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Are you a 'shoes on' or a 'shoes off' household?

240 replies

chocolatesaltyballs22 · 26/11/2019 08:46

We are strictly shoes off. We walk around in bare feet and I hate the thought of walking in outside dirt all over the house. MIL is coming to stay this weekend. She hates having to take her shoes off and there's this alwau this awkward moment at the front door when I ask her to take her shoes off (even though everyone else is doing so, so she should really just follow suit). She believes that floors should be hoovered/mopped every day anyway so why does it matter.....oh if only I had the time to clean every day - my cleaner does it once a week and that's it!

So I was just wondering if I was a bit OCD or if this is the norm?

OP posts:
JamesBlonde1 · 27/11/2019 21:50

If we hark back to the 70's or 80's the patterns on carpets would have hidden a multitude of outdoor sins.

If folk have carpets, they're usually plain and neutral. Who would want their expensive (show every dirty mark) carpets ruined, costing thousands to replace just because someone wouldn't take off their shoes?

Why should they be left with the huge cost to replace, or else have a filthy carpet looking like a shit hole?

Numerous other countries take off their shoes. Japan, Middle East etc. It's bloody dirty outside.

Have you looked at the soles of your shoes recently?

RainbowMum11 · 27/11/2019 21:51

Of purely for comfort. I would always take my shoes off in other peoples houses out of courtesy, unless they were wearing their own shoes and said not to worry about it.

Cloudyyy · 27/11/2019 21:51

Wow I’m really shocked that people would walk into someone’s house without taking off their shoes 😱 I would be horrified! Gross and so rude!

Interested in this thread?

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JamesBlonde1 · 27/11/2019 21:52

And why do people walk around in bare feet?

I thought that's what slippers were for. Everyone I know wears slippers in the house! Shoes off, comfy slippers on. Simple.

Chickenwing · 27/11/2019 21:53

I hate it if people ask me to take my shoes off. I do it to be polite, but I have never had "muddy" shoes as I dont ever walk on mud before going visiting.... whipping out your socks in someone else's home feels wierd.

BentNeckLady · 27/11/2019 21:54

Shoes on. We don’t have carpets downstairs.

ringme · 27/11/2019 21:56

Shoes off and we have slippers to change into as we step in.
Outside shoes by the back door too.

whyamidoingthis · 27/11/2019 21:57

@Whiteroverbaby - I don't think it can be kept clean.

You stated up thread We have artificial grass which I keep clean

The topic is 'shoes on or shoes off'

We segued into discussing your grass when, in response to your abhorrence at the notion of your child crawling on a floor actual shoes had touched, someone queried whether you allowed your child to crawl on grass.

Nikki360 · 27/11/2019 22:01

Off! I can't stand shoes on in the house. I even have a little sign that says shoes off please ! Soon as I saw it I had to buy it ! Workmen either take shoes off or wear shoe covers.

Gogreen · 27/11/2019 22:02

We do both! When we come home all
Of us take our shoes off and get into slippers, because it’s habit and that’s just what we automatically do as soon as we walk in.
We have a very White House but that’s not the reason why, we just love slippers.

People visit and ask me if they should take their shoes off when they come in and see my home, I tell them no, keep your shoes on, I wouldn’t take my shoes off if I was a guest in someone’s house, as I wouldn’t have slippers to put on.

So we take our shoes off, but visitors are not required too, how unwelcoming demanding that they do so, it’s jusy a floor....clean it!

Whiteroverbaby · 27/11/2019 22:04

@whyamidoingthis
You are very amusing. Don't worry if you ever came knocking on my door I wouldn't ask you to take your shoes off, I just would let you in.

Whiteroverbaby · 27/11/2019 22:07

@whyamidoingthis
You are very amusing. Don't worry if you ever came knocking on my door I wouldn't ask you to take your shoes off, I just wouldn't let you in.

whyamidoingthis · 27/11/2019 22:08

@Whiteroverbaby - Don't worry if you ever came knocking on my door I wouldn't ask you to take your shoes off

Excellent. And I'll say nothing if you take your shoes off. Do give me advance warning though, so I have time to wash the grass.

Whiteroverbaby · 27/11/2019 22:21

@whyamidoingthis
Oh fabulous if you could that would be splendid and make sure you have extra sharp uneven slabs and rocks outside, it's apparently important for my babies/child's development.

Bluelightdistrict · 27/11/2019 22:31

@Whiteroverbaby agree with you entirely. I feel the same about certain soft play with balls etc yuck Envy

whyamidoingthis · 27/11/2019 22:44

@Whiteroverbaby - make sure you have extra sharp uneven slabs and rocks outside, it's apparently important for my babies/child's development.

I know you're new to all this sort of outdoorsy texture germ-ridden stuff, but there is a difference between helping your child's development by exposing them to different environments and trying to injure or kill them Grin

Developmentally appropriate is the tag line.

ChaiNashta · 27/11/2019 22:46

Shoes off - we've got carpets. I don't mind house slippers.

I actually don't know anyone from my culture who wears shoes in the house though. It's considered unclean to do so.🤷‍♀️

whyamidoingthis · 27/11/2019 22:46

@Bluelightdistrict - ball pools in soft play are absolute cess pits.

whyamidoingthis · 27/11/2019 22:49

Pressed post too soon. Here's the link for the ball pools.

www.nhs.uk/news/pregnancy-and-child/are-childrens-ball-pits-really-riddled-killer-germs/

megletthesecond · 27/11/2019 22:52

Off! I don't want outside crud walked around my house. We're usually barefeet

It's also because I'm lazy and it reduces cleaning.

Treq · 27/11/2019 22:53

Shoes off but I live in a muddy/cow/horse/sheep shit area and I dont want it brought inside.

Bluelightdistrict · 27/11/2019 22:54

Oh yuck EnvyEnvyEnvyEnvyEnvy(not envy)
Thanks for the link, now I no longer need to explain to my family why I won't take my preemie to soft play. Disgusting.

Icanflyhigh · 27/11/2019 23:04

Shoes 0ff!! We've not long moved to a new house with a brand new WHITE carpet 🙈🙈

Who puts a white carpet in a rented house??!!!
Poor DCs weren't allowed in the living room for the first month just in case and DP was made to strip in the hallway so no muck fell off his work stuff😂😂😂

firesong · 27/11/2019 23:06

I take mine off and get my children to take theirs off at home. I don't tell visitors to do anything, and if they ask I say to do whatever is comfortable for them. If it's really muddy out people just take them off and yes, I might suggest it in that case if they didn't do it automatically. I don't think either way is gross or disgusting. It's just feet and floor.

When I'm a visitor I usually ask if I should take them off.

whyamidoingthis · 27/11/2019 23:09

@Bluelightdistrict - now I no longer need to explain to my family why I won't take my preemie to soft play

People are actually suggesting that? They are totally insane.

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