Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

Explain slippers to me

229 replies

Namenumber3 · 13/12/2023 23:14

Genuinely don’t get slippers and thought Christmas might be a good time to ask.

So you’re in the house, taken off your shoes or boots and you have tights or socks. It’s inside so tights and socks are warm enough. When you want to go outside you slip on crocs, plimsolls whatever.

I don’t get slippers. Why do you need shoes indoors?

OP posts:
Womencanlift · 14/12/2023 00:23

I’m with you OP. I don’t really like anything in my feet so will take my socks off as soon as I get in and happily walk round bare footed at any time of year. And yes I have rooms without carpet but I don’t really feel the cold

I do have a pair of boot style slippers that I will put on if I have guests as they don’t need to see my bare feet but they come off as soon as the guests leave

DaveDidIt · 14/12/2023 00:26

Because I don't wear tights and socks come off as soon as I get home.
Because they save my feet getting wet if I stand in spilt stuff.
Because it saves pain if I stand on a piece of Lego or similar.
Because I can nip outside to the bin etc without having to fanny about with footwear.
Because I don't slip on the tiled floors.
Because they keep my feet warm.
Because they keep my feet clean.
Because I like them.

NewtonPulsifer · 14/12/2023 00:28

I am mid 40s and have never owned a pair of slippers. No one in my family does either. We just don’t have cold feet or particularly skippy wooden floors.

We don’t wear our shoes indoors, just socks. We also don’t have the heating on other than taking the chill out ther air. We are “always hot” people.

Whilst we don’t have them, I understand that other people do and whilst they aren’t for me as my feet would boil, l understand some people have cold feet and need to be kept warm. Each to their own and all that.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

Clothing General shopping General style & beauty
badg3r · 14/12/2023 00:31

Tiles get cold (in my opinion carpets are significantly more disgusting than slippers 😉).
We have Lego.

Saz12 · 14/12/2023 00:33

Because I wear wellies 12+ hours a day, so no-one appreciates the rough-hewn organic, artisan beauty of my bare feet.
My feet get cold, then they get cramp.
Theyre comfy

Alphabet1spaghetti2 · 14/12/2023 00:51

Because socks aren’t great when you stand in cold water splashed on the floor from dog bowls, or in cat food the cat doesn’t like and are painful when you stand on toy balls and Lego.
slippers rule!

edit to add and so much nicer than bare feet if you visit a house which has a no outdoor shoes rule. For both you and the host. I take my own everytime.

theduchessofspork · 14/12/2023 00:55

They are a mystery to me OP..

What is wrong with socks hmm?

Also they are so so so unsexy, I was a bit harsh with someone on another thread who said she wouldn’t fancy her wife with short hair - I think I might be a hypocrite now because I think if my DP started wearing slippers I might never shag him again..

theduchessofspork · 14/12/2023 00:57

I take my own everytime.

@Alphabet1spaghetti2

You don’t?!?! 😱

If someone turned up at my house with their slippers I would keel over

suki1964 · 14/12/2023 01:11

According to the HSE England, slippers reduce falls by 60%, I cant post a link so google

I started wearing slippers in my 40's. Didnt like them and felt barefoot or socked feet were better. But then the fashion to hard floors came in

Now I love my slippers, have about 6 pairs dotted about the house and always ask for a pair for Christmas

FloofCloud · 14/12/2023 01:14

Comfort, warmth and cosy

Caswallonthefox · 14/12/2023 01:17

I live in a cold building.
My feet are cold whether it's summer or winter
I don't like stubbing my toes
I have no intention of ending up on my arse going downstairs.
Stops outside spreading inside.
I take my own slippers when visiting family.
Socks are warm up to a point. Slipper socks are not as convenient.
And standing in random cat sick is less of a problem when wearing slippers.

Whataretalkingabout · 14/12/2023 01:32

I think most slippers are ugly and should only be worn in the bath/bedroom. In my house everyone must wear house shoes because regular outdoor shoes are not allowed indoors. Who would want people walking around with outdoor muck on their floors? And also , I can't stand the idea of my socks getting dirty on hard floors! The horror!

coxesorangepippin · 14/12/2023 01:39

My feet are always cold

Even with socks on

I need slippers too

SinnerBoy · 14/12/2023 01:46

TheUsualChaos · Yesterday 23:32

Do you wash all your shoes then OP?

My thought exactly!

Catsmere · 14/12/2023 01:52

Slippers are softer and less confining than shoes. They're warmer than socks. If you use orthotics you need something to hold them. Walking around in your socks is a good way to wear holes in them.

CaraMiaMonCher · 14/12/2023 01:54

Well I live in a 120 year old house with a selection of hard floors throughout the ground floor, including ceramic tiles, LVT and laminate, and further ceramic tiles in my bathroom upstairs. Walking around on those in socks/tights simply isn’t warm enough, so slippers it is.

At my partner’s house we all wear slippers/sliders because he has two course haired dogs who shed, and we’d constantly have dog hairs embedded into the soles of our socks and tights if we didn’t.

Alphabet1spaghetti2 · 14/12/2023 01:56

theduchessofspork · 14/12/2023 00:57

I take my own everytime.

@Alphabet1spaghetti2

You don’t?!?! 😱

If someone turned up at my house with their slippers I would keel over

Hell yes I do!! Having had to endure lunch where the house had under floor heating which didn’t work in October (it was freezing) and the host insisted on outdoor shoes being off… I learnt my lesson to always always always take your own slippers. cold feet equals a very miserable me and just socks on ice cold stone floors is bloody dangerous!

Nonimai · 14/12/2023 02:06

Wow. I am already jealous that you live in a house where this isnt self explanatory.
easy answer - cold floors.
The horrid truth in our chilly old house is that I am the last person to wear their slippers. All the rest of the family are wearing them now but I haven’t been - and I now have chilblains. Be warned, people , at first you think you have athletes foot, you may spray anti fungal on to calm the stinging. It doesn’t go. Your feet/ toes burn in bed. Sometimes you get actual blisters. It’s horrid horrid horrid and that’s what happens with a cold house and no slippers.

Nonimai · 14/12/2023 02:11

Sorry, second post -But considering the cost of heating, this is a really thoughtless thread.

Scottishskifun · 14/12/2023 02:20

They keep your feet warmer then just socks as your not losing heat out the bottom.
We have a mixture of flooring types, carpet and tiles and it's very cold especially on the tiles. We don't wear shoes in the house it brings more dirt in and you can definitely wash slippers just gently and in a mesh bag

Topseyt123 · 14/12/2023 02:35

I wear them for comfort and warmth in cooler months. What's so hard to understand about that?

Contrary to your claims, most of them absolutely can be washed.

I hate getting cold feet. If my feet get cold, I am cold, and they take absolutely hours (or so it feels) to warm up again. So slippers it is.

I LOVE MY SLIPPERS!! I even have a pair of microwavable ones for when my feet are being particularly stubborn about warming back up again.

BrimfulOfMash · 14/12/2023 02:48

Lego

lavenderlou · 14/12/2023 02:48

My feet are cold in just socks.

CeciledeVolangesdeNouveau · 14/12/2023 02:50

My mother likes me to wear them.

Also have execrable circulation and cold floors (stone etc) so they slide on in a situation like using the bathroom at night.

Makemydaypunk · 14/12/2023 03:01

I envy people who can walk around in bare feet, my feet are permanently cold, even in the height of summer I have to wear socks and slippers which really annoys me, I want to sit in my house wearing flip flops but no I have to wear unattractive socks and slippers it enrages me!