Wearing shoes in the house

Bill Jennings said:
Never did that growing up, still don't. I mean, I get it, it keeps the house a lot cleaner, but...

And it doesn't help that back when I was battling plantar fasciitis that the doctor told me to keep my shoes on all the time even when home. He was right, it helps.
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Ryanb said:
Fair enough. I guess my point is that common courtesy should tell you to abide by what the homeowners requests are. I usually ask when entering if they want me to remove my shoes or not, most seem to indicate they would, others don’t have a preference. Not like it’s that big of a deal, it’s just having the couth to show respect in someone else’s home.
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I was going to mention this as well. I injured the plantar arch in my foot and it would not heal, until I stopped going barefoot. I generally avoid going barefoot to avoid the potential to re-injure it.

I've also been on boats where the owners insist on no shoes. In the case of both houses and boats, I've always negotiated the use of non marring sole, never been worn anywhere but inside a house (or boat) shoes. If the owner isn't reasonable enough to accept that compromise, then that owner is probably not someone I want to hang with anyway.
 
redtail said:
You left out dog poop and human vomit:D

The real question is, why would I be walking around the streets wearing cellphones instead of shoes? :rolleyes:
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There's a reason cell phones are verboten in the food industry. Touch subway banister, touch cell phone. Touch smeary glass window, touch cell phone. Rest cell phone on toilet in gym while using facility. Loan cell phone to friend to call Mr. X. Cell phone sits on car seat for a while, then goes into back pocket. And hardly anyone disinfects their cell phone. But no one has me leave my cell phone at the door when I go into their house. My point is...rules based on "dirt" and "germs" are as much cultural and/or personal preference as anything.

Personally I find people's bare feet kind of gross (how do you know if they keep good personal hygiene?), but another thinks shoes that someone has been wearing outside are.
 
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chartbundle said:
Why would I put my cell phone near my mouth?

If it rings I usually just throw it across the room until it stops.

If they don't know how to use email or text I'm sure I don't want to talk to them.
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That made me laugh. Are you a millennial?

I dated a woman who was about 16 years younger than me for several months. Extremely attractive, intelligent and generally interesting and fun to be around - but also a little high maintenance. She was on the border between Gen X and Millennial (while I am the last baby boomer) and she had this thing about not calling unless someone texted first to check if it was ok to call. That struck me as odd and it was one of a few generational things that caused me to eventually kick her to the curb, which made me aware of another of her hangups. She got upset as no one had, at least by her report, ever broken up with her. She informed me that she broke up with men, men did not break up with her. So I continued dating her for a few more weeks until she finally "decided" to break up with me.

Whatever it takes to make the crazy go away and stay away...
 
If people come over to our house and casually ignore the clean-room guest bodysuits we have hanging on pegs in the foyer, nor avail themselves of the blast chamber off to their left to decontaminate themselves of the out there, they're just being obstinate and will likely not merit an invitation to future events.

Seriously, though, who provides wool socks for guests? :D I'd expect to get the strangest looks if I entered someone's home and started trying on random hosiery I found lying about the place, then having the cheek to strut around socially in mein host's own socks like it was a basic tuesday.

Considering most homes are covered in dust, which is just sloughed off skin cells, who cares about some tracked in dirt from shoes? I assume these same people never open their windows and their house smells like aerosolized Aunt Mildred? Yuck.
 
If someone comes to my house wearing Birkenstock sandals, I want them to keep them on. I guarantee the bottom of their shoes are cleaner than the bottom of their feet. :D

I always wear my slippers in the house, but I don't wear them in public or even outside, so I know they're clean, or as clean as shoes could be.

I used to think slippers were stupid, but they've become something I wouldn't want to live without if I didn't have to.
 
schmookeeg said:
If people come over to our house and casually ignore the clean-room guest bodysuits we have hanging on pegs in the foyer, nor avail themselves of the blast chamber off to their left to decontaminate themselves of the out there, they're just being obstinate and will likely not merit an invitation to future events.

Seriously, though, who provides wool socks for guests? :D I'd expect to get the strangest looks if I entered someone's home and started trying on random hosiery I found lying about the place, then having the cheek to strut around socially in mein host's own socks like it was a basic tuesday.

Considering most homes are covered in dust, which is just sloughed off skin cells, who cares about some tracked in dirt from shoes? I assume these same people never open their windows and their house smells like aerosolized Aunt Mildred? Yuck.
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This post--maybe not the one I deserved, but the one I needed today. Thanks for the lolz.
 
Larry Vrooman said:
That made me laugh. Are you a millennial?
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Nah, I'm old enough to realize that a ringing phone only ever brings bad news. Growing up I used to run to the phone to answer it. Only advantage now is caller ID tells me just how bad the news is before answering.
 
chartbundle said:
Nah, I'm old enough to realize that a ringing phone only ever brings bad news. Growing up I used to run to the phone to answer it. Only advantage now is caller ID tells me just how bad the news is before answering.
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Almost as bad as certified mail...
 
Kuma said:
My point is...rules based on "dirt" and "germs" are as much cultural and/or personal preference as anything.
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Agreed.

The rest of your post about cellphone germs, is totally irrelevant to the OP, which is strictly talking about tracking in filthy crap from the filthy streets and spreading it all over my floors. :rolleyes:

Some of us have a "personal preference" that others don't do that!;)
 
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redtail said:
Agreed.

The rest of your post about cellphone germs, is totally irrelevant to the OP, which is strictly talking about tracking in filthy crap from the filthy streets and spreading it all over my floors.
Some of us have a "personal preference" that others don't do that!;)
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Exactly what I meant. No pants or cell phones are allowed in my house. They bring in all sorts of filthy stuff from outside.
 
Kuma said:
Exactly what I meant. No pants or cell phones are allowed in my house. They bring in all sorts of filthy stuff from outside.
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So you are hellbent on equating cellphones (and now pants) to the bottom of a pair of street shoes and what they are exposed to on the public streets and sidewalks...hahaha. OKAY

I would have absolutely no issue complying, as long as you provided a secure place to leave my cellphone and pants.:D ...or I'd leave them in my car.

As for pants, if I saw you and others walking around without wearing any, I would expect you to explain your rule (not necessarily your reason for it) and then provide me with an alternative (robe, tunic, sweatpants, pajamas, shorts, etc... as well as privacy to change. If not, I'd respect your rules and leave.

BTW
There are a few other things I don't allow in my house. Drugs (illegal), alcohol, smoking and pork. If you had any those items on you, I would provide you with a bag and respectfully request that you leave them in the bag or take them to your car.o_O

Though unrelated to the thread topic, I'll let you in on a little hint.
Having never partaken in latter (four items I mentioned), since birth, is one of the secrets to my rather youthful appearance at 54 (compared to many my age and younger) and my overall good health.;)
 
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redtail said:
So you are hellbent on equating cellphones (and now pants) to the bottom of a pair of street shoes and what they are exposed to on the public streets and sidewalks...hahaha. OKAY

I would have absolutely no issue complying, as long as you provided a secure place to leave my cellphone and pants.:D ...or I'd leave them in my car.

As for pants, if I saw you and others walking around without wearing any, I would expect you to explain your rule (not necessarily your reason for it) and then provide me with an alternative (robe, tunic, sweatpants, pajamas, shorts, etc... as well as privacy to change. If not, I'd respect your rules and leave.

BTW
There are a few other things I don't allow in my house. Drugs (illegal), alcohol, smoking and pork. If you had any those items on you, I would provide you with a bag and respectfully request that you leave them in the bag or take them to your car.o_O

Though unrelated to the thread topic, I'll let you in on a little hint.
Having never partaken in latter (four items I mentioned), since birth, is one of the secrets to my rather youthful appearance at 54 (compared to many my age and younger) and my overall good health.;)
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We are on the same page. Coffee, chicken, and open containers of Jet-A are not allowed in my house.

I do like to spritz on a few drops of 100-LL as cologne though I find it tends to attract male pilots moreso than ladies. o_O
 
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If your pant leg is dragging on the floor, they’re a size or two too big for you. :)
 
Ryanb said:
If your pant leg is dragging on the floor, they’re a size or two too big for you. :)
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It’s not the leg, it’s where they’ve sat of course. Subways, dr offices, gyms...festering places where filth accumulates. I give all my guests a freshly laundered green flight suit to put on.
 
redtail said:
There are a few other things I don't allow in my house. Drugs (illegal), alcohol, smoking and pork. If you had any those items on you, I would provide you with a bag and respectfully request that you leave them in the bag or take them to your car.o_O

Though unrelated to the thread topic, I'll let you in on a little hint.
Having never partaken in latter (four items I mentioned), since birth, is one of the secrets to my rather youthful appearance at 54 (compared to many my age and younger) and my overall good health
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You never had anyone that loved you enough to give you bacon? I'm so sorry. :D
 
Fiveslide said:
You never had anyone that loved you enough to give you bacon? I'm so sorry. :D
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Just turkey bacon.:D

Actually, my parents loved me so much, they groomed me to try to live the most healthy lifestyle possible, because they lived most of their young lives just the opposite! And they paid the price of such poor choices!

In fact, I'm actually the product of an experiment.

image.jpeg
 
redtail said:
Just turkey bacon.:D

Actually, my parents loved me so much, they groomed me to try to live the most healthy lifestyle possible, because they lived most of their young lives just the opposite! And they paid the price of such poor choices!

In fact, I'm actually the product of an experiment.

View attachment 83095
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I figured you got chemtrail mix spilled on you. LOL
 
Today I read an article about shoes in the home. I thought I would pass it along.

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/08/27/science/shoes-in-house-germs.html

tldr: Your shoes are not a significant infection vector, but if you have small children or at-risk individuals living at home, taking off your shoes may help them. But don't bother if you also have dogs.
 
Ryanb said:
Fair enough. I guess my point is that common courtesy should tell you to abide by what the homeowners requests are. I usually ask when entering if they want me to remove my shoes or not, most seem to indicate they would, others don’t have a preference. Not like it’s that big of a deal, it’s just having the couth to show respect in someone else’s home.
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Seems to me that it would be more polite and respectful of you to just remind your guests immediately of a household custom of yours that they are unaccustomed to and innocently forgot, than to bad mouth them, calling them uncouth and disrespectful, on a public internet forum.

We live in an area where for a large part of the year it's either very snowy or extremely muddy. We wear boots outside, and take them off before going into our house. Other than that, when the ground is dry, we don't take off our shoes to enter our home, and assure our guests that they needn't remove their shoes, either. We're big shots... we own a vacuum cleaner AND a broom.
 
Tantalum said:
Yes, 100%. Drives me crazy when people don't take their shoes off. Why would you want the filth from outside in your home? I have one friend who never takes his shoes off... it's so weird.
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Chances are that there is as much or more "filth," of the germ and bacteria-laden harmful kind, in the mouths and nose and on the skin and clothing of your guests than there is on their shoes. What smells worse on most people... the bottom of their sneakers.... or the inside of their sneakers, their socks, and those lovely places between their toes? Dirt from the ground is just... dirt. It's not harmful... certainly not more harmful than what a guest can expel into your air with an innocent, even covered cough. You are entitled to keep your home as you wish, and make your own rules. It doesn't mean those who live differently are somehow lesser, weird, or filthy. It could mean you are the weird, somewhat quirky one. OR... just that people are different, and that's OK. Hopefully.... it's the latter, no?
 
I don’t wear shoes in the house, but it’s mainly because I would rather be barefoot - always have for my whole life. I even fly barefoot a lot of the time. I know we’re supposed to dress for a crash or for a long hike to civilization. I’m not wearing a flight suit, gloves, sturdy boots, a helmet, and a survival vest, either.
 
MuseChaser said:
You are entitled to keep your home as you wish, and make your own rules. It doesn't mean those who live differently are somehow lesser
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Certainly.. I guess I associate shoes=outside.. like I also find it strange if someone doesn't take their jacket off



ateamer said:
barefoot
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Same here.. it is just more comfortable
 
Re/ being barefoot..
Tantalum said:
..Same here.. it is just more comfortable
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I agree. I am barefoot the majority of the time, indoors and outdoors, when on my property. Even in winter and snow if I'm just heading across the road to the mailbox or the garage briefly. I like to drive barefoot, too, but not typically in winter. Never flew barefoot. If I'm outside barefoot, as I usually am in the summer, should I take off my feet before entering the house? ;) I know... wash my feet before going in the house, or have a pair of dirty slippers ready for my dirty feet.. this is so complicated. I think I'll just not think about it. If there's clumps of mud on whatever is on the end of my legs, I'll either take'em off or rinse'em off. Done.
 
ateamer said:
I don’t wear shoes in the house, but it’s mainly because I would rather be barefoot - always have for my whole life. I even fly barefoot a lot of the time. I know we’re supposed to dress for a crash or for a long hike to civilization. I’m not wearing a flight suit, gloves, sturdy boots, a helmet, and a survival vest, either.
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Haha you brought back memories of my mom. She got her driver's license when I was around 10 years old (dad couldn't drive). She would take her shoes off while driving. I thought that was the weirdest thing, because I'd never seen anyone do that before and to this day, still don't.
 
When I wear heels, I drive without shoes. It is stinkin' hard to drive a manual with heels of any height on. I also take my shoes off in the house, but I think it is just habit from 7 or so months of sleet and snow each year. I wear socks most of the time. Pretty much built in slippers! ;)
 
SkyChaser said:
When I wear heels, I drive without shoes. It is stinkin' hard to drive a manual with heels of any height on. I also take my shoes off in the house, but I think it is just habit from 7 or so months of sleet and snow each year. I wear socks most of the time. Pretty much built in slippers! ;)
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A few months ago, a friend of mine texted me (including pics) that she was just in a car accident and she was ok. I asked her what happened and she said.. "I couldn't stop in time and slammed into the back of another car".
After a few more text exchanges, it came out that she was driving in heels! Hahaha :D

Speaking of heels. My mom rarely wore them and I never saw her in the real high heels.
 
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I drove my 280Z (manual transmission) in ski boots once when I wanted to run back to the lodge for something, just a mile or so. Never tried it again, drove back to the mountain in socks.

I saw @Katamarino posted something about people in New Zealand going barefoot. Normal, according to my Kiwi son in law, people there routinely walk around town and go into stores or whatever barefoot. I could live there. :cool: Unfortunately I was there during their winter and it was too cold for that.
 
The only time we allow people to walk into our house with their shoes is when they're dress shoes. Oxfords, derbies, heels, etc. (even them brush them off at the mat, and clap your shoes if you went through rocks and other debris on your way) However sneakers are a no-go, take em off at the door. We have a little raised (2cm) 5x5 tile area when entering at the door before stepping onto the wood flooring (which I wish we did more to preserve, its from the 1940s and you'd be hard-pressed to find wood flooring like this nowadays)
 
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