Thoughts on a shoe free household…

I'm a no shoes house because I prefer to go barefoot, but when I was married, XDH wanted a shoe free house. I would never tell anyone to take off their shoes though and if they asked, I just told them whatever made them feel comfortable. I think being a good hostess is making people feel comfortable in your home so I would never want to make anyone feel uncomfortable by insisting they take off their shoes. Some people can be really weird about going shoeless.

The best man at our wedding prefers people to wear their shoes at his house, for exactly this reason.

I have never told anyone they have to take their shoes off, and I didn’t grow up with that idea. Many people will do that automatically because that’s what they are used to but if they ask I tell them to do what they are comfortable with. I will put a rug on the floor by the front door when the weather is bad, so there is a place for shoes if needed.

One thing we liked about the floor plan of our house is that you can come in the front door, the back door, and the door from the garage and get to the kitchen, the bathroom, the laundry room, and any of the other doors without stepping on carpet.

My husband would generally keep his shoes on when he came home from work, but he would go barefoot or just wear socks if he hadn’t gotten dressed to go out that day (weekends, for example). Once he was dressed to go out, his shoes usually stayed on until he got undressed, unless they were dirty from yard work. I, on the other hand, don’t put on shoes unless I’m going out, and almost always take them off when I get home or come in from the yard. 

I just read something the other day about how the germs and dirt that are tracked in on your shoes are not as bad/gross as many people think. I think "they" said that it might be more of a concern if you have small children who spend more time on the floor/put things in their mouth. I grew up on a farm and kind of figure exposure to germs was healthy (gross shoes and work boots were taken off, but not other footwear).

I think it is about what you are used to and comfort more than cleanliness.

I grew up in a shoe free house and just can't imagine wearing anything with a rigid sole inside. I like having my feet curled up under my butt when sitting and it just wouldn't be comfortable with shoes on.

I live in Norway. Nobody wears outdoor shoes indoors (and to do so when visiting someone will ensure you are never invited back). If you wear indoor shoes, you will bring them with you when visiting someone. I will not have my floors ruined by someone who is too rude to comply to the most basic social standards.

We don't have any carpet in the house so shoes inside are fine, I've never worried about catching anything from the floor, it's not like I lick it or eat off it.

Shoes in a house totally freak me out. And yes I have dogs, we wipe their feet after walks (not a whole bath but a quick swipe).

And carpet is ick.

Reason 23 why I can’t move back to America 😂

This is exactly what I was going to say.

Don’t dogs walk on pavements/sidewalks? Or grass where other dogs have urinated or done their business? I can’t see there’s a lot of difference between shop floors and sidewalks/parks etc.

We live in an urban area so who knows what we are stepping in on our walks. My son is immobile right now but once he’s crawling we will be even more strict about being a no shoes house. I don’t even like to bring our stroller inside and we usually leave it in our garage.

The more people/animals that walk around with outside shoes, the more dirt and other stuff you track in. Just because cats and dogs put their dirty butts all over the furniture and other areas of the house doesn’t mean the whole family should.

another canadian here. i don't recall going a single home where people wears shoes inside? it is so weird to me. and i am totally not a germaphobe... my house is rarely spotlessly clean, most of the time barely passably clean. occasionally if someone forgets something, they grab what they need with shoes on i guess but it is the exception.


and no, i don't ask people to take their shoes off, they just do. there are signs at open houses when houses are for sale asking people to please remove their shoes, so i guess some do wear shoes inside. even trades people usually offer to take their boots off, or have little fabric stretchy things to put over them.

every kid who has walked thru my door automatically takes their shoes off too. my son had a video game bday party once with a truck parked out on the street. there were 14 boys (incl my two) and they kept coming (shoes off) and going (shoes on) from gaming truck to my house (25 feet) all afternoon!!!

this has me thinking.... what would i do if i invited someone over and they just came striding in with their outdoor shoes???

I, too, grew up in Canada, and don't know anyone who wears outdoor shoes inside there.  It's just not common.  Pretty much everyone has slippers or "house shoes."  

We've lived in Cali for 30+ years where snow is never an issue and rain is sooo very rare these days.  (I think that's a big reason people have "no outdoor shoes in the house" policies.) Due to pollens and pesticides, plain old dirt, etc. I don't wear my outdoor shoes in the house. Take them off at the door and put on my Clark's sandals. The arch support is good enough that I don't need orthotics, the shoes are only worn in the house and stay clean. DH is getting better about not tracking his dirty "out in the world shoes" through the house too.

I’m from Norway. Entering someone’s house without taking your shoes off is very rude here. Nobody wears outdoor shoes inside. That doesn’t mean it’s rude everywhere.

I personally can’t imagine walking around in shoes all day long. My feet are much happier without shoes, with natural movement.

What do you do with the people who just can not go without wearing shoes? Diabetics, elderly, foot problems?