Re: Is your home Shoes ON or Shoes OFF?

We have a no shoes policy in our house , esp with a crawling baby who then puts her hands (and anyting else in her mouth). If someone is older and cannot take off their shoes, they don't have to. Or workmen, delivery men, etc- they can't either. But for friends and family, they pretty much know to take their shoes off. I walk thru the subway everyday - I cannot imagien what I would track in if I walked in my house with shoes!

Re: Is your home Shoes ON or Shoes OFF?

For us, it's just habit to take off shoes when we come in. But it's not all the time, we do wear shoes in the house at times.

For my guests, I don't care. I would never make them take off their shoes. If they want to, seeing that we do, then great. If not, then they have the choice to wear shoes and I don't care at all.

Re: Is your home Shoes ON or Shoes OFF?

I voted other. My shoes come off the second I walk in the door, because I just like having my shoes off.

I never ask my guests to take their shoes off. But they usually do, if it's wet out.

Re: Is your home Shoes ON or Shoes OFF?

We have no policy, but we don't make our guests take their shoes off. They are welcome to if they want. Personally, I am not supposed to walk around without shoes and orthotic inserts because I have flat feet and plantar fascitis in my heel. I used to walk around without shoes at home, but now I always have something on. If I walk around someone's house without shoes because it's their policy, I will likely end up with bad heel pain, so I find it very inconveient.

Re: Is your home Shoes ON or Shoes OFF?

We take our shoes off as soon as we get home. We started doing this religiously once DD started crawling. Our close family will also do the same when they come by (my ILs, my mother) but we don't ask or expect guests to do so. I have a mop and vacuum and am not afraid to use it

Re: Is your home Shoes ON or Shoes OFF?

I voted shoes off. I don't appreciate moping all the time (although I love cleaning)... Plus I don't want germs on my tiles or carpet more than what it accumulates. IMO

Re: Is your home Shoes ON or Shoes OFF?

Re: Is your home Shoes ON or Shoes OFF?

Re: Is your home Shoes ON or Shoes OFF?

Thanks for all the responses.

I warn everyone ahead of time so they can be prepared, when i have parties, i make all guests line their shoes up at the door
I will offer slippers to everyone if they want mostly everyone brings their own

from kids to 90 year olds no shoes allowed
Service people have to wear booties over their shoes. My cleaning people take their shoes off as well.

I do not want to have to repoly my floors anytime soon,

Re: Is your home Shoes ON or Shoes OFF?

I never ask my guests to take their
shoes off because I dont like taking my shoes off in other peoples homes .

Most likely:

my shoes are part of my outfit

or im wearing big thick boot socks

or if i have stilettos on, Ill have on tights or nothing on my toes (what if my feet are sweaty or i dont have a pedicure?)

none of those scenarios bode well for no shoes for me...it makes me uncomfortable

Now, i also dont enjoy scrathes on my floor, however I have area rugs in high traffic places.

Message edited 1/25/2011 1:44:13 PM.

Re: Is your home Shoes ON or Shoes OFF?

Re: Is your home Shoes ON or Shoes OFF?

It's so funny because I did think about bringing my slippers when we went for dinner to our friends this weekend.

At this time of the year there is so much sand and slush on my shoes that I rinse them off at home as soon as I take them off so I'm conscious of dragging dirt throught someone else's home. I would welcome being asked to bring my slippers - myself and my sister always do at one another's houses.

Re: Is your home Shoes ON or Shoes OFF?

We don't wear shoes in the house b/c of germs. My kids will eat anything that falls on the floor (mostly cheerios)...
We prefer guests take off their shoes - but I don't make an issue out of it - aside from the playroom.

Re: Is your home Shoes ON or Shoes OFF?

Shoes on. However, I love my slippers on right when I get home. But for anyone who wants to wear their shoes on in my house, go for it.

Re: Is your home Shoes ON or Shoes OFF?

shoes off.. eekkkk especially after walking all over the subway and nyc.. and guests too, for some reason they see us shoeless, slipperless and so they remove their shoes as well..

Re: Is your home Shoes ON or Shoes OFF?

OFF! I have hardwood throughout. I am always barefoot. I love the cold floor. It grosses me out if my floor gets dirty and I bring my feet into our clean bed with whatever else someone has walked into our house with. Close family-I would shoot them at the door if they don't remove their shoes, lol...they know my policy!! If someone asks should they take off their shoes- I politely ask if they don't mind taking off their shoes, I'd greatly appreciate. Large parties, I say nothing, but take a long concentrated effort to rub my shoes at the front entryway and then take them off at the entryway to walk in barefoot. Many guests thankfully follow suit.

Re: Is your home Shoes ON or Shoes OFF?

We leave our shoes on. The only thing we don't like is shoes in the nursery and shoes in the living room since DD plays there alot.

Re: Is your home Shoes ON or Shoes OFF?

we will take our shoes off if coming in from rain/snow but we will not ask our guests to take their shoes off

ETA we have hardwood so i just mop as it gets dirty

Message edited 1/27/2011 10:18:38 AM.

Re: Is your home Shoes ON or Shoes OFF?

I could never ask someone to take their shoes off in my home. If they are coming over, as a guest, I just can't do it. I bought a nice entryway mat/rug so hopefully they wipe their feet as best they can and that's that.

For my husband and I, especially with bad weather, we have a metal boot tray at the door and we will take our shoes off when we come in because we have (for the time being) a lot of carpet in the house. With me and him, yeah we take them off but asking a guest to take their shoes off - I just can't do that.

Re: Is your home Shoes ON or Shoes OFF?

On. I have enough to worry about - worn floors are the least of my problems.

Re: Is your home Shoes ON or Shoes OFF?

I take mine off at the door especially in this weather.......and leave a towel for extra "shoe drying".

I wont ask my guests to take their shoes off. As much as I'd love to, I feel its rude....unless they take it upon themselves to; then thats a different story.

I just sweep and mop when they leave........no big deal.

Re: Is your home Shoes ON or Shoes OFF?

I am also one of those who would never dream of asking guests to take off their shoes.

My DH, on the other hand, is like a previous poster's DH and from Eastern Europe and the front door of IL's house was a huge pile of shoes DH takes his shoes off in everyone's house and I never take mine off unless my feet are tired.

I find it weird to take shoes off in someone else's house and as a few others pointed out, it is often part of an outfit, sometimes I have sweaty feet (and they might smell), and sometimes if it is too warm in someone's house, my feet will swell and I won't be able to put my shoes back on

Re: Is your home Shoes ON or Shoes OFF?

Im extremely anal about this. ESPECIALLY on my carpets. I hate asking guests to remove their shoes, so I dont. I secretly cringe when I see them walking around my house with shoes.

Re: Is your home Shoes ON or Shoes OFF?

I would never tell/ask someone to take their shoes off in my home.

I just know some people are not prepared to be barefoot/sock footed and I want guests to be comfortable.


We take our shoes off almost as soon as we get home and most of our family and friends do too, but we don't ask them-except for my younger brother. But he is a nuisance not a guest

Re: Is your home Shoes ON or Shoes OFF?

shoes off, doesn't bother me if we have guests but most people just take them off.

Growing up at my grandmother's house they have a sign by the door asking people to take their shoes off. I always thought that was so rude.