No Shoes in the House?
We have a “No Shoes” policy in our house. Most people “get” why we have it. ** Some of my friends are totally irritated by it but silently de-shoe. When I see those reactions, I think, “Oh, should I just forget asking them?” But the idea of that gum, poop, lead, pesticides and spit on the city streets ending up our floors makes me steadfast. We had a party recently and we had everyone take off their shoes. I got some really dirty looks though. There is something unfair about asking a woman to bare her stocking feet at a party. I could give out slippers I guess. However, slippers don’t cut it with a black dress. What do you all do? Always shoes off or only sometimes or never??
Here are some thoughts about a “No Shoe” policy by parents on the Berkeley Parents Network (an awesome resource if you don’t know about it)
- We have a no-shoes policy in our house, but decided not to ”enforce” it with guests. After all, we are the ones most frequently tracking dirt in, since we live here. However, most guests seem to take the hint from the lined up shoes, and automatically take their shoes off. If they don’t, we do not ask them to.
- If I go casually (dropping by or ‘just us folks’, etc.) to a friend’s no-shoe house, and they provide clean socks (if winter) and decent slippers or zories, and they let me leave my shoes inside- I’m fine with it. But, if I go to an event such as a party or holiday dinner, and have dressed up nicely, I really resent having to take off my nice looking clean shoes and put on schleppy slippers. I feel deprived of looking my best and it strikes me as inconsiderate.You always have to clean up after an event anyway, and a few sets of shod feet won’t make or break a nice floor or carpet (especially compared to spilled food and drink), so what’s the big deal!?
So, here is my reason for initiating a “no shoes policy” (from Bellaonline.com)
**In 1991 the EPA conducted a study called the “Door Mat Study” that measured the amount of lead dust that was in homes. The study found that in homes where there was a doormat at the entrance and where shoes were NOT worn, there was a marked reduction (about 60%) of lead dust and other chemicals in the home. Not only that, but in homes where shoes are removed, there is a reduction in allergens and bacteria being tracked into the house.Removing shoes has been scientifically proven to reduce contaminants in the home. If that still doesn’t convince you to have your family remove their shoes before entering the house, then think about how much longer and nicer your carpets and floors will stay and how much easier it will be to clean if shoes aren’t permitted in the house. When you look at it like this, it won’t be so hard to ask family and friends to remove their shoes before coming into the house.
Tip: Follow Martha Stewart’s suggestion of a boot tray with rocks to let the ice and snow drain. (See photo)
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We live in a ground floor apartment with no entryway or division between the street and our livingroom save our front door – the family takes shoes off as soon as we come in. And most younger guests do the same, especially in the winter. But its not a policy and I would never ask anyone or insist unless it was obvious – like, in a snowstorm where there would be water and ice all over the floor, or mud. We have our shows lined up near the door, so people usually get the idea. But my dad is 75 years old and decidely old school and would HATE to have to walk around with stocking feet and so I would never make it an issue with him or others who might feel the same way. There is a delicate line between having your own way in your own house and making your guests feel uncomfortable and put upon – i would rather forgo my “rights” for a couple of hours then make people feel that I don’t care about theirs. And I also think that people are WAYYY too neurotic about dirt these days.
Stephen – you took the words right out of my mouth (or keyboard)!
for workmen I bought shoe covers in extra large size to cover their boots. I ordered them in a box of 100 (they last forever) from shuebeez.com. Most don’t mind.
Shoes off is the way to go where we live. Lead levels are high in urban environments and I feel no qualms explaining this to guests. If they are friends, they’ll live through it!
Since we have 4 stories, I will allow workmen on the street level to come in but they need to remove their shoes if they go upstairs.
For parties I will allow a few resistant partygoers to keep their shoes on but I will clean up afterwards.
What about when you have workers come to fix or deliver something? I feel foolish asking them to take off their boots.
We have a “no shoes” policy, but we do not enforce it when we have parties. It is unfair to ask people whom you invited over for a nice evening to walk around in stocking feet.
we recently started this in our house too, but it’s a struggle. i hate asking others to de-shoe when they come over, but so far most people just get the message when they see our shoes.
thanks for that quote from the EPA – ewww!
I think that no shoes in the house is a great policy! who needs all that mud and dirt, yuk!
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All you fastidious parents should read the NY Times article about the health benefits of eating a little bit of dirt and worms;
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/27/health/27brod.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=dirt%20health&st=cse
those are great ideas…think the wipes r super smart.think will try that !
hello-
we have a no shoes in the house policy too. we stock up on the free slippers from each hotel visit (we use our own there and bring home the wrapped packages of fresh slippers). i keep the hotel slippers in the basket by the front door, along with a bunch of no slip socks and people can use which ever the prefer while at our home. the hotel slippers are generally washable too- so you can reuse them. we have not entertained any fancy gatherings, but if we did, i guess we could give wipes to guests to lightly run across the bottoms of their fancy shoes to eliminate any contaminants. even a damp cloth would do. we try to do this with our dogs feet each time they come inside- they get filthy! they don’t seem to mind- but i know that people might.
we also have 3 mats- one outside of the front door, one inside in the vestibule, and another in the entryway inside of the house. that helps us reduce the amount of grime that comes into the house.
good luck!