Please Remove Your Shoes
Should I get one of these?
In some parts of the world, removing your shoes before entering someone’s home is standard protocol. They practice this in Hawaii, and after living there for a few years we found it difficult to not take our shoes off when coming into someone’s house, even if they didn’t. After moving back to the mainland, we slowly untrained ourselves of this practice and wear our shoes in the house without even thinking about it.
Enter new baby. I’ve written before about my issue about the carpets and Saioa crawling. Now that she is getting closer and closer to being mobile, I can’t help but look at my carpets with disgust. To be honest they are not even that bad. They’re as old as the house, which is only about 4 years and ever since we’ve had a dog I regularly steam clean them. But I feel like that’s not enough. I can’t help but wonder about all the microscopic filth we’re bringing in on the bottom of our shoes, treading all over the floors with them just so Saioa can crawl all over it later. Ewww!
So I’ve decided what better time than the new year to start a new rule. No shoes in the house please! This is harder to adapt to than you would think. I’ve done pretty good about taking my shoes off at the door but half the time I walk right in and all over the house with my shoes on. I also don’t like all those shoes piled up at the front door, it just looks tacky, so I’m going to get a big wicker basket to hide them in.
Hopefully this will be a new year’s resolution that we can stick with. I’ll let you know how it turns out!
How do you feel about shoes in the house?
I am with you on not liking shoes on in the house. Growing up, we always had to take them off at the door and my mom had this big ceramic bowl that we put them in.
Unfortunately, my husband has a hard time with this rule because his work boots are “so hard” to take off; he “has” to sit down on the sofa for it to happen. I had given up, but after reading this I am thinking about making a New Years resolution for him! Thank you!
It’s encouraging to hear that you grew up doing this! I think it’s a great habit to instill in my kids and maybe they’ll carry it over to their own homes someday.
Our family has held this as a rule for close to 14yrs; not for any reason other than the fact, I saw how much filth we were stepping in outside and did NOT want to track it into my home esp on the carpets my children lay on. This does become an issue with guests, many are offended that I ask them to leave shoes at the door, a few flatly refuse…how do u suggest I handle them, politely.
Hi Rebecca, wow, I can’t believe some people have flat out refused… that would definitely be an awkward situation.
I was thinking the best way to tell people without actually having to tell them, is to have a door mat or a cute sign at the front door that says “Please remove your shoes” or something to that affect.
A lot of times the pile of shoes at the door should be sign enough though.
For those who get offended or refuse, they should have enough respect for you and your home to not let it bother them…. that’s just my opinion!
We just put hardwood floors in our house. Not only am I buying a mat or sign, I’m putting a four foot bench on the porch with indoor outdoor carpet on the porch. Thankfully, our porch is covered.
Hi Jerry, the bench is a great idea! Getting new floors is certainly a good reason to not wear shoes in the house. Hopefully all your guests will comply!
Where can I get the mat shown in picture? I have been looking everywhere for one. Thank you! We totally don’t wear shoes in our house and it is so hard to ask people to take them off, especially where we live in the south.
Hi Katie! It is definitely hard to find a mat like that out here, if you search Amazon.com (I put in “remove your shoes doormat”) only one comes up but it’s only $14.00!
There are lots of cute signs available though, also on Amazon and maybe you could post it somewhere outside your door. Good luck finding a mat and thanks for reading!
I was really glad to find this discussion because I have been struggling with this issue since I built by new home. I feel better knowing that others have to deal with the awkwardness of asking guest to take their shoes off before they come in my home. I am 29 years old an also grew up having to take my shoes off before I could come in my house and my dad was VERY strict about it. He also did not care if he offended anybody. His motto was always, ” if you don’t like it, don’t come in !” However I am not that bold about. I just always think people will be concederate of the fact its a new home and just take it as common sense , but thats not the case and it literally drives me crazy. The worst part of it is that its mostly My husbands family because they never took their shoes off at home and don’t really want to at anybody eles house either. I have to say something everytime they come over and it drives me nuts. They see the other shoes sitting outside the door. It’s become very aggrevating. We actually have some family members that will no longer come to our house because they have to take their shorts off and I’ve become to take on my dad’s motto because after all it is My home. I just don’t understand why it makes people so mad. I have always taken My shoes off at others homes and don’t mind a bit, but I was also raised that way. I am going to get a mat and sign, so maybe these people will get the hint. (lol)
Hi Dessie, thanks for commenting! I can sympathize with you when it comes to the in-law situation. I had rebellious in-laws as well (in other ways) and you shouldn’t have to be the bad guy all the time. Make your husband do it! It’s his family and he can probably get away with being more straightforward with them about it than you can.
Try the mat and the sign and hopefully that’ll help convey the message without making things uncomfortable… or perhaps provide comfy slippers for guests to exchange their shoes for?
I have to say I really like your Dad’s philosophy! Asking someone to take off their shoes before they enter your home should never be awkward. The moment they hesitate or even refuse, is when it becomes awkward…. and in that case they’ve brought that on themselves. Any reasonable person would be totally fine (or at least pretend to be) with taking their shoes off…. it’s just shoes! You’re not asking for their firstborn for goodness sake! You’re asking them to have respect for you and YOUR home and it’s hard for me to sympathize with those who don’t comply.