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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:
expatinscotland · 10/03/2011 16:43

Just in case you've unwittingly met up with an anally retentitive freak who's precious about their carpets, in which case, once you've found out, hitting the road seems like a better idea than putting on used slippers or freezing from the soles up.

exoticfruits · 10/03/2011 16:44

It must be a new thing. I remember when my brother was in cubs, there was a list of things like money for a phone box (going back a few years here)but there was no mention of emergency socks.

LadyBiscuit · 10/03/2011 16:56

Does anyone remember that episode of Sex and the City when Carrie was made to take off her Jimmy Choo shoes at the apartment of a couple who'd had a baby and someone nicked them? That's what this whole thread is reminding me off - I would rather leave the party than have someone steal my Manolos :o

I really don't understand this obsession with clean floors. Don't you wash them? Do you sit on them or eat off them or lick them? No, you walk around on them. I don't wear my shoes in bed so I'm not sure where this dirt from my floors is likely to end up Confused

prettybird · 10/03/2011 17:02

Maybe I shouldn't mention that our two pampered cats are allowed everywhere in the house, including Shock on the bed and under the covers! Grin

I haven't yet managed to train them to put on kitty socks when they come in from outside Wink

diddl · 10/03/2011 17:12

People who don´t want to remove shoes when visiting-do you keep shoes on at home?

RachelHRD · 10/03/2011 17:13

LoL at SATC I remember it well!

Do you sit on them or eat off them or lick them? not very often but my DC's do - and at least I can retrieve food off the floor for the baby and know it is relatively clean otherwise it would cost a fortune every mealtime!! :)

diddl · 10/03/2011 17:16

"LoL at SATC I remember it well!"

Yes-but didn´t they leave the shoes outside?

Even I find that weirdGrin

Well, taking "dressy" shoes off just spoils the outfit.

usualsuspect · 10/03/2011 17:21

'People who don´t want to remove shoes when visiting-do you keep shoes on at home?'

sometimes I do if I'm in and going out again
mostly I go barefoot at home
but even if my shoes are off it doesn't mean I expect my mates or family to take theirs off

but my teenage ds's friends always remove their shoes if they are going to his room ..more fool them ,I wouldn't go in there without shoes on Grin

diddl · 10/03/2011 17:27

So you don´t wear shoes at home but would at other people´s?

LadyBiscuit · 10/03/2011 17:28

Sometimes I wear slippers because they're warmer than shoes. I have a fetching pair of purple furry ones on right now. But that's the first time I've put them on all day because I've only been in the house in half hour bursts so I don't bother.

BadBagel · 10/03/2011 17:30

diddle I don't wear my shoes much inside the house but that is because I find it more comfortable, nothing to do with hygienic floors. And when I am in and out of the house I can't be bothered to do the musical shoes game :) I will never demand my visitors to take off their shoes though.

I don't mind taking off my shoes at other peoples house when I know them well and it's an informal visit, but it's the whole 'don't come in until your shoes are off because it's disgusting' attitude that irks me.

I know my grandparents would just leave as they would find hosts on socks disrespectful :)

diddl · 10/03/2011 17:31

I just wondered, if you don´t wear shoes indoors at home, but wouldn´t take them off at someone elses, is it because you´re not happy with just socks on?

If you usually wear slippers at home, would you be OK with wearing them at someone elses house?

I´m talking about visiting friends/family here, not dressed up for a party.

majorydoors · 10/03/2011 17:34

YANBU

expatinscotland · 10/03/2011 17:38

'Yes-but didn´t they leave the shoes outside?'

No. They left them in the entryway of the couples' home, so it was another guest who stole them.

usualsuspect · 10/03/2011 17:39

When I'm at home and not going out again I'm usually sprawled out on the sofa or in my pjs ...so I don't get your argument really

LadyBiscuit · 10/03/2011 17:41

I quite often take my shoes off at my parents' house but then I won't be going out again all day. It's the being made to take them off that I find irksome. And if I were going round for a party/dinner party, I'd think it was downright odd.

lesley33 · 10/03/2011 17:41

I always wear shoes at home. Unless I have come back from being out in party shoes - they are not so comfortable so I would take them off.

lesley33 · 10/03/2011 17:44

I personally hate the idea of taking slippers to someone else's house. It seems such an old fashioned thing to do. My gran used to do this - not to keep the floor clean - but because she felt more comfortable like this. I feel too young to do this! Its the equivalent to having a tartan shopping trolley imo.

usualsuspect · 10/03/2011 17:44

People can do what makes them feel comfortable in my home ...I would never dream of making them do anything they didn't want to do

so my final answer is ...they can wear shoes,holey socks or big fluffy slippers for all I care

Stangirl · 10/03/2011 17:49

Sorry OP but I think people who don't allow shoes to be worn in their house are a bit nuts.

mathanxiety · 10/03/2011 17:53

I was brought up to wear shoes at all times. Dad's family did this because his parents lived in India and the fear of scorpions etc., remained ingrained even when they returned to Ireland. Mum's family were farmers and wellies were always removed and replaced with proper footwear. We have indoor and outdoor footwear here. Anyone who visits can do what they want though.. A lot of people who come through immediately take off their shoes and I suspect they do this in their own homes too.

microfight · 10/03/2011 17:54

I do wear my shoes at home unless they are uncomfortable, why DDL

HouseOfBamboo · 10/03/2011 18:00

I don't like walking around with just socks on at home, it's uncomfortable on hard flooring, and it's grim if you step on a wet patch on the kitchen or bathroom floor and are not quite sure what you've just stepped in Grin

I do change into slippers in the winter for warmth and comfort, but in the summer if I'm wearing flip flops I just carry on wearing them.

gomummygo · 10/03/2011 18:06

OK, now I'm just nosycurious. Never been anywhere that people wear shoes indoors, so I may be way off the mark, but would it not be an air quality issue? This thread has made me so curious about people wearing shoes indoors that I've had to google it (wearing shoes indoors+air quality)! ShockBlush I would think it would be the things brought in (ie. pesticides, etc.) more than damage to the floor?

Figgyrolls · 10/03/2011 18:09

I would have said yabu until the weekend when my niece didn't even wipe her feet then trod muck throughout the upstairs of my house (where she had no reason to be!!!!!!) on my BRAND NEW PALE CARPET.

Feel better now, she isn't going to be allowed in the house again!! And I know it was her because I caught her - at 10 frankly she should be able to wipe her blinking feet!