Do You Ask Your Guests To Remove Their Shoes - Page 5

[Tofu the Geek]

Originally Posted by MommyErin

As for it bringing pollutants into the home, you can't tell me that every single person here who removes their shoes in the house for health reasons also has a home without an attached garage (another, far more serious source of pollutants in the home). Or that they have no toys or household items or dishes with lead paint. Or that they have all organic matresses. Or that there recently build homes have no chemicals in the materials used to build them. Or that their older homes don't have lead paint. Or that they never use non-stick cookware. Or, in fact, that they are doing the "perfect" thing in regards to any of the thousands of other ways pollutants can enter the home.

I'm working so hard on so many other parts of making an environmentally safe and responsible home that the little bit of dirt and pesticides that come in on my shoes just isn't at the top of my priority worry list.

On the flip side, if a person is trying to lead a green lifestyle and removing shoes does reduce the dirt, pesticides, animal feces, etc. brought into your home, why not do it? It's an easy way to move to the greener side (if we're using a greener lifestyle as an argument for removing shoes). It's cheaper and easier than moving to a new, greener home. Cheaper than replacing all the mattresses or cookware in home. Not that people can't do those things as well (and I've done a good chunk of everything on your list), but sometimes it's easiest to start with the simple things.

[Peppermint Leaf]

Wow , this post is getting quite heated. Don't you think that regardless of what everyone elses policy is on this topic - you have the right to enforce it in your own home!!

I don't think it matters weather its Canadian or Cultural or even Generational.

If I came knocking at YOUR door and you had your street shoes on - I wouldn't dream of telling you that you were wrong and you should remove them -- because its YOUR HOME !

If I came knocking at your door and I was smoking *(which I don't) and you asked me not to come in with my cigarette - of course - becasue its YOUR HOME !

So -- when you come knocking at MY door and you have your street shoes on and I kindly ask you if you wouldn't mind removing them before entering my home -- why is that an issue -- its MY HOME!!

I don't get too many strangers at my door who want to come in -- so most visitors already know before they arrive -- so they are going to make sure they have clean socks on and/or arrive with their own slippers-- and they also know there are more than 12 pairs of slippers in my entranace closet if they would prefer. But ultimately its MY HOME and if you are coming into MY HOME you should respect me and my family.



That is my opinion anyway

[Erin+babyAndrew]

Originally Posted by Decluttering Nut

Wow , this post is getting quite heated. Don't you think that regardless of what everyone elses policy is on this topic - you have the right to enforce it in your own home!!

I don't think it matters weather its Canadian or Cultural or even Generational.

If I came knocking at YOUR door and you had your street shoes on - I wouldn't dream of telling you that you were wrong and you should remove them -- because its YOUR HOME !

If I came knocking at your door and I was smoking *(which I don't) and you asked me not to come in with my cigarette - of course - becasue its YOUR HOME !

So -- when you come knocking at MY door and you have your street shoes on and I kindly ask you if you wouldn't mind removing them before entering my home -- why is that an issue -- its MY HOME!!

I don't get too many strangers at my door who want to come in -- so most visitors already know before they arrive -- so they are going to make sure they have clean socks on and/or arrive with their own slippers-- and they also know there are more than 12 pairs of slippers in my entranace closet if they would prefer. But ultimately its MY HOME and if you are coming into MY HOME you should respect me and my family.



That is my opinion anyway

I totally agree here. For me it comes down to hygiene. Shoes that have been worn outside in parking lots covered in spit, gum, transmission and brake fluid, gasoline, oil, hepatitis etc. etc. absolutely do not belong on the floors where my children play. I'd never let my toddler play on the dirty streets of downtown so I'll not let people's shoes bring it into my home. to me it's common sense.
I can sort of see the point of those who think it's rude to not wear shoes in the house...but..I wonder what miss manners has to say?

[Crystal Pegasus]

I live in South Australia, and- in the circles I move in anyway- it is not the norm to remove your shoes when visiting someone. I've only been to one or two homes in my life where people have done this- they had shoes by the door, so we did it out of respect, but it was unusual.

I often don't wear shoes at home, for comfort more than anything. Neither does my son. My husband wears shoes most of the time, once he's fully dressed and ready for the day. But when we visit someone, it would only be in houses where we felt really at home that I would take my shoes off, and I doubt my husband would anywhere else... he'd just feel too uncomfortable. My son often does with friends or relatives... as kids do. But even he wouldn't at the home of someone we didn't know well. I think most people would be taken aback if we took our shoes off... think it was weird and a bit "off colour".

I agree and understand the idea behind it though... I'd love to not have stuff walked in on my floor! The hygiene isn't as much a problem as the grit, these days, as my son is 13 years old, and not crawling as much as he once did.

However, we have a housemate who lives with us and I would not want him to take his shoes off!!! He has atrocious foot odour, and his jogger type shoes make his socks/feet stink even later on on a day he has a shower. So I'd much rather have them covered!!

We have hardwood polished floors, but don't seem to have much of a problem with marks on the floor from shoes, dogs, or anything. We all just basically wear joggers or flat shoes in our household anyway. And we don't have a lot of visitors, and those we do have don't generally wear high heels either just to visit us.

If I ever did think we'd be better off with a "no shoes policy" I'd never ask a guest to take them off though. I realise most would be very uncomfortable with the idea. I'd just leave an obvious pile by the door and leave it up to them. (I would ask them not to smoke though, however I don't think many people would here these days when they visit our home- not without asking first. This is a strong enough issue for me to do this, while shoes would not be.)

[texmati]

I posted in the other thread, but didn't explain myself. We take off our shoes but it is more a cultural/ respect issue. We also take off our shoes at temples. I'm surprised that so many people consider it a matter of the floor getting dirty.

I wouldn't put my floor above my guests comfort. (And yes, we have people/family over quite often). The most I have had to do is say " Would you like to take off your shoes." Then if they wanted to leave them on I wouldn't say anything after that. Nor would I consider it any more rude than me not eating a meal at someones house because I'm a vegetarian. or just plain picky. :-)

[Peppermint Leaf]

Emily Post

Here is Emily Post's take on it:

Removing Shoes in the House
By Peggy Post


My clean-freak friend makes visitors take off their shoes before entering her home. Can I refuse if I know I won't track anything in?

A hostess is within her rights to ask guests to remove their shoes -- especially if it's snowing or raining outside. If it makes you uncomfortable, bring an extra pair of your own shoes so you won't have to go barefoot. In fact, she should offer slippers so you won't be cold or embarrassed. That said, a good hostess should be flexible. If she doesn't know her guests well or is having a big party, she should suspend the no-shoes rule, at least for one night.

[SantaMonica]

If I'm having one or two guests, yes, I ask. If it's a group or a party (which I don't have often!), then no I don't. I just know I'll need to mop and vacuum well the next day!