Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Let's face it-- it's just rude to make people take off their shoes, whether you provide them with new or used slippers or nothing at all. Some people have foot issues, some people's pant legs will be too long and drag the floor without shoes, some people had no idea you would require that and wore the socks with the hole in the toe, and some people chose their outfit because they love the shoes and they want to wear them. The reason doesn't matter-- if guests wanted to take off their shoes they would do so without prompting at all.

Justify it by talking about your floors, the germs on the floor that will kill your kids, or anything else. It's still the equivalent of keeping the plastic slipcovers on and it makes your guests less comfortable, no matter what they say to your face. The point of hospitality is to make everyone feel welcome in your home. Treating them like disease carriers or small children does not make them feel comfortable in your home.

So, no, there is no good way to change to a shoe-free home.

Exactly. I'm involved in a process right now that involves the possibility of interviews in one's home. The people running the program have made it clear that participants should never ask other participants to remove their shoes, even if it is the habit in that home. It is seen as rude and inhospitable and simply not culturally appropriate here. It is never seen as welcoming to put people in an awkward, uncomfortable situation.

Anonymous wrote:Let's face it-- it's just rude to make people take off their shoes, whether you provide them with new or used slippers or nothing at all. Some people have foot issues, some people's pant legs will be too long and drag the floor without shoes, some people had no idea you would require that and wore the socks with the hole in the toe, and some people chose their outfit because they love the shoes and they want to wear them. The reason doesn't matter-- if guests wanted to take off their shoes they would do so without prompting at all.

Justify it by talking about your floors, the germs on the floor that will kill your kids, or anything else. It's still the equivalent of keeping the plastic slipcovers on and it makes your guests less comfortable, no matter what they say to your face. The point of hospitality is to make everyone feel welcome in your home. Treating them like disease carriers or small children does not make them feel comfortable in your home.

So, no, there is no good way to change to a shoe-free home.

Anonymous wrote:There is a very easy way to be shoes free. Have your family and kids' friends be shoes free and let any guests keep their shoes on. Many will notice on their own and take their shoes off, others won't. No big deal. Don't be a perfectionist about it and you will still track in less dirt from the outside.

I personally am grossed out by shoes free to an extent. I don't like the idea of sweaty stinky feet spreading bacteria all over my house. I prefer shoes. Yeah, they may track in some outside dirt but they are less likely to actually bring a bunch of microbial stuff into the house.

We lived in Canada for a while where most people are shoes free (at least in the city where we lived). So we were all shoes free within reason, and our child picked up the habit the best and continues it here years later without us even asking. It's very ingrained. We are back to maybe 60% shoes free. But we need slippers in the winter to feel warm. I grew up with slippers as well so that's fine.

In Canada even workmen were shoes free. They would either bring their own shoe covers or take shoes off (which again kind of grossed me out--don't need someone's stinky sweat). We had movers who would actually blindly slide shoes on at the door while holding enormous pieces of furniture as they exited. I kept telling them it was unnecessary, I didn't require it, we were moving out anyway. They insisted! Canadian politeness I guess.

Anonymous wrote:Let's face it-- it's just rude to make people take off their shoes, whether you provide them with new or used slippers or nothing at all. Some people have foot issues, some people's pant legs will be too long and drag the floor without shoes, some people had no idea you would require that and wore the socks with the hole in the toe, and some people chose their outfit because they love the shoes and they want to wear them. The reason doesn't matter-- if guests wanted to take off their shoes they would do so without prompting at all.

Justify it by talking about your floors, the germs on the floor that will kill your kids, or anything else. It's still the equivalent of keeping the plastic slipcovers on and it makes your guests less comfortable, no matter what they say to your face. The point of hospitality is to make everyone feel welcome in your home. Treating them like disease carriers or small children does not make them feel comfortable in your home.

So, no, there is no good way to change to a shoe-free home.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

+1. I noticed that too and figured that PP has never even been to Asia! We live in Japan and you take your shoes off in the entry, neatly place them in a designated spot, and wear slippers provided by the host (who keeps a basket of various sizes in the entry). I shudder to think of the giant centipedes, banana spiders, and cockroaches that could take up residence if PP's imaginary Asian scenario were actually true!

Are you saying that guests wear slippers that other guests have worn? I have to admit I would be hesitant to put my feet in slippers that other people have worn, it doesn't seem terribly hygienic.

Do you purchase shoes from stores? Are you aware that other people have probably tried those shoes on before you? And those people are strangers, not even the friends and family of your hosts, upon whom you can presumably count to throw out or at least wash the shoes worn by uncle bob during his outbreak of toe fungus.

Anonymous wrote:

+1. I noticed that too and figured that PP has never even been to Asia! We live in Japan and you take your shoes off in the entry, neatly place them in a designated spot, and wear slippers provided by the host (who keeps a basket of various sizes in the entry). I shudder to think of the giant centipedes, banana spiders, and cockroaches that could take up residence if PP's imaginary Asian scenario were actually true!

Are you saying that guests wear slippers that other guests have worn? I have to admit I would be hesitant to put my feet in slippers that other people have worn, it doesn't seem terribly hygienic.

+1. I noticed that too and figured that PP has never even been to Asia! We live in Japan and you take your shoes off in the entry, neatly place them in a designated spot, and wear slippers provided by the host (who keeps a basket of various sizes in the entry). I shudder to think of the giant centipedes, banana spiders, and cockroaches that could take up residence if PP's imaginary Asian scenario were actually true!