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shoes off home
we're trying to switch to being a shoes off home. DH is having a hard time remembering, and my family members (mom, dad, sister) don't respect the policy at all. we used to be okay with shoes on (we have hardwood floors, so i would just clean often enough), but now that our family is growing (we are getting a puppy, and then hopefully a baby in the next couple years) i'd like to stick to a 'shoes-off' policy so that i won't have to deal with massive amounts of dirt in the future. my family never respects it (i have to remind them every time, and it's like asking them to do chores for me or something) and even DH has a hard time remembering. i even installed a shoe-rack by the door so that we have a place to put our shoes. i feel like i should just stay vigilant and keep reminding everyone until one day they show respect..
for parties, do you ask everyone to take off their shoes, or do you make an exception?
what about family gatherings like during the holidays?
how do you stay vigilant about the shoes-off policy?
Re: shoes off home
When we moved into where we are now I thought I wanted to have a shoes-off policy, but it can be hard to stick to.
I put a little carpet right next to the front door and leave at least one pair of shoes there so guests know and often ask if we prefer to have shoes off in the house and I can just say, "Yes, please."
I think signs can be effective and it won't feel like you are completely nagging. I have friends that have "Mahalo for taking off your shoes" (or something to that effect) right by the front door and all their shoes actually stay outside. Find a cute one that will be a gentle reminder to people.
Dh and I are shoes off for the most part. We just learned that whoever tracks in the mess, sweeps it up. You get used to remembering really fast that way.
As for guests, TBH I don't get too worked. As long as their shoes aren't muddy/dirty I don't particularly care. For me life is too short to worry about whether or not everyone takes their shoes off everytime. Although, where I live, most people just naturally do it.
I think the best way to get guests to comply with your no shoes policy is to remove your own shoes (DH too) immediately upon entering your home and, like the PP stated, have a place (rug, rack, etc.) specifically for shoes (with a pair already there) so your expectations are clear.
As far as your fam is concerned, perhaps you should just be blunt with them. Shoes are filthy -- think germs, not just dirt -- and nobody wants every gross organism from the floors of offices, public restrooms, stores, hospitals, restaurants, parking lots, etc. tracked all over her house (especially if there are babies in the house).
One thing I do is offer a pair of slippers to family and friends -- either a new pair of slipper-socks, or a pair of fuzzy hard soled slippers that have been washed and not worn (I call them "house slippers"). People seem tickled to have slippers offered to them, and it takes the sting out of being asked to remove one's shoes when the request is immediately followed by an offer of house slippers.
We take our shoes off in our house and we ask our guests to do the same.
For parties though, we allow the shoes and then just clean the floor after the party is over.
For the most part we are shoes off. Sometimes I have to remind DH because he has a knack of forgetting right after I've cleaned the tile or steam cleaned the carpets. We have a little rug at the front door and also a boot tray near by.
When we have our neighborhood friends over they take theirs off right away because they are also a shoes off house we're all used to it. For parties I just usually plan that I'll be cleaning floors again the next day.
- I just saw on thebump stay at home mom board a thread on this and someone posted a picture of an picture frame that you can buy that shows bare feet and says something to the effect of we are shoe-free
- I put a decorative basket in the corner of the entry (that has a lid) in which I have several sizes (white and black) of hotel style slippers (they are a little plush, can be washed, but are pretty cheap). I ask people when they come in - if they didn't show respect and initiative to take off their shoes if they would - if they would like a pair of slippers.
I think it is very disrespectful to come into a home with your shoes on. HOWEVER, I realize that many people, including myself, have foot issues and walking on solid flooring can aggravate such issues which is why some people do leave their shoes on. This is one reason I put in the slipper basket - it gives a bit of padding for the feet.
EXCEPTIONS
- parties, I typically wear shoes when we are entertaining and hosting a party. if the weather is bad most people are pretty good about taking their shoes off.
- elderly people
- if someone's floors are filthy - I will NOT take my shoes off. My floors are rarely ever dirty as I am pretty anal about keeping them clean.
- My mom would never take her shoes off and irritated me since I grew up in a 'shoes off' home. She shared that it is because of her foot issues. So I bought her a very nice pair of slippers with her initial on it. She now takes off her shoe and puts on the slippers.
We now have hardwoods and it seems like people are a bit more likely to leave shoes on. I can see that increasing in the colder months when people are not wearing sandals, so we'll see what happens.
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