Shoes on or off at the door? Where do you stand?

Is it the dirt, germs or just a desire to keep your house pristine? Whatever the case, we're all pretty used to kids ditching their grimy shoes at the door, but do you expect adults to do the same? And what if they're at your house for a holiday party?

Results with 9 short comments
Total of 617 votes - click on the "Display Comments" bar below to sort comments

45.5%
We have a "no shoes" policy in our house and keep it that way regardless of age or parties. It's cleaner and healthier.
281 votes
54.5%
As long as they're not covered in mud, adults are welcome to keep their shoes on, especially for parties. A little dirt is healthy.
336 votes
Display Comments:
As long as they're not covered in mud, adults are welcome to keep their shoes on, especially for parties. A little dirt is healthy.

No big deal. we have two dogs that track twigs and such in all the time..if your shoes are covered in mud, yes, but i want people comfy

    #1
     - catastic
     - 3:15 pm EST on Tue Dec 15, 2009
    As long as they're not covered in mud, adults are welcome to keep their shoes on, especially for parties. A little dirt is healthy.

    I would like to have a "no shoes" policy but my husband is the worst offender, most of the kids take off their shoes

      #2
       - kim carney
       - 3:49 pm EST on Tue Dec 15, 2009
      We have a "no shoes" policy in our house and keep it that way regardless of age or parties. It's cleaner and healthier.

      There was no policy a few months ago. Now, we have all new carpets and prefer no shoes. More than likely that will not last long.

        #3
         - Curious Georgie
         - 9:54 pm EST on Tue Dec 15, 2009
        As long as they're not covered in mud, adults are welcome to keep their shoes on, especially for parties. A little dirt is healthy.

        I'd rather shampoo my carpets the next day than have some of my guests feel uncomfortable or awkward in their bare feet or socks!

          #4
           - Cara-438012
           - 4:24 pm EST on Fri Dec 18, 2009
          We have a "no shoes" policy in our house and keep it that way regardless of age or parties. It's cleaner and healthier.

          It is just easier to keep the carpets clean with no shoes on and it is not a big deal to take them on and off.

            #5
             - jamib
             - 8:58 am EST on Sun Dec 20, 2009
            We have a "no shoes" policy in our house and keep it that way regardless of age or parties. It's cleaner and healthier.

            We currently have a "No Shoe" policy in our home, but if we are hosting a party I don't expect the guests to take off their shoes.

              #6
               - Pinkystarfish.newsvine.com
               - 1:39 pm EST on Sun Dec 20, 2009
              As long as they're not covered in mud, adults are welcome to keep their shoes on, especially for parties. A little dirt is healthy.

              My internal family have been groomed very well to take them off, but guests in our home may do what they feel comfortable with.

                #7
                 - DonnaSTL
                 - 10:20 am EST on Tue Dec 22, 2009
                As long as they're not covered in mud, adults are welcome to keep their shoes on, especially for parties. A little dirt is healthy.

                However, my kids and I take our shoes off at the door. We wear sock, ugg-type boots/slippers or just barefoot.

                  #8
                   - SpoiledMom
                   - 5:08 pm EST on Tue Dec 22, 2009
                  As long as they're not covered in mud, adults are welcome to keep their shoes on, especially for parties. A little dirt is healthy.

                  We keep nails in our floor pretty often so we have a MUST HAVE SHOES policy

                    #9
                     - AlaniumJzone
                     - 11:17 am EST on Wed Dec 23, 2009

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                    Comment author avatarLegiswriter

                    I think it's rude to ask guests to remove their shoes. You never know if someone has a foot problem that would make being in stocking or bare feet uncomfortable. Or something as silly, but embarassing as a hole in his/her sock. Not to mention, who wants to introduce the potential for stinky feet rubbing all over their floors and carpets? Not me!

                      Reply#1 - Wed Dec 16, 2009 4:56 PM EST
                      Comment author avatarKathryn-1521993

                      I have friends who come from another country that makes beautiful rugs. I noticed that when I went to parties in their homes, everyone left their shoes at the door. As a matter of fact, it is considered sort of barbaric to leave your shoes on, they consider it classless. It also instantly creates a warmer and cozier atmosphere. (And I always enjoy seeing all shoes lined up by the door.)

                      Now, when I think about it, why on earth would you leave your shoes on in the place where your babies crawl, you stretch out on the floor to watch tv, and you play with your kids. I live in San Francisco, and if you watch what is going on where we walk (dogs relieving themselves, people spitting, dirt, etc.) why on earth would you track that into the sanctity of your home?

                      This isn't a matter of keeping white carpets 'pristine' or being fanatical, it is just a common sense and lovely gesture to keep the junk on the bottom of your feet at the door.

                        Reply#2 - Sat Dec 19, 2009 10:00 AM EST
                        Comment author avatarPinkystarfish.newsvine.com

                        We have a "No Shoe" policy in our home, but if we are hosting a party I would not expect the guests to take off their shoes.

                          Reply#3 - Sun Dec 20, 2009 1:50 PM EST
                          Comment author avatarTamina-1523064

                          Maybe it's because I've grown up this way, but it's a given that shoes come off at the door. True, it's very common and customary in Asian culture, but I really can't reason it any other way. Why WOULD you want to track dirt (that being the least offensive thing), and other disusting things into your home? It's cleaner, creates less wear and tear on carpet and respects your home and those in it. It's hard enough to keep a home clean without you creating more stains and dirt. Taking shoes off is such a simple thing to do for the sake of cleanliness, why not?

                            Reply#4 - Sun Dec 20, 2009 5:48 PM EST
                            Comment author avatarJeanne-1256509

                            I think it's incredibly rude to ask guests to remove their shoes for a dinner party etc. My family leaves their shoes at the door for day to day, but I wouldn't dream of asking an adult guest to remove their shoes. Classless and tacky.

                              Reply#5 - Mon Dec 21, 2009 4:47 PM EST
                              Comment author avatarSavvyMomOnCallBabyPlanner

                              We have a no shoe policy upstairs and a new shoe policy right after I clean the house :-). That only lasts about a day for the downstairs, hahahaha.

                              • 1 vote
                              Reply#6 - Tue Dec 22, 2009 10:02 AM EST
                              Comment author avatarAlaniumJzone

                              we had our house burn down as a kid and we were so happy to have the shoes on our feet. On occassion we still sleep in our shoes.

                                Reply#7 - Wed Dec 23, 2009 11:19 AM EST
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