To walk barefoot in someone else’s home?

[Sheerdetermination]

My parents think my DP is wrong (ie. rude) to pad around their house barefoot when we are visiting. He does this when he’s wearing sandals outside. As they don’t like this, he now puts socks on when he takes his shoes off at the door.
But what if he/I were dropping in on a friend for a cuppa while wearing sandals? Should we have a spare pair of socks/slippers with us? I don’t think so! AIBU to think it’s ok to be barefoot on someone else’s carpets?

Mine are beautiful. Tanned, pedicured and soft with turquoise toenails like little jewels.

That just draws more attention to the hideous things.

It doesn't improve them.

@HoldingTheDoor

It doesn't improve them.

It does to the people without footphobias

Wow am so shocked at the replies. Is this an English thing? Since when is it rude to be barefoot in someone's home? Unless they have some foot issue, I don't see the problem. But then again I come from a background where it's rude to walk with dirty shoes indoors

Really??? I'm in sandals all summer, I take shoes off automatically at the door, unless people provide slippers I am barefoot, never questioned it

@PammieDooveOrangeJoof

I've done this for over 40 years without anyone saying anything. Why are people funny about feet?

I bet half those offended by bare feet's, happily have their pet animals roaming around freely, god knows verruca germ they picked up outside

@HoldingTheDoor

I fear for your hands if they're virtually identical to your feet.

I don’t see why. Slightly different dimensions - top of foot longer than back of hand and toes shorter than fingers. But other than that, you look at them and just see normal skin the same as on the rest of my body and nails the same as on my hands except smaller.

Ugh, definitely don’t want other people’s bare feet in my house.

Seems Cinderella's animators didn't like feet either.

I would be genuinely surprised at a professional (health visitor /social worker/home nurse etc) being barefoot in my house. I would really hate that.

@HoldingTheDoor

I fear for your hands if they're virtually identical to your feet.

My mind is boggling at what they can do with their feet. I certainly couldn't muck out the chicken coop or poo pick a field with mine

Do 'shoes off' households insist pets put shoes on when they come in the house since they walk about in bare feet outside? Also, what if someone has been walking about outside barefoot, can they put on shoes when they come in your house to avoid traipsing all the pigeon shit, spide cum etc into the house? What if I were to turn up to a party with a pair of inside shoes in a bag tgat have never been worn outside, would you let me wear them (think in Germany it is standard to have inside shoes for house parties)? And how clean are your floors because if I've got dirty feet from walking about in bare feet on your floors then will you let me wash my feet and put on my clean shoes in your bathroom? And what do you do at work / pubs / restaurants / cinemas / shops, do you wear shoes there? And if so why, aren't you worried about the state of their carpets.

As far as the bacteria/fungi goes, you are much more likely to get a microbe that will infect your feet by letting people walk around in barefeet in your house than by letting people walk around in shoes. No-one ever got a verruca during a visit to a bookshop but it's a common hazard in swimming pools because everyone has bare feet.

@JaninaDuszejko

Do 'shoes off' households insist pets put shoes on when they come in the house since they walk about in bare feet outside? Also, what if someone has been walking about outside barefoot, can they put on shoes when they come in your house to avoid traipsing all the pigeon shit, spide cum etc into the house? What if I were to turn up to a party with a pair of inside shoes in a bag tgat have never been worn outside, would you let me wear them (think in Germany it is standard to have inside shoes for house parties)? And how clean are your floors because if I've got dirty feet from walking about in bare feet on your floors then will you let me wash my feet and put on my clean shoes in your bathroom? And what do you do at work / pubs / restaurants / cinemas / shops, do you wear shoes there? And if so why, aren't you worried about the state of their carpets.

As far as the bacteria/fungi goes, you are much more likely to get a microbe that will infect your feet by letting people walk around in barefeet in your house than by letting people walk around in shoes. No-one ever got a verruca during a visit to a bookshop but it's a common hazard in swimming pools because everyone has bare feet.

The cat gets a pass, because she's cute and furry and purrs a lot. She does sometimes trail muddy paw prints that I have to clean, which is why I prefer humans not to do the same if they can help it.

I've not yet had a human guest who routinely walks around barefoot outside on pavements and grass and pigeon shit. If I do, I'll probably be a bit more encouraging when I offer them slippers.

Inside shoes that haven't been worn outside are fine, they're like slippers. I'm just trying to keep the floor clean, I can do a little critical thinking when the situation requires it. It's shoes I like to remove, not frontal lobes.

My floors are pretty clean. Sweep up/hoover weekly or as required. But I'm not very judgemental on these things. People are busy.

Not worried about the carpets in public places, I don't live there. They usually seem pretty clean anyway, especially in places where food is prepared.

Hope that helps.

I meant they are virtually the same in appearance rather than function but you are should be able to use your feet enough pick up small objects and be able to move your big toe independently. If you can’t, you need to spend more time barefoot!

@PattyPan

Being grossed out by feet is incredibly bizarre. Do you also ban visitors from wearing shorts so you don’t get their leg sweat on your sofa and don’t have to see their leg hair?

Yes, or handsweat, or hair.

Come and pad around my house barefoot all you like, its a fucking foot, if your feet were dirty, because you know, feet/sandals, id offer you a wipe or you can use my bath.

What is wrong with people 🤦🏽‍♀️

Bring socks. In many cultures it’s as rude to go barefoot indoors as it is to wear shoes.

I wouldn’t like barefoot guests, what if they have verrucas or a fungal nail infection, or sweaty smelly feet? They’re walking on my rugs and carpets, often tuck their feet up on the sofa. Or they have plasters on their toes or hanging off their heels. Or dry flaky skin and cracked heels or athlete’s foot!

Some people find bare feet very off putting. Even clean, pedicured feet.

I always have a pair of pop socks (the low cut trainer type with the cotton sole so I don’t slip) in my bag; they take up less space than a tampon and are very useful if we unexpectedly get invited somewhere. DH wears socks visiting too and I don’t let DC go barefoot in other peoples houses, if they’re in sandals I bring slipper/socks.

I generally go out with my phone, and in the back of the case I have a credit card and my driver's license.

If I'm driving somewhere I'll also have a car key.

I should add to that a bag containing socks now? How bizarre.

Bring socks. In many cultures it’s as rude to go barefoot indoors as it is to wear shoes
Any examples?

So I guess the only relevant question, is whose culture trumps whose then? Or, of course, we could all stop being so precious and let guests decide what to do with their feet, considering that bare feet, socks or non-visibly dirty shoes are all going to have equal effects on us - i.e. literally none whatsoever.

@lazylinguist

So I guess the only relevant question, is whose culture trumps whose then? Or, of course, we could all stop being so precious and let guests decide what to do with their feet, considering that bare feet, socks or non-visibly dirty shoes are all going to have equal effects on us - i.e. literally none whatsoever.

No, hosts decide. It's their home.

But if you won't allow bare feet, I do think you need to offer guests slippers or socks. You can't expect them to carry socks all the time.

No, hosts decide. It's their home.

Says who? I'm pretty sure that hospitality is traditionally based on the treatment of the guest. Some people might be more interested in making their guests feel comfortable and welcome than they are in having lickable carpets or having their eyes protected from the utter horror of seeing a human foot.

You can crawl around my house on your knees if it makes you happy. I don't care if you're wearing socks, shoes, bare feet or flippers. If you're here, it's because I value you more than I value the odd bit of foot flake on my floor. Because, well, friends are better than floors. Really.

But, if you want me to put my foot in someone else's slipper, I'd heave. Slippers smell. Not meant for sharing.

@lazylinguist

No, hosts decide. It's their home.

Says who? I'm pretty sure that hospitality is traditionally based on the treatment of the guest. Some people might be more interested in making their guests feel comfortable and welcome than they are in having lickable carpets or having their eyes protected from the utter horror of seeing a human foot.

When in Rome... If you don't like the rules of a place, don't go there. It's the host's home you're using, and the host who will have have deal with any consequences of you not being in their preferred state of footwear.

Would you wear a skimpy dress and drink wine in the house of an observant Muslim family who would be very unhappy with it because it made you feel "comfortable and welcome"? You make yourself welcome by being respectful of the environment you have chosen to enter.