No Shoes in the House?
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A not-so subtle but lovely sign by Never Without
We have a “No Shoes” policy in our house. Most people “get” why we have it but I have friends that are totally irritated by it but silently de-shoe.
When I see their annoyed reactions, I wonder, “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 and carpets makes me steadfast. We had a party recently and we had everyone take off their shoes. I got some really dirty looks. 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.
I would just like to mention that for people with OCD it is even more important that the NO SHOES policy be followed. I don’t think anyone understands how much we go through to keep things clean and the simple request of, “please take your shoes off before entering the house” should not be that big of a deal. Yes, I understand that some think it is stupid, but shoes do carry bacteria and dirt and poop and all kinds of other things that we try really hard to keep out of our homes. So I am all for the No Shoes policy!!! And I wish people would be more understanding of people with things like OCD who can’t control the fact that they have to have things clean. Thanks. -Randi
we remove all outdoor shes in the entrance. we have hardwood and vynal in most of the house and my daughter and I get sore feet if we don’t have “slippers” on (dawgs, crocks or other easy on footwear with some sort of sole) to give support — that way we are not tracking a lot of outdoor stuff inside. tho sometimes we do wear the outdoor wear in the house, but not to often. good to know this
I’m from Canada and it is a cultural expectation for us to remove our shoes when we enter a house. To me it seems wierd to me that this is even an issue. It’s respectful not to dirty someone’s place with your dirty shoes.
Great to know Mary. But it sounds like so much effort to clean everything after you have a party! How often do you have a party? I think it’s the right thing to do though- not to ask everyone to take off their shoes for a party. I like your idea of investing in a steam cleaner. Thanks for the idea!
I love a no-shoes policy and have had a shoe-free home since 1991. Cleaning is so much easier and knowing that I can fold laundry on the clean living room carpet gives me great joy. When we have parties where people are dressed up, we forgo the policy. The next day, we scrub up the kitchen and foyer floors and shampoo the main-traffic area of the carpets in the rooms our party-goers have tromped through. I highly recommend a nice Hoover steam cleaner, they’re inexpensive and give you great peace of mind. We have guests that get irritated by the rule, some seem to take it personally. I don’t get it. Whenever we visit anybody’s home, when greeted at the door, we always ask, “Would you like our shoes off?”
We are fortunate enough to live in a relatively “leafy” part of london, but even so the roads and pathways are filthy. We have expensive floors and most certainly everyone takes their shoes off in our entrance hall. My boys know to take their shoes off when visiting their friends and thankfully their friends are polite enough to do the same when they visit us. I was brought up always take my shoes off in my own home and to at least offer to remove my shoes when visiting. On the whole i would say that finally its the norm here to take shoes off at the door.
Hi Carmen
I have to say the shoe covers work really well and they are so cheap it’s worth it for the people who won’t remove their shoes (mainly workmen and that’s for safety reasons generally.)
I thought people had some great comments too! Thanks for yours as well.
Thanks for the support. I admit to running up and down the stairs for a forgotten phone, keys, paper, etc with shoes on b/c I am too lazy to untie them to get what I forgot. Otherwise, all shoes stay in the hall and never ever leave there!
I agree with you- NY is a dirty place. It’s been interesting to get some comments that people wouldn’t ask for “no shoes” outside of NYC. I guess we all know how dirty our city is!- like you said ” a tacky stew”- love that phrase.
Hi –
Having been in the mom business for 20 years, just a bit longer than work, I can say that at times you could’ve eaten off my studio floor; but it might not have been a good idea in my apartment, after my son stopped crawling…..
We’re shoes off inside, unless someone cannot take off shoes, or if there is a party, as mopping will follow. I support Clean dirt for kids to play in, but city sidewalks and gutters create more of a tacky stew, though we are in good shape compared to our urban forebears at the last turn of the Century…. Thank you for the slipper thoughts, and all the other observations and suggestions!
I 100% agree with the no shoes policy. Having spent years living and traveling in Asia, I became accustomed to it, but living in NYC has convinced me that there is no other way to live. Between the pee, poop, garbage and vomit on the street, shoes don’t leave our entryway!
I grew up in a no-shoe household and to be honest, I have a hard time understanding why people would even *want* to wear shoes at home. It’s more comfy without, and cleaner too! Seems like a no-brainer to me.
By the way, I love the idea of keeping shoe covers for workmen and offering hotel slippers to guests! So glad I took the time to read the comments.
Enforcing no shoes inside used to be a hit and miss policy at my house.
There is a new device called lace-amatic that acts like an instant on/off switch for laced shoes. I saw a workman easily slip out of his knotted shoes while still carrying his toolbags at my front door. He didn’t even bend over, just used either foot against a release catch and they slipped off. http://www.lace-amatic.com shows them on video. Now I’ve outfitted my family. They are not designed for young kids shoes or for boots but for work, walking and running shoes they are an evolutionary jump in convenience. http://www.lace-amatic.com shows them on video..
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!