Do you allow shoes to be worn inside your house? We don’t. But, it’s amazing how many people will come over and know that we don’t allow shoes, but walk in anyway. Weird. Do they think that the rules don’t apply? Do they think that if they stay off of the carpet it’s okay then?
There are so many reason to not wear shoes in your home. #1 on most mom’s lists – your house stays cleaner. That means you have less dirt tracked in on your hardwoods and ground into the carpet. Not to mention if its a rainy or snowy day and mud is tracked in,YUK! I hate it!
#2 on the list- is if you have a baby crawling around. Who in the world wants their little hands and mouth to be covered in someone elses’ dirt and grime and who knows what else? Well, I’ll tell you what else…Pesticides and pollutants, that’s what else. These yucky substances are tracked into your home from your shoes also. Christopher Gavigan of the Children’s Health Environmental Coalition says, “There’s a lot packed into your shoe treads” . Among the pollutants: pollen, soot, lead, and chemicals, including fertilizer and pesticides. “By taking off your shoes,” says Gavigan, “you’re preventing toxins from coming into your home and eventually getting into your baby’s mouth.”
So, what do you do? According to Blueprint there are some easier ways than tackling that unsuspecting house guest who walks right through the door and right onto your carpet.
Lead by example.
Try the “seed” method for getting guests to take off their shoes. Plant a few of your own pairs next to a basket of slippers by the door and hope they notice it and take the hint.
Use reason.
Cry “New baby!” or “New carpet!” or “New floor!” If they fail to pick up the clue, just ask very, very nicely: Please, if you wouldn’t mind…
Use humor.
Download and frame one of these signs
Fix-It Fixes
No, you may not in good conscience ask the cable repairman to take off his boots, but you can ask him to slip on a pair of surgical-supply shoe covers.
The above tips are all ones that we’ve been using in our household since our first child was born 3 years ago. That’s when we realized all that was being tracked into our homes by wearing our shoes. I’ve even heard from some of my visitors, “oh, a little dirt can’t hurt” or “when my kids were little, they ate all kinds of things off the floor”. I don’t think asking people to remove their shoes upon entering your home makes you an over protective parent, I think it makes you a very smart one.
I don’t know about you, but I want to do all that I can to protect my family from the very pesticides and pollutants that cause damage to our bodies and if by just asking someone to take their shoes off I am able to lessen some of these toxins…well, that’s exactly what I’m gonna do.
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There is no shoes in our house
but we do deal with the same issues with some guests!Although I did get a cute sign and it’s right there for all to see LOL
I thought we were the only freaks! LOL
We don’t wear shoes in the house either, not even flip-flops. My daughter is a crawler now, so it’s even more of a reason not to.
I have never asked people to take off their shoes. Maybe I should!
Dian
http://www.groceryshopforfree.com
We’re kind of weird, I grew up in a house that was strictly no shoes except on the entryway but we’re okay with shoes in our house. But growing up like that I totally respect people’s homes and usually slip my shoes off right after walking in just in case…there’s only one exception. I don’t take sandals off if I’m barefoot. That’s how a foot fungus and warts get spread easily.
Well, that is a good reason to not take your shoes off. Not one I’ve thought of.
The only time I don’t take them off somewhere is when there is no way I’m walking on the floor barefoot! LOL
People think I’m nuts I think about my whole “take off your shoes” thing. For the last 6 years I was able to use the kids as an excuse, but honestly I’ve been making people take them off long before that.
Why would you want something that has possibly walked through grass with pesticides, on asphalt with tar, through gum, vomit, critter droppings and so much more WALKING INSIDE YOUR HOUSE.
I do need to get myself a cute sign, but I do “stage” shoes in my entryway as a hint for people. I’m also really bold and when friends or family come over who might have forgotten I pretty much blurt out “hey, take off your shoes.” I’ve got my in-laws trained now though it’s kind of funny. My FIL brings his own slippers.
I know, it’s YUCKY! I feel all weird walking on anyone’s carpet with shoes on. I’m not sure why people feel that they can just walk on into your house with shoes on after you have REPEATEDLY told them to NOT do it. Rude, just rude!
Maybe I should keep slippers and shoe covers in a basket by the front door and make them put them on!
My mother is Japanese and you do not wear shoes inside anyone’s house in Japan. I’ve continued this tradition with my family.
Good post. It makes so much sense to take your shoes off and ask others to do the same.
I have an whole blog on this subject: Shoes Off at the Door, Please You might like to take a look.
Hi Matthew,
Thanks for stopping by! I just stopped by your blog and found it very interesting! Thank you for you for sharing!
I don’t remove my shoes right at the door, but do take them off once I’m in my room. It just feels better to go without them.
Great topic! We have been shoe-free (except for house-shoes or house-flops) for three years. We have signs (some from Hawaii) hanging at each door, including the garage entrance into the kitchen. The signs are cute and somewhat humorous. We provide the blue shoe-covers (ordered from amazon.com) at each door and ask guests to remove shoes or put on shoe-covers. Before overnight guests or parties, we remind all that our home is shoe-free, and if they do not wish to remove their shoes we provide shoe-covers or they can bring their own house shoes/slippers, etc. We also set out “seed” shoes near each door to subtly remind guests. When guests ring the door bell, we give them a few seconds to stand there so they have time to read the signs (there is a tile at the doorbell and sign on the door) or notice the other shoes. In the winter we have a mat inside the front door where shoes can be left. The last electrician who came seemed very happy to remove his shoes for the estimate, but upon returning with a helper for the job they stopped removing shoes and didn’t put shoe-covers on. They tracked dirt all through my house. They did not apologize, nor did they clean it up. We love the Hawaiian/Asian traditions of removing shoes inside. In my Dad’s house, we were taught to remove our shoes in the new home he built for us. In my home we remove shoes for respect of the home, to prevent tracking in dirt, mud, feces, pesticides (our own yard is organic), fertilizers, etc. Just think of the bodily fluids tracked from a public restroom or port-o-potty. I, too, have read the scientific studies on pesticides tracked into the home on shoes which are then found throughout the home in bedding and on furniture. I have carpet, tile and wood floors. My 1970′s wood floors are hand-polished by me. I’m sure those who don’t want to remove their shoes never think of this. We like guests to kick of their shoes, stay a while, relax, enjoy a cocktail from our tiki bar (some of our signs say “Hawaiian Tradition: Please Remove Shoes”.) One important thing my Dad always reminds me, “if you ask guests to remove their shoes, be sure the floors are clean.” I always worry someone in white socks will leave with black bottoms after a stay. Ha!
Thank you for this post and the link to the downloadable signs! My babe just started crawling and the thought of her crawlimg around in everyone’s shoe dirt reall grosses me out!
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