends. Thought it was a good idea but never did it. Then when we went to Hawaii found a cute sign saying please remove your shoes but not changing to better when you leave. Bought the sign but put it in a drawer. A few years later moved and got new carpet but since the entry way, hall and kitchen rec room was vinyl decided it waswn't necessary until one of my friends stepped in dog poop and tracked it in the front door and to the kitchen. ( I don't do animals or their poop or odors in the house.) That began the new rule. Especially after I found out that it's not just about the dirt and dust. There are microscopic parasite eggs found in pet feces that can be tracked inside. These can lay dormant in the dry soil for a long time. When they are tracked inside ....

"Dog feces is more than just a nuisance - it can pose a serious health hazard. Here's why: A number of common parasites, including round worm, are transmitted via dog feces. When infected dog droppings are left on the ground, the eggs of the roundworms and other parasites can linger in the soil for years. As a result, anyone who comes in contact with the soil also comes in contact with the infected eggs. Children run the greatest risk of infection because they're prone to play in the dirt at the park or playground and then put their hands in their mouths or rub their eyes with their hands. But even a group of teens or adults playing Frisbee or touch football in an open area could be at risk. Parasitic infections can make humans extremely sick, and for pregnant women, can pose a serious risk to their unborn child.

For more information on health hazards related to dog feces, check out these links:


Toxocariasis: http://kidshealth.org/parent/infections/pa...oxocariasis.htm


Now not only does everyone take their shoes off (even those who come to look at my house which is for sale) but I have a basket of slippers and socks for them to put on. I originally got the slippers from the hospital when my son was a paient at children's. Those fuzzy slippers wash up fine. Also you can get some at Costco with the grip on bottom or without. I don't encourage barefeet because some people have the same stuff on their feet and then have the nerve to put their feet on the furniture. ugh!!

The other alternative is to let them wash the bottom of their shoes or feet with the sanitizing wipes but that might be $$.

 

No shoes on in my house. Ick ick ick

 

Yes, I insisted guests take their shoes off when my boys were on the floor. I also had beige carpeting throughout that house. I had one family member in particular (MIL) who wouldn't take her shoes off. After many months of me insisting & her making excuses I backed off & allowed only her to leave her shoes on. The rest of the in-laws I made remove their shoes. She was a bit of a control freak & I just got sick of arguing.

 

We always take our shoes off. We haven't had many visitors since we live far and on the third floor of our apartment. We are moving into a new house with new carpet and the rule for everyone will be NO SHOES! We will have a runner by the front door to the laundry room and they can go in there and leave them!

 

QUOTE(mrsfussypants @ Feb 15 2008, 05:19 PM) [snapback]623512[/snapback]
We have a little entrance way as you walk through our front door where we keep a lot of our shoes. When people come in, I think they see the shoes and assume they should take theirs off (even though I've never asked anyone to) so probably 75% of people coming in just do it without asking, and I never say otherwise!

I am a bit of a vacuum fanatic--I usually do it once a day (love that dyson!) so I'm not too worried about the dirt coming in.

Reyna


Ditto us! Umm, minus the vacuum fanatic part! LOL, I wish!

Most people ask, when they see the big ol' pile of shoes and that I don't have mine on (I hate wearing shoes in general, not just inside).

But DH always has his boots on <_< (okay, in the mornings he has his slippers on, but he's always got some type of shoe product on his feet.)

And it's one of those things that I didn't feel like getting into an argument about :huh:

 

Just had to comment on these two. The first one because sampling soil & groundwater is what I do for a living, the second as a dog owner.

QUOTE(AWerner @ Feb 15 2008, 06:04 PM) [snapback]623592[/snapback]
This is especially important to help reduce bringing in LEAD from the soil too.


Lead is found in most soil. In most places, it is a naturally occuring thing in the soil. Usually in residential areas it is at relatively low concentrations known as "background levels". (The point where it switches to an action level is around 300-400 ppm) Of course its accentuated if your home has had lead paint (1970s or older), if you live in a major urban area (lead from leaded gasoline settles out of the air), or if you live in an industrial area (not likely). I guess what I'm getting at, is that in most cases your kids would have to eat A LOT of dirt for it to be a health issue.

QUOTE(jeanie01 @ Mar 18 2008, 02:28 AM) [snapback]674019[/snapback]
There are microscopic parasite eggs found in pet feces that can be tracked inside. These can lay dormant in the dry soil for a long time. When they are tracked inside ....

The other alternative is to let them wash the bottom of their shoes or feet with the sanitizing wipes but that might be $$.


Washing the bottoms of the feet probably won't cut it. My dog had intestinal parasites when we got him from the pound. It took two rounds of week long medication about three months apart to get rid of them. And its not when they are tracked inside that they become a problem, per se...its when they are ingested :bad:

 

I'm Canadian, so no shoes here! I find it very annoying when someone in my family will sneak through the house with them on,although we do live on a farm so the bottoms are yucky!! I remember when I found out about the differences in customs, I thought we were pretty much the same!

 

QUOTE(4lilmonkeys @ Feb 14 2008, 03:33 PM) [snapback]622054[/snapback]
We just ask people to when they come in, but I'm considering buying a basket or shelf of some sort so people have a place to put them. That way it'll just be an automatic thing...they see the basket, shoes come off. No awkward moments! :lol:


Don't count on it! We have a shoe tray by our front door, and very few people get the message! My Dad is the worst culprit - every time he comes to visit (from out of town), I have to remind him (repeatedly). I've suggested that he bring a pair of slippers to wear in the house. Last time, he said that he would just wear his "backyard sandals" in the house... so I had to explain why that wasn't acceptable either!

Even though we restrict shoe-wearing in the house, we still have 3 dogs, and the door to the backyard is in the TV room/upstairs playroom. So, we steam-clean OFTEN. I would love to get rid of all downstairs carpeting and replace with faux-wood laminate, but my DH doesn't want to invest the money in this house (we intend to move in the next year or so).