Shoes on or off Poll

Personally, my shoes come off as soon as I walk in the door, but that's because I like bare feet :)
I grew up with family always wearing shoes, at it was really weird to me that my husband's family had a shoes off thing when you came in. So different families just do it different ways.

Benefits of shoes off are that you don't get the wet tracks through the house when it's wet outside, and also the other stuff that shoes track through the house. But some people do have issues with taking their shoes off except going to bed (my grandma was like this - always put shoes on first thing, wore them all day long). And in the winter, feet can get cold easily.

It can work either way... if you like shoes off, then keep it up. It's a personal/family preference is all.

I'm amazed to read about all those with a shoes off policy. It would never dawn on me to request my guests remove their shoes! If the weather is very messy I will put down a towel or mat and they can take them off on their own or stand there and drip dry before moving through the house. Honestly, if someone walked in my house and took off their shoes I would think they were making themselves a tad too comfortable. I sweep every day (4 kids) but don't want socks sliding all over. I guess I'm in the minority! :)

I tried to do this at one point, but we never remembered! I don't allow shoes on beds -that's my pet peeve. Other than that, I just look at it as an anti-body builder!

Shoes have always stayed on in my house. I am uncomfortable at homes where I have to remove mine and wouldnt want to do that to my guests either. People that like to remove their shoes in their own homes often times will remove them when visiting other homes or ask if they should and I always tell them its not necessary.
If I went nuts and bought white carpet, I might change to the socks only rule.
But some people just have stinky feet and that is just gross to me... especially if they have to remove tennies... I hate the smell of feet that came out of tennies. I'd be more apt to be saying "put your shoes back on Bucko!" in most cases :)

I do not require "shoes off". I prefer to allow each person their own comfort level.

& with my daycare, I do require "shoes on" to prevent accidents & injuries.

As for cleanliness, if you have pets....then welcome to germ world! & honestly, I hate having to take off my shoes when visiting homes .....especially when you look around & see others with foot/toe fungus. That's just gross! Had it happen at Christmas & I actually went outside to my truck to get a pair of socks! Yuck!

We don't set any kind of rules like that.

It is our home and if someone wants to wear shoes they are welcome to. if they want to go shoeless, that is fine too. Whatever makes someone more comfortable in our home is fine with me.

I have other things more pressing to be concerned about vs enforcing some shoe rule at my house.

Uhm, we take our shoes off because we all love to be barefoot!

But it is not a rule, nor was it ever when we lived in a carpeted home (wood now) or growing up. I think I have one friend who does this, or did for a while when they moved into a new home with beige carpet.

In my world that is not common.

No specific rule in our house but shoes on usually. If you want to take them off fine by my but I'm not going to ask you. I have no carpet in my house so be prepared that if you take your shoes off your feet will be cold. I also cannot think of anyone I know who has a rule about shoes off when they come into their house.

I dont care, shoes off or on, either way I still have to clean the frikkin mess.

WOW!!! After reading this I am totally starting as of right now no longer allowing shoes in my house!!!! I normally do that during the winter anyway but now that I think about it I can't believe I didn't do this a long long time ago !!
Thanks Ladies :)

We do not have rule about shoes on or off..
We allow whatever people feel comfortable..

We also do not have carpets. I am not sure if that is why you ask people to take off their shoes?

Also it is not very rainy or obviously snowy, so maybe that is the difference?

L. We have a no shoes in the home policy. I have a sign that I made in our foyer that says Welcome to our home Can you please remove your shoes. Now it is no big deal for visitors but when they come over they do remove the shoes,we have had workers who will come to give an estimate or work on our home who will remove the shoes because of the sign. We have never had to ask a visitor to do so and I don't see myself ever doing so, we have peach carpet through out the home(uggh!) but we are changing that this year.

I wonder if this is a more regional thing?

I know here at my home, and all of my own relatives and most of my friends, shoes go OFF as soon as you enter the home (not so carefree as we were raised). We have long, sloppy winters here and all of the other seasons can be adverse and shoes are always dirty anyway. I don't want all of that dragged into my home (carpets or hard surfaced floors). To me that is nasty.

Who wants to sweep, swiffer, vacuum or mop all the darn time? I do it enough and we never ever walk with shoes on past the big entry rug. I also do home childcare and have babies crawling all over the floor in several areas of my home. I do know many people who have "house shoes". Sort of like casual slip ons, not quite as soft as slippers, more structured, but not maybe something they would wear out and about...and others who have a specific pair of tennis shoes they only wear indoors (my brother buys "ugly" crazy colored ones he says he would never be caught out in public in, to remind him never to step outside in them..but wears them inside for sore feet/orthopedic reasons). I wear nice Acorn slippers (they are my work shoes, as I am home all day with the children in my care), and buy new ones every year!

We do not have a shoe rule. We have hardwood floors throughout the house. If I had nice new carpet I might have that rule.

When it is just my immediate family, I definitely want them to have their shoes off. If wae have a party, I really would prefer if my guests come over and take their shoes off, but I never make anyone. Only because there are times when I go to someones house and do not feel comfortable taking my shoes off!

The only time I don't have something on my feet is when I get in bed.

I would never dream of asking a guest to remove their shoes. Yuk Yuk Yuk.

I know my floors are clean but I don't want my feet touching them and wouldn't ask anyone else to do that.

My mother is a shoe off house - but, she keeps a pair of slippers for me because she knows how freaky I am. They even bring their own slippers to wear when they visit my house.

To each their own.

I try to keep the shoes off but it doesn't always work.
SO much dirt is tracked in by shoes and even a hardwood floor can get scratched up over time if small stones/gravel get ground in/scrapped across the floor. You've got to vacuum, sweep/swift every day.

I cannot stand to be "shoeless" in my own house--so no policy here!

I feel more productive and ready-to-go if I'm "dressed to the shoes" every day.

My hubby--slipper guy (which I hate!)
My son (7)--kicks off his shoes as soon as he's home from school.

So I guess we're a variety pack. (Or I'm unaware of or ignoring the 'no shoe' policy!)

Shoes off! We have a small entry room that opens up to a dining kitchen combo with a bathroom down a short hall. If someone was just coming in for a minute or to use the bathroom, clean shoes are ok in that area. We never allow shoes in the living room, den or bedrooms. I think it's just gross. I mean, you walk around outside and in public buildings picking up who knows what on your shoes and then bring it inside and wipe it all over the carpet - the same carpet that my kids lay on and snuggle with blankets to watch tv. No way!

We take our shoes off at the back door and I lhave some slippers out there for myself but we do not require guests to take their shoes off unless they want to. We have tile and hardwood floors. We also have 2 dogs so it's kind of crazy to require visitors to remove their shoes when our puppies go in and out and are not even wiping their feet off! LOL

Same policy as you (though we sometiimes forget!). Our family, and kid visitors: Please take off shoes. Adult visitors: Don't even mention it to them. We have, though, had thoughtful adult visitors who would see the "shoe area" with some shoes there and ask if they too should remove shoes! I usually say, no, not needed for you.

I don't enforce with super strictness but it works well, though my husband still forgets a lot!

Shoes off. For everyone.

Shoes off, usually. If I just need to run inside to get something I forgot before leaving, I don't usually take my shoes off. Otherwise, it is a no-shoe policy for the family. I do not ask guests to take their shoes off, but many of them do anyway.

Shoes are usually on in our house - we have a dog so I end up sweeping twice a day anyways.
My sister, though, is a strickly no shoe household and we all abide by it.

my family doesnt wear shoes in the house and usually my kids friends take off thier shoes when they come over but for adults it is not a rule

We were stationed in Japan before my kids were born and as is the custom there you take your shoes off before entering a home. When we came back to the states it had become a habit and we just kind of kept it. We actually do ask adults to take their shoes off in the house too. If they aren't comfortable with it then we don't push the issue but my son has asthma pretty bad so keeping any extra dust and dirt outside is always helpful and most people are really cool about it once we explain that is our goal.

I think it might depend on whether you had indoor and outside shoes. I couldn't imagine anyone wanting to wear their regular shows inside with all the dirt, germs and yucky stuff from outside. We have hardwood floors throughout most of the main floor, and I wouldn't want them scratched, and I also find them harder to keep clean, other than simply sweeping them. Definitely shoes off in my house.

S.
www.LiveYourDreamsAtHome.com

Not only do WE take our shoes off before walking into our house, but I expect EVERYONE else, no matter the age to respect our wishes...AND to further make it known so there is no question about it, I have a sign posted outside my door that says, "Welcome to our home...Please take your shoes off." I don't care if people don't like it or don't agree with it, or think it's weird. IF that's how they feel, then they can sit outside.

And yes, even the cable guy takes his shoes off. : )

My house is the same way as yours and my carpet still looks fabulous. :)

Same as you...shoes off for everyone except adult (non-family) visitors. My theory is, when people dress to go out (dinner in a restaurant, visiting friends, whatever) shoes are part of the outfit, so they may stay on, even though there's a shoes-off policy in my house. My friend has a super strict shoes-off policy in her home, EVERYBODY is expected to remove their shoes. She keeps a basket of very nice slippers by the front door for people to borrow if they don't want to go barefoot or sock-footed. We both grew up in Japan where shoes off is the norm and totally expected, but I've adjusted a bit to US customs, whereas my friend sticks by her own culture. Either way works...

Don't care either way.
We don't wear shoes in the house simply because we don't like to wear shoes, it's uncomfortable.

I go outside barefooted unless it's REALLY freezing.

No rules, we have tile throughout the house. I know many people with that rule though, you are definitely not alone.

We take our shoes off when we come into the house, purely as a comfort measure-unless the weather is REALLY bad and the shoes are covered in mud or slush. On regular days, though, I remind my kids to wipe their shoes on the entry rug-again though, the shoes usually come off for comfort:). That's how I grew up. I usually wear slippers in the house because they are more comfortable, and we have hardwood floors downstairs. If shoes are taken off in the living room, they are put away next to the door (usually:)) simply to make it easier to find them when it is time to put them back on, otherwise I try to have them put away in each person's closet. If we are going back out in a short while, then our shoes stay on. I am never comfortable with guests feeling like they need to take their shoes off, though. If a guest asks me if I want them to remove their shoes, I always say, "absolutely not, unless it would make them more comfortable." I think it is the height of rudeness to ask guests to take their shoes off.

Shoes are off in our house and usually the adult visitors get the hint from the shoes that are already there in our front foyer. When we go somewhere we most certainly ask if we need to remove our shoes and do what most guests are doing. The thought of dragging in all that dirt and whatever else is on the shoes in to the house irks me...

Shoes off!, everybody except the occasional worker, like ac repair man, and what not. We have shoe racks at each door, and we even have painter socks for people who have complicated boots! I dont know any other family who does this, besides my own brother. It only makes perfect sense, for cleanliness, life of my carpet, and my sanity. I have a friend who thinks she has a pass because she wears complicated shoes and we fight about it. if my husband can take off the work boots, you can unstrap your heels.

Someone gave me a sign for my birthday to hang on my door it says

"life is made of choices remove your shoes or scrub the floor"

Wear shoes, whatever you want to do. The no shoe policy at other people's houses actually makes me feel way uncomfortable. I've known a few people to have that rule and generally, at least in my experience, it means the rest of the house is really clean/neat. I just don't feel comfortable in a house that is spotless, doesn't feel lived in. I wasn't raised to take my shoes off in my parents home, it was always pretty cluttered (not dirty), but homey. When I went to a relatives home that had you take your shoes off and offered slippers, and even one of those signs so they didn't have to actually tell you, I would immediatly get uncomfortable. Felt like I couldn't do anything in fear that I might spill a drink or re-arrange a couch pillow wrong. Not to mention planning what socks to wear beforehand, so that I didn't accidentally wear the ones that were stained and holey.
I do however understand when at my brother's house, he has a mud room at the entrance where everybody takes their shoes off. They live out in the woods, lots of mud, and chickens, and horses, and whatever else. I would still rather wear my shoes, but I can understand the reasoning behind it.
I do usually make my kids take their shoes off in our house, or others for that matter, simply because I don't want to lose them. We have five young children and when your tryin' to get out the door, but three out of five only have one shoe they can find, its a real hassle!

Just my experience, I'm surprised there are that many responses with a no-shoe policy, I had no idea. I wonder if it has something to do with where you live and weather, then again, I live in rainy seattle and don't see it that much.

We don't wear shoes in the house or have house shoes. It keeps the carpets SO much cleaner! I'm not as strict with guests but most people have their kids take their shoes off at the door.

Shoes off for everyone but we are more relaxed when guests come over. It's mostly for hygienic reasons. When you have small children that play on the floor, it's just nasty thinking they're playing on the ground with all the nasties that people bring in on their shoes. One friend of mine had a great way to do this politely, she had a small slipper collection and offered them to guests when they walked in.

Hi L.,

It's a good policy and I try to enforce it...gently because my kids' friends are in their 20s, lol. My husband is finally on board because he has actually seen a test of what comes in on the bottom of shoes and he sits on the floor a LOT as do my kids. I actually keep a pair of house slippers in my car because I have friends that are adamant that everyone's shoes come off and I like something on my feet. I lived in Japan one summer and the routine somewhat stuck!

M.

Off as soon as you come in--adult visitors included. This is Chicago and it is a snowy mess here most of the year. My floors would be mutilated if we wore shoes in, not to mention everyone would be walking around with wet socks!

My family takes off shoes and leaves them by the front door (we have a shelf for them and I clean/organize them quite often!) but we do not require friends or extended family to remove their shoes. Typically, though, most of them see our pile and will remove theirs even if we tell them its not necessary.

your choice but if i go to someones house with a shoes off policy I respect it

Same rule, here.
If your feet are cold, go put on slippers, but don't wear the slippers outdoors, then.

We upgraded all our floors the last 3 years including some nice carpeting that should last a long time....hopefully.

With 67 responses already, I don't know if anyone will read this, but.... I prefer slippers inside because they're more comfortable, and my 4-yr-old son just automatically takes his shoes off inside the door. But I feel the need to tell guests, "Don't worry about the shoes in the doorwary" because I just assume people would prefer to keep their shoes on. Our floors are cold, some people are embarrassed about foot odor or holey socks, and my carpets have seen better days anyway. I do feel a little uncomfortable when people have a strict no-shoes policy for everyone for fear of spilling something or whatever.

Off - its how I was raised. And when at someone's house I take mine off too, unless they insist I keep them on.

Shoes off, slippers on

depends on the times of year. during the summer i dont wear shoes if i dont have to so its not a problem, but during the winter i dont like snow tracked all over so we take them off right away. my 16-mnth old kicks off his shoes as soon as we are threw the door no matter what the weather

We do not wear shoes in the house as a general rule. We do make exceptions, but rarely. First of all, we have very light carpet, probably not the best decision based on the second point: we live on a small farm. We have a lot of dirt (our long driveway is dirt). We live in CO, so we get a lot of snow, which turns to slush/mud. So, shoes in the house is not usually a good idea. And, we have mostly carpet in the house. If we had hardwood floors or tile throughout, I would definitely understand keeping the shoes on.
Oh, I almost forgot. We lived in Japan for 3 1/2 years, where we learned this practice. We thought it was a great idea!

I have a shoes off policy also-same as you-all kids have to take off their shoes, but adults are exempt.

After reading so many articles talking about all the chemicals and germs a persons shoes carry into a house-no thanks!!!

M.

We have a shoes off policy for everyone. In part to keep the house clean and care for our wood floors and antique Persian rugs, in part because of the culture of some of our family members (coming from a culture where this is considered a serious issue). When I go to other people's houses, I try to do what they do and when in doubt take my shoes off. I figure I'm less likely to offend being shoeless than having shoes. It has been a little tough teaching my kids when to take their shoes off, though. My son as a toddler kept insisting he had to have his shoes off at church. =)

shoes off for all since we have floor crawlers...if someone is unwhilling to "conform" tuff they stay on the doorstep...lol no joke Shoes are just too dirty!

We have the exactly same policy as you! Most people see the shoes by the door and just take their shoes off but not all. I don't really worry about it. Where we used to live in Alaska (Juneau and Fairbanks) EVERYONE had a shoes off household!

I hate shoes so mine come off as soon as I get in the door, hubby & kid do whatever, sometimes on & sometimes off. Tile & hardwood floors are not too hard to clean so I don't mind but if we had rugs it would be strictly shoes off - no question.

I grew up in Japan, so it's automatic to take my shoes off (although in Japan, one takes off shoes and puts on slippers, and all homes have an array of slippers for guests). But living in the US I don't insisit that others do. They're welcome to if they want, but I neither ask, nor insist. In part, because I DON'T have an array of slippers for them to put on.

Oh, absolutely shoes OFF!! If someone walked into my house with their shoes on, I would flip! There's a nice little shelf by the front door onto which our guests can place their shoes, right next to ours.

Just for a second think of all the *stuff* you could potentially step on throughout the course of a day: animal urine and feces, human urine, mold, anything that has rotten (food, etc), even drugs are a possibility. THEN, you walk through your house, depositing these remnants ALL over your house - into your carpets, where your children run around and play; where they drop crackers and pick them up and eat them. UGH!

Not that my house is immaculate in any way, but if I can eliminate unnecessary filth, then I do. Shoes OFF!! LOL

Shoes off inside the house. Always on when we go outside.

We're on, but I'd love to change that to "off" to cut down on allergens, dirt and pesticides coming into the house...

I just want people to be comfortable, so I don't really care whether they take their shoes off or not. I do have a towel by the front door for people to either wipe their shoes on a second time, or place their shoes on if they want to take them off.

My feet are always cold and I prefer leaving my shoes on but I'll take them off at other people's homes if that's what they want. No biggie. That's probably why I don't have a set "rule." If people ask I tell them they can do whatever they prefer.

shoes off for everyone - adult guests included. the only exception is if we have a plumber or cable guy or someone coming over -- we dont force them to take their shoes off but some offer to and thats always nice of them :)

Shoes off for sure! I don't want any of the germs picked up in the grocery store, mall, public bathroom on the floor that my infant is crawling around on and all of my toddlers toys are on.

Shoes on at my house... I hate taking my shoes off at other people's house.

not only do we take our shoes off and ask that all guests do the same, but i assume that it's expected in other people's homes, as well. I usually figure out when that's not the case when after walking around for a matter of minute's my feet/socks are black and sticky!!

Shoes off, for family and friends. If it's a party shoes on. I don't want the days walking on my floors, yuk. It also doesn't mean my house is spotless, but my floors are clean :)

We take our shoes off at the door but I'm not strict about it. Hubby forgets all the time but my kids are great about it. I do have most other kids take them off too but I feel weird about asking the adults. I have to say that most of my neighbors an d many friends have this policy too. I think it's very common. Also, we have hardwood floors as do my friends and neighbors with the same policy. My reasons are really that I think it's gross. We step on dirt and grime all day and then come into our house with it. Try this test, when you next come home, take a wet paper towel and wipe the bottoms of your shoes. What you see on ther will now be all through your house, hardwood or carpet.

Living in Sweden right now, it is just common practice for everyone to take their shoes off.. You don't even need to say to people.. it's automatic for everyone. When I first moved here it took me awhile to get used to it, but now that I have been doing it for so long i really like it. saves on cleaning needing to be done, plus it just feels home homey.. so I think even when we move back home to the states I will continue the shoes off rule.. and include that for everyone.. When growing up we never took our shoes off..

Off for family and kids- adult visitors can keep em on! I grew up like that , my jusband did not but now he is a convertor.

We don't have a shoe off policy. Where your shoes in the house. But I generally take my shoes off when I change clothes from work and put on my slippers. I don't really care to wear my shoes in the house. It's just more comfortable for me to be in my slippers. I think though if we had new or nice carpet that would be a different story. We have an ugly forest green carpet.

Yep, I also have the Japanese influence like Riley J, and so I think wearing shoes in the house is just dirty. We ask everyone (even our two-year-old) to remove their shoes in the genkan, or the front hall area of the house. We even have a little stool up front so that people can sit down to easily take their shoes on and off, and I keep a pair of outdoor slip-ons by the door in case I am just running out to the garage for something. We ask adult guests to remove their shoes, too. I have never had anyone complain. I do make exceptions for the elderly, because they often have trouble getting their shoes on and off, and sometimes they have special supports in their shoes for knees and hips and such, so I just don't mention our policy to them.

We've always taken ours off, and since there's a large carpet by the door where our shoes sit (other than those in the closet), people visiting usually follow suit. And when I enter someone else's house, if they have their shoes off when they answer the door, I remove mine. If they have theirs on, then I leave mine on.

I didn't know this was a common thing, shoes off policy. wow I was surprised (not in a bad way of course). I am indifferent about it. I live in my fam's upstairs apt right now to save money in college, but when I lived across town in an apt I didn't particularly care... whatever made you comfortable, shoes on or off... when my daughter was crawling I was a bit more anal about it, if your shoes looked really dirty anyways, but other than that I'd just clean more when you left.

At my house, the shoes come off. That way, the floors stay clean and the socks stay clean. Honestly, when I take my shoes off at homes where this is NOT the policy, I come home and my socks are filthy...it's gross!

I expect visitors to do the same. I live in Minnesota, and during the winter, you track in snow, mud, slush by the...well...solefull. There are a few people who come over (one is a relative, one is a friend) and do not take their shoes off...will literally leave MUDDY FOOTPRINTS on my cream colored carpet...and act like they don't see it!! It is infuriating!!

I know someone said they think it is the "height of rudeness" to ask a guest to take their shoes off...personally, I think it is the height of rudeness to leave muddy, wet footprints across someone's clean carpet. I mean, it ruins it.

I've actually gotten to the point where I take out the resolve right in front of them and clean the carpet.

I ask for everyone to take their shoes off.I dont think its too much to ask even company to do it.

Shoes off! Though I have trouble persuading my husband to abide by this...

I take my shoes off and I posted a sign for guests to remove their shoes, as well.

Hi!

I know you've already gotten tons of responses, but just wanted to let you know that you have one more on your side. In fact, most of the moms I know have a no shoe policy for both themselves and guests. We do too unless it seems as though our guests will be very uncomfortable doing so.

Indifferent, guests preference. It doesn't make for more chores at my house. Most people who have muddy or dirty shoes are respectful enough to leave them at the door.