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?

I always carry socks if visiting someone and I'm not wearing any just in case they have a no shoe home.

This is so weird! I never thought it was a thing but then I grew up in a hot country.

I'm fine with my guests going barefoot and with being barefoot myself at someone else's home if the owner lets guests do that. I bring socks with me though.

I can't get worked up about bare feet, I prefer if guests take their shoes off to save my carpets (although the dogs are now doing a good job of running like lunatics in circles so probably no point worrying about that anymore)
If I'm close enough for you to be coming to my house to visit then I'm not arsed about your feet, my best friend sits with her feet up on my couch with no socks, none of us have died!

I don’t like feet so I’d prefer someone to wear socks but it’s not really a big deal

Their house, their rules though

I've never even thought about this.

I used to work for a family who had a slipper rack in their front porch. When you arrived, you had to take your shoes off and they would ask what size shoes you are and select you an appropriate pair of slippers to wear.
Maybe all the people who hate anyone being barefoot in their house, should adopt a similar system?

If you crazy freaks insist on people taking your shoes off coming into your houses you can't complain if the person was wearing flip flops and have no socks. If you're so house proud maybe just don't have people round to your house

Feet that have been protected in shoes are going to be far cleaner/more hygienic than outdoor shoes. Walk barefoot in my house any time OP, my cat does and you can't be dirtier than my kids.

No problem with people being barefoot, would
Much rather that than them walking around in their dirty shoes!

I think it’s gross sorry I agree with them!

Wouldn't even register with me. I don't like being barefoot in others houses unless I've just had a pedi though, as don't want my feet on display so usually bring socks in my bag! But seriously I just want people to be relaxed on my home so people can do as they please within reason.

[quote Taliskerskye]@LassLa
It’s not a minefield. If you have shit or dirt on your shoes take them off. How is that hard,[/quote]
Other people have just told me to to keep them on. We didn’t spot the goose poo at first, it was discovered when we got home. What if I got goose poo on my sandals BUT I didn’t know AND I didn’t have fluffy socks at the ready? Do I take them off or risk my (clean, non-fungusy) feet in someone else’s house?

Bare feet fine. But no shoes in this house. It’s the law!!!

Family members no probs, but I don't ask for shoes off, even though it is our personal rule. I might if they traipse round the whole house and came everyday - but still, bare feet fine. Wouldn't be keen on non family going barefoot but I wouldn't say anything- I also wouldn't ask for shoes off. Many people despise feet though, so I don't go barefoot in other's houses. I would take socks if not wearing any. It's quite a common phobia, and men's feet can be particularly gross.

How the fuck do any of you procreate 😂

Fungal infections and dropped toe nails indeed.

Wouldn’t bother me at all.

I don't like shoes indoors but bare feet also really bother me. If someone had sandals on I would just keep my mouth shut and let them leave them on but it would make me very uncomfortable to be honest. If I'm visiting someone else's and I have sandals on I always take socks in my bag.

@ScottishNewbie

Grew up in NZ. Shoes inside are considered incredibly rude. Everyone is always barefoot inside lol

Agreed! Used to live in Oz & couldn't bear wearing shoes when I came back here. I'd far rather people went barefoot in my house, the thought of cat/dog/rat urine & faecal traces on shoes from the roads and pavements is yuk.

It's interesting how people who are phobic about bacteria on shoes have no appreciation for people who are phobic about bacteria on feet.

What do shoe phobic people do if a barefoot person/child wants to come into the house from the garden or wherever?

For some reason I find the thought of sweat and fungus from someone else's bare feet a lot more squicky than whatever nasties may be on the soles of your shoes. I do understand that's not logical.

Logic is never much in evidence on threads like this. It's a gut 'ick' factor, not actual reasoning. Yes, there are bacteria on shoes and feet (and clothes and hands). Are the shoes-on brigade getting ill from wearing shoes inside? I seriously doubt it. Possibly because they don't lick the floors. Presumably you don't take your shoes off when you go in shoes, cinemas, theatres etc? So what are the terrible consequences of wearing (non-visibly muddy etc) shoes inside?

I wouldn’t go barefoot in someone else’s house andI wouldn’t like it if someone walked around barefoot in mine. I wear or take socks when shoe shopping. Did even before covid. The idea of putting my sweaty bare foot (and feet do always get sweaty even if they’ve been washed that morning) into a shoe where other people’s sweaty bare feet have been makes me feel ill.

@Taliskerskye yes I always go out in socks or trainer socks. I find it uncomfortable walking in shoes with bare feet. Open toed shoes not my style.

I'm baffled by the widespread disgust for feet! Removing outdoor shoes makes sense to me as it drastically reduces the regularity of needing to sweep and mop. Just common sense.

But feet themselves. What's so gross about them? We all have them. They are very useful things at the end of your legs that help you walk along. Why all the eurrggh at the thought of someone's feet touching the floor? Do you find kissing revolting? Two people pressing their bacteria and virus ridden food-holes together? As you're all on mumsnet I suppose most of you are mothers and have had sex? i.e. been penetrated by someone else's body part that piss also comes out of? Or do your husbands pop their cocks in the steriliser before being allowed entry?

Feet don't bother me in the slightest. But then I am the daughter of a podiatrist and used to come home from school every day and walk past people in the hallway aka waiting room with their shoes and socks off ready for their appointment.

As an aside I don't understand the other end of the spectrum either (the eroticisation of feet).

I don't think socks are a sensible alternative. Very slippery if you have hard floors. My kids remove shoes and socks when they come in for this reason (both injured themselves when younger slipping over in socks). Besides socks won't stop sweat, skin flakes, bacteria etc coming into contact with the floor. They are only a thin layer of woven fabric.

I know some people absolutely hate feet, I guess they may be worried about Verrucas or something too… I’d probably bring socks and I do wear Birkenstocks a lot myself. Maybe socks and sandals?

I don't go barefoot anywhere and definitely would not do this in someone else's home.