Sunday, October 28, 2007

Please take off yr shoes

So this fall/winter I am getting the no shoe in house rule into real deal effect. I have purchased some slippers and some cozy butter socks and will be placing them in a basket by my front door. I feel like a little pester bug, but I really don't want extra lead and dirt and funk in my house..my baby basically licks the floor daily and besides the floors are new dude...
Do you take off yr shoes in yr home?
Do you wish others did too?
Do you have little signs or prompts?
just being nosy...

11 comments:

Meryl said...

My first high school boyfriend's mom had this rule. They had really nice rugs and she didn't want them ruined. I remember always trying to do a "sock check" to make sure I didn't have any little holes or the like before I went to their house.

Now that I have my own house to keep clean, it seems like a really good rule. Unfortunately it wouldn't help me much as my worst offenders are of the four-legged variety.

EGE said...

I don't -- though, if you've read my blog (and I know you have!), then you know I'm not the neatest housekeeper in the world.

For what it's worth, Miss Manners hates the practice. Not in Japan, or other places where it's universal custom, but in random houses where the concern is footprints on the new white rug or scuffs on hardwood floors. Her reasons are along the lines of "your guests are more important than your floors. And if they're not, then don't have guests."

I imagine, however, that even for Miss Manners, babies probably trump both. Just promise that if you have the Queen for tea, you won't make her doff her royal Wellingtons!

amy turn sharp said...

I think about that ege! I am trying to be so kind and sweet with the please take off those shoes....but, i feel like an ass

Bigtooth said...

I was raised to always take my shoes off inside, not because our rugs were nice, but because we couldn't afford to rent a carpet cleaner all that often. I still feel guilty leaving my shoes on inside, even in others' houses, even when my hosts have theirs on.

What are butter socks?

amy turn sharp said...

really super soft
lke crazy soft slipper socks
they sell em at tarjay
fabulous

vincent said...

I think that is a wonderful idea!!! As I looked at the bottom of my little girls feet today, it only reinforced the feeling!!! GROSS!!! I am cleaning our carpet next week and will probably do my best to lay down this rule also...

katekatenegotiate said...

good luck having two boys, a burly husband and a perfect floor. i'm just sayin'.

Spandrel Studios said...

For a while, I've been thinking of instituting this in our house. When I think of all the outdoor dreck we trudge through every day... [shudder].

Elle Jay Bee said...

We Canadians (and I realize I am generalizing here) always take our shoes off in our and other's homes. It is considered quite rude, really, if you don't, and would be greatly frowned upon if you stomped on someone's floor (especially if it is carpeted) with your footwear on. Some will say, "Oh don't bother taking off your shoes", but they don't really mean it! So don't believe a Canadian who says that...unless they are living in a crappy rental or a dorm...

I have always been amazed at how one can stay relaxed by people wearing germy footwear from outside on a lovely new carpet. What about if you just came from a public bathroom? Uugh!!

Funny how we all have different customs, even though we are so similar...

Loved this post!!
Linda

village mama said...

if people don't get it the second they come in, ie when they see all of us barefoot, I say, firm/politely 'we take our shoes off...' in that tone I use when I say to the kids 'we don't hit people with malets/shoes/colanders/books'.

I also offer socks, but I've definitely got a Little China trip on my to do to stock up on slippers.

village mama said...

There's a Larry David episode on this theme that's hilarious.