Do you take your shoes off?

[Jaxxie]

Do you take your shoes off when you enter your home? Do you make kids take their shoes off? I am finding more and more people are not allowing shoes to be worn in their homes.

[Brenda2000]

Only if they are muddy or dirty...otherwise I don't worry about it.
DH is the worst offender.....always coming in with muddy shoes.

[momof3girls]

I try to get everyone to take their's off when they come in. When we come in our house it is our mud room, so everyone is usually really good about taking them off right away.

[eldo]

Absolutely. First, I don't like the idea of tracking dirt into the house, but also I'm concerned about chemicals from the lawn and possible dog poop and bugs. When I see how dirty the bottom of my kids' shoes are, there's no way they're bringing that stuff into the house.

Problem is, my DH likes to come in from work, put his briefcase down in the den, go to the kitchen for a drink, then go to the bedroom to change. THEN he takes his shoes off. But the kids and I always leave our shoes in the mudroom on our way in from the garage.

[tracy72]

it is not a have to do thing but we just do......we come in the like dining room door so it is just a habit to kick them off

[kells3]

No, my carpet is such a mess it really doesn't mater anyway. LOL Now when I get new carpet that might be different.

[eldo]

I'd like to add that I never ask visitors to remove their shoes, but a majority of them do anyway. Guess it depends on what's norm at their own homes.

[kayemjay]

I take mine off most of the time just because I like bare feet. I don't ask visitors to take theirs off but they get the hint when they see the pile of shoes near the door.

[mayfly]

We take ours off to save wear and tear. Also I read a study that said there were more chemicals found in the carpet than a treated lawn, from shoe wearing. My kids will sneak in with their shoes on when they want a drink. I will yell at them if I catch them doing it too much. I try not to make a big deal of it with adults, if they wear their shoes.

[Shainie]

Yes, we usually take ours off and most people take theirs off when they come in our house. It maybe is a regional thing, because I think we had this conversation in here before? And some people said they'd never take their shoes off or never expect people to or whatever.

Then there was the bare feet issue - which grossed some people out. Socks don't touch my feet all summer long. lol It's either barefoot or in sandals.

Growing up we never even thought about leaving our shoes on in other people's houses. We'd be smacked upside our heads if we did!

[eldo]

Originally Posted by mayfly

I try not to make a big deal of it with adults, if they wear their shoes.

My DH's uncle is the worst offender. He used to wears his dirty gardening shoes around our house, leaving a chunks of dirt everywhere...ugh. He was oblivious to it (his wife forbids shoe wearing in their house!), and I kept my mouth shut as not to be rude, so I would have to clean up after they left. When it became a regular problem, I casually asked the aunt how all this dirt got on the floor and we followed the trail to where he was sitting. His wife chewed him out for making a mess (she's a neat freak) and now he takes them off when he comes in (sometimes she still has to remind him).

I always take my shoes off, then put on my houseshoes. It is just so much more comfortable. Since I fell a couple weeks ago, and broke nearly everything, coupled with the fact that I work around kids, public all day I immediately take a shower and change in to my jogging clothes. We haven't really been going out of late. I am just too tired. I think it is a good practice not to track dirt into the house.

[mayfly]

ROFL!!! ELDO thats awesome! What a sneaky/polite way to do it.

[Jaxxie]

Well the reason I asked this question is because of my neighbor. He comes over to borrow items and I will say "come on in" and he will take his shoes off. The only shoes I ask to be removed in my home are gardening/work shoes. No offense to those who do require shoes to be removed but I don't want your planters warts, athlete feet on my carpeting. Also, I have 3 dogs and the entrance to my home to the kitchen is hardwood so even if you track something in very easy to mop up. Anyway I will ask my neighbor NOT to take his shoes off and he does anyway. Kind of irks me. My sister is opposite of me she does ask kids shoes to be removed, she also has no pets. Her problem is the neighborhood kids in the summer come running through the house barefooted. But their bare feet are filthy and track in more dirt than shoes do.

[Brittwoman]

My shoes come off the second I come home from work! I work in a hospital and I don't want to bring any of those "kooties" into my home