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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think wearing shoes indoors is disgusting?

542 replies

CJ2010 · 07/03/2011 20:24

I have a 'No shoes worn in the home' rule at my own house but I have noticed that a lot of people are not fussed if peps walk into their houses with their shoes on. Why do they allow this?

Last night when I arrived at my mum's, she ordered me not to enter the living room, as she had accidentially trod dog poo through the room and was busy scrubbing the floor. All because she bizzrely wears her shoes in her home. How hard is it to take your shoes off in the hallway, once you get home?

I tried to hide my annoyance as it is her home, but I wouldn't allow DD to crawl about on the floor. The room stunk of poo and i felt sick.

AIBU?

OP posts:
usualsuspect · 08/03/2011 22:34

yes,we all have swimming pools

BaroqueAroundTheClock · 08/03/2011 22:39

yes not only did I find a pair of pink boots, but I found a pair of Timberlands all rolled into one \link{http://www.timberlandforyou.co.uk/Timberland-Women's-14-Inch-Premium-Boots/Timberland-Women's-14-Inch-Premium-Boots-Pink-White.html'tis these} have had them a while now so they've dropped in price a bit (if you buy them new new)

They may not be a "feminine" style - but that morning I felt like Cinderella - not suprisingly a pair of brand new with tag boots going for £20 had attracted a lot of attention - and she reckoned she'd had about 10 women in before me trying them on..........and their feet were all too big Grin

theinet · 08/03/2011 22:39

i never used to take shoes off but since i got my own place and OH has always insisted on it, i automatically do now.

Always feel slightly awkward asking visitors and sometimes wimp out of it partic if OH isnt around.

However i have come to realise that it is pretty foul walking through your home with shoes that have walked all over dirt and grime in the streets and pavements outside.

overseas, partic in s europe, greece etc it is customary to take off shoes when you go to someone's house - people just do it automatically.

feel same way now about sitting on sofas etc in clothes after having being on bus or public transport, i always change now. You don't know who's sat on the seats or what has been done there - i don't want foulness in my home thanks.

usualsuspect · 08/03/2011 22:41

You change if you have been on the bus Shock you need therapy, seriously thats ott

CointreauVersial · 08/03/2011 22:42

Grin theinet - you should get yourself some of those lovely plastic covers for your sofa.

Or perhaps ask guests to change into paper overalls before they sit down?

Maybe a disinfectant spray booth could be installed near your front door?

ShavingGodfreysPrivates · 08/03/2011 22:44

When my children were at nursery (Montessori dontcha know) I don't remember being asked to remove my shoes at the door when I went to pick them up. Plenty of children playing around on their carpets and nobody ever died of dogshititus.

What about in the summer when people go round in sandals, ballet pumps etc with no socks and sweaty feet? I'd rather they kept their shoes on than rub potential toe jam, athletes foot and verruccas on my nice shag pile.

ShavingGodfreysPrivates · 08/03/2011 22:46

You change if you have been on the bus you need therapy, seriously thats ott

That's what I originally thought.

Then I remembered the amount of people fessing up about their sharting on the other thread ....

doley · 08/03/2011 22:48

Baroque you really did find a fantastic bargin .

I take back my request for you to find something more "feminine "
your bargin shop has made me a bit Envy

Maybe practice doing them up/undoing a bit faster though Wink :)?

usualsuspect · 08/03/2011 22:49

I'm sorry but thats fucking madness ..I catch the bus everywhere, I ain't got enough clothes to get changed every time Grin

BaroqueAroundTheClock · 08/03/2011 22:50

doley - my bargain shop is absolutely bloody fantastic - actually with my social fund loan paid off and my water bill having been paid until April I may just have to pay a visit next month to spend my "water bill" part of my monthly budget on something - haven't been for months!

RachelHRD · 08/03/2011 23:02

Baroque do you realise the potential for catching some dodgy foot disease from all of the people who tried on your boots before you bought them?!?!? ;)

I'd take them off now if I were you!!!!

BaroqueAroundTheClock · 08/03/2011 23:05
Grin
theinet · 08/03/2011 23:16

think about it. you sit on the bus or tube in your jeans or work clothes on the crappy old seat . Then go home and sit on your nice sofa or bed.

Who has sat on the bus or tube all day ? Fetid tramps, bag ladies picking their arses, dogs with fleas, pissed up people coughing sneezing and eating chips.

Public transport is extremely dirty and you bring that into your house. You only have to watch people on public transport in London to see! Am sure we are not alone in doing this.

lesley33 · 08/03/2011 23:39

Are you joking theinet? I can't believe you are serious.

I know - I'm going to insist on wearing gloves whenever I have to shake someone's hand. Just think, you don't know where their hand has been...and then you have to touch it!

ShavingGodfreysPrivates · 09/03/2011 00:33

I think the OP should invest in some of these or nick them from the local swimming pool

Perhaps theinet could get some arse-shaped ones for when they use public transport.

expatinscotland · 09/03/2011 00:36

Who actually gets a damn seat on public transport?

Gawd, I thought I was going to go into labour on a Lothian bus, standing up.

With DD1, I'd regularly have to go upstairs, where it's technincally not legal to stand up, but who's looking it's 5.40PM, and regularly find myself next to a smoker or someone just ponging from any number of things.

I yaked the entire time with her, even during labour.

I'd have to just get off.

expatinscotland · 09/03/2011 00:40

I'm also very glad so many here never had to live in some seriously dirty places. Manila and some parts of Latin America spring to mind . . .

Gawd, when you can't get any water, and it's stultifyingly hot and humid and full of bugs and you just feel like shit even if you don't have the requisite shit illnesses.

Rather puts it all into perspective . . .

rupert1 · 09/03/2011 01:20

I have had a shoes off notice in my latest house for last six years works very well.We have a 3 year old girl and this removes the worry of dog poo.Carpets are still like new cream colour,but despite a clear notice in the porch Shoes of now, there are a few well dressed visitors that totter in and say im sure my shoes are clean and don't take them off.Just because there isn't a wacking great lump of turd up the side of them.Most of my friends have a shoes of policy in their homes.I live in a small village in devon and although most dog owners do pick up, there is visably remnants of trod on poo here and there all over the place ,its a bit worrying when i have spoken to various people about dog poo here and there and they say they have lived there for 20 years an never seen any.lets hope they take their shoes off.

52Girls · 09/03/2011 05:50

They probably don't understand the sign in your porch, Rupert. Smile

papooshka · 09/03/2011 06:13

Its the culture where I live (Singapore) that you take your shoes off before you enter anyones house.

I never really thought about it when I lived in the UK, but I will definitely carry on doing it wherever we live next.

exoticfruits · 09/03/2011 08:09

I never knew there was such a problem with dogpoo or that people were so careless where they walked or didn't notice they had stepped in it. Dog owners seem quite good at clearing up these days and I have always noticed straight away on the odd occasions that I have stepped in it.
Better have white boiler suits made before people sit on your sofa, if you can't be sure where they sat last!

NinkyNonker · 09/03/2011 09:06

We automatically take them off at home, uncomfy otherwise. We have wooden and flagstone floors though so would never ask others to, their feet would be freezing. (We wear slippers the whole time. Blush)

Wouldn't cross my mind to ask to be honest.

wordfactory · 09/03/2011 09:25

Here's the thing, of course anyone can do as they pease in their own home. Shoes off or on as you choose.

However, when you insist guests take off their shoes you need to know that many do feel uncomfortable...both at the time of asking and throughout their visit.

We are just being polite by not showing it.

Now you can take the view that frankly, it's your home and you don't give a fuck how your guests feel. That's fine.

But please don't fool yourself into thinking that no one minds. It's silly.

SeeJaneKick · 09/03/2011 09:27

Why would people feel uncomfortabale about taking their shoes off? If they are clean then no problem...if not then that's just manky.

wordfactory · 09/03/2011 09:33

Well, some people, my Mum for instance, finds it very difficult due to arthritis.

Also her feet are quite disfigured from it, so she would feel dreadfully self conscious.
Also, without slippers, she would be dreadfully uncomfortable.

For me, I just think I feel a bit daft sitting in my socks or tights, particularly if I had no idea I was going to be asked to remove my shoes. I might have any number of ugly socks on. As I say, at the aprty I attended, one chaps socks were full of holes, my friend ended up in day glo pink socks 9hilarious with Maxmara) and I went bare footed and it was freezing.