How many of you have the "no shoes on in the house" policy?

Question

And do you automatically take off your shoes at someone elses house?

Answer 1

Absolutely! No shoes keeps the household free of germs and garbage picked up from the outdoors, and the restrooms you step in during the day. It also keeps debris from accumulating on your carpet. I follow whatever rules a particular hostess/host has in their home. If they are shoeless indoors, then I take mine off at the door. As a health care professional, it also helps prevent me bringing any "work" home with me. The scrubs go right in the washer, too.

Answer 2

Yes to both, although ours isn't exactly a strict policy. Sometimes I'll walk around the house in my shoes if I'm about to leave and need to quickly grab something from my room. But yes, we do take off our shoes when we enter the house, although it's more a matter of habit than anything else.

I have a friend who's Vietnamese, so his family has a stricter "no shoes" rule due to their cultural background. I think it's a sensible policy, though, cultural or not.

Answer 3

We do not request people take their shoes off. I don't mind taking off my shoes if requested, but somehow I still feel funny (embarrassed, treated like a child, or maybe a bit put out) when someone requests I take my shoes off before entering their home. I would rather my flooring get dirty than possible make a guest uncomfortable in my home.
However, my family all is in the habit of taking shoes off and leaving them by the door (because we are more comfortable barefoot in the house) and so many guests see all the shoes near the door and stop to take theirs off as well. I always tell them they don't have to, but most do anyway.

Answer 4

I don't have that rule in my house, my home is for me and my family to feel comfortable in. My four year old puts her shoes on the minute she gets dressed and wears them all day, it is just how she likes things. My kids know not to wear muddy shoes into the house and they know to wipe their feet before coming in. I don't stress over a little mud, comes right up with my little carpet cleaner.
I do take my shoes off at other peoples houses automatically, I just do it out of respect.

Answer 5

Not at my dad's house...His carpet is already stained from the grandkids so it wouldn't make sense to. I actually prefer shoes-on walking through his house, lol! I had a friend in highschool who's grandparents home is really nice and have white carpet. We had a get together for our social group and the girls didn't mind taking off shoes, we all had toes polished and pedicured. But when they boys showed up, some of them turned around and left. They were ashamed that they didn't wear socks so my friend had to go find as many pairs as she could to keep all the guys from leaving. Why are men so ashamed of their toes?

Answer 6

Its not a policy, but no one wears shoes in my house. I end up having to hunt down people to take their shoes home with them.

I only take my shoes off at someone else's house if that's what they request. It is their house and not mine.

Answer 7

I wish I could have that policy in my house completely, because shoes gross me out. I personally have house shoes and shoes that I wear in public, but that's not the case for my husband or sons. They are OK about honoring my wishes, but not great. And yes, I always take my shoes off at other people's houses.

Answer 8

I have the no shoes policy at my house. As for taking off my shoes at someone else's house, it all depends on what they do. If they wear their shoes in the house, I'm leaving mine on. Don't want to walk around on a dirty floor in my bare feet! (I wear flip flops or sandals most of the time.)

Answer 9

I do not wear shoes in my home & it is cleaner for not doing so. (I know this as fact, because I used to not take them off!) Also, I do not inspect the bottoms of my shoes as I suspect that most do not. Even if you are in the habit of wiping your feet...there may be very unpleasant or sticky stuff that just won't come off & I certainly would be embarrassed if I did not remove my shoes & then made a mess on someone else's flooring. I remove my shoes not only as a courtesy to others, but to myself to save a possibly embarrassing situation!

Answer 10

We always take our shoes off before entering other people's homes. That is a tradition in the area where we live.

At home, we usually remove outdoor shoes, unless we are in a hurry for some reason. We put on our indoor shoes or slippers, which are clean. It saves a lot of extra floor cleaning.

At some homes, they have a basket of knitted slippers at the door, for guests, especially in the winter. Or you can just wear your socks.