https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Fri, 17 Apr 2026 01:28:56 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-accommodate-guests-while-keeping-a-house-shoe-free/page/2#post-316962 Sat, 29 Sep 2012 15:57:14 +0000 tysonja 316962@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>interesting!! i think i've only been to one house in my life where people wore their shoes indoors? totally a hazy memory, so not even sure if that ever even happened! i've lived in both ends of canada... maybe a more northern-y thing? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-accommodate-guests-while-keeping-a-house-shoe-free/page/2#post-316946 Sat, 29 Sep 2012 15:07:29 +0000 CupQuakeWalk 316946@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>If I go to someone's house I always assume to take my shoes off! Therefor, they should be prepared in their own socks or whatever....<br /> It's your house...I agree: it should be shoe free:) and you shouldn't have to offer anything....in fact, i've never been offered and I think its sort of odd to offer (only because I've never heard of it, I guess) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-accommodate-guests-while-keeping-a-house-shoe-free/page/2#post-316699 Sat, 29 Sep 2012 09:27:07 +0000 Beebug 316699@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>So funny how different things can be. Leaving shoes on beyond the front door/foyer is so weird to me! You go inside, you take your shoes off! Why would you need shoes inside?! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-accommodate-guests-while-keeping-a-house-shoe-free/page/2#post-316693 Sat, 29 Sep 2012 09:18:06 +0000 rachiecakes 316693@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would absolutely respect someone's wishes it I were a guest in their home, but I would be terribly self-conscious and uncomfortable without my shoes. Shoes are usually a big part of my outfit and make me taller, confident and put together. I'd feel half-naked without them. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-accommodate-guests-while-keeping-a-house-shoe-free/page/2#post-316663 Sat, 29 Sep 2012 08:02:21 +0000 LazyLightning 316663@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>In my region of the country (northern midwest), everyone takes shoes off. You would NOT walk in to someone's home with your shoes on. It is extremely rude. Mainly, I believe this goes to it being a farm community half the year, and wintery the other half. So you wouldn't track a bunch of field dirt in to someone's home, nor would you do it with snow/ice/salt. It's just second nature to take your shoes off, and when someone doesn't, it seems very odd. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-accommodate-guests-while-keeping-a-house-shoe-free/page/2#post-316602 Sat, 29 Sep 2012 06:33:32 +0000 blackbird 316602@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We don't wear shoes in the house (asian household and we had carpet growing up). now we have laminate in all the main sections of the house. It's ok if a guest wears their tennis shoes in the main portion, but we always, always take our shoes off. When i see carpet, i automatically assume shoes are a no-no in someone's house. If someone's doing manual labor inside the house (uh, once a year?), they can keep their shoes on. I don't want them dropping something on their feet or a nail to be a safety hazard. When we had the floors installed, I had to wear shoes, too, because of rogue staples</p> <p>With a baby running around, I'll ask people to remove their shoes. My house, my rules :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-accommodate-guests-while-keeping-a-house-shoe-free/page/2#post-316573 Sat, 29 Sep 2012 05:17:01 +0000 DillonLion 316573@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Wow this is so interesting! We definitely wear shoes in the house .and I would feel totally rude asking my guests to remove their shoes. It isn't a cultural norm here at all. I don't think I've been more than one place where I was asked to remove my shoes., and it would make ke uncomfortable to do so since my shoes are usually smelly. I just have one friend who started doing it after she spent time in Korea. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-accommodate-guests-while-keeping-a-house-shoe-free/page/2#post-316560 Sat, 29 Sep 2012 04:40:41 +0000 anonysquire 316560@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Keep the house shoe-free, never invite guests! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-accommodate-guests-while-keeping-a-house-shoe-free/page/2#post-316541 Sat, 29 Sep 2012 02:48:34 +0000 shopaholic 316541@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I haven't read through all the replies, but I will say that after hosting my sister's bridal shower, I will no longer be worried about my guests' opinions, and will be asking everyone to take off their shoes when they enter our house (especially after baby comes!)<br /> I'm Chinese and always grew up with removing shoes before coming in the house. We always had slippers for guests and I do so in my home as well, but find most of my friends are comfortable barefoot (the older generation prefer the slippers).<br /> Having a LO is an even better excuse to ask people to remove their shoes. There are a few different signs I like, but this one is perfect to use LO as the main reason!<br /> <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/94365410/little-finger-remove-shoes-wood-vinyl#" rel="nofollow">http://www.etsy.com/listing/94365410/little-finger-remove-shoes-wood-vinyl#</a><br /> It says: "Since little fingers touch our floor, Please remove your shoes at the door"<br /> And I need to get those booties for handymen, etc. like @mrbee said. Their shoes tend to be the dirtiest! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-accommodate-guests-while-keeping-a-house-shoe-free/page/2#post-316527 Sat, 29 Sep 2012 01:11:59 +0000 softcream 316527@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>oh my gosh, this topic has my heart racing (well, not quite so dramatic)</p> <p>anyway, i grew up always taking off our shoes at the door. so did the hubs. my parents do it at their house, and so do his. and we still take off our shoes right away here in our home.</p> <p>here's where it gets annoying, whenever our parents come over to visit, not one of them has automatically taken off their shoes. NOT ONE of them. we have a shoe rack at the front, and our place is fully carpeted. we don't get it, at all. it is so weird.</p> <p>in the beginning, we didn't think to ask them to take off their shoes, because we expected them to do it themselves. now, we'll have to keep it in mind. ugh, so annoying. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-accommodate-guests-while-keeping-a-house-shoe-free/page/2#post-316395 Fri, 28 Sep 2012 21:51:36 +0000 pinkcupcake 316395@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm Korean and we've always grown up with no shoes in the house. Whenever we had friends over, it was a given that they would have to take their shoes off and no one ever said anything. We never, ever wear our shoes in our house (it makes my heart beat erratically just thinking about it!) and have never had a problem with guests. I even ask repairmen/delivery guys to remove their shoes and they always do so (or bring booties).</p> <p>We don't keep slippers or anything for guests. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-accommodate-guests-while-keeping-a-house-shoe-free/page/2#post-210805 Wed, 04 Jul 2012 14:06:08 +0000 hilsy85 210805@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It's also traditional in Russian culture to take your shoes off when you come inside, so DH's family always does this. They also offer "tabuchki" (no idea if I spelled that right!), which are just slippers that are offered to guests so they don't have to be barefoot. I personally hate wearing shoes in my house--it feels uncomfortable! I also prefer if guests take them off, and generally people follow my lead when they come inside. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-accommodate-guests-while-keeping-a-house-shoe-free/page/2#post-210793 Wed, 04 Jul 2012 13:51:56 +0000 Sammyfab 210793@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I am Canadian (and Asian) and have always grown up with no shoes in the house. Wearing outdoor shoes in the home has always confused me. I just think of all of the stuff I am potentially walking in when outdoors and couldn't imagine tracking it through my home. If people come into my home with their shoes on I do cringe a little but I don't usually say anything. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-accommodate-guests-while-keeping-a-house-shoe-free/page/2#post-210775 Wed, 04 Jul 2012 13:34:45 +0000 StbHisMrs 210775@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>When I was growing up my Mom had painted a sign thhat hung beside the front door and read "Thank You for Removing Your Shoes". We got in trouble if we wore them in the house.<br /> My dh refuses to take his off and I go batty... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-accommodate-guests-while-keeping-a-house-shoe-free/page/2#post-210661 Wed, 04 Jul 2012 10:00:29 +0000 erwoo 210661@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We're a shoes off household and have always been. It's just an Asian culture thing. I just ask my guests politely to remove their shoes when I have the chance to. Sometimes they run into the house before I even have a chance to. I cringe but I'm not going to tell them to take it off. I'll just clean the floors after they leave. :) My parents actually made a sign posted outside of their front door to remove their shoes there. Haha! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-accommodate-guests-while-keeping-a-house-shoe-free#post-210658 Wed, 04 Jul 2012 09:51:36 +0000 Arden 210658@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>In the Balkans where I lived for years, guests are always offered slippers as soon as they come in the door. In the winter, warm fuzzy ones, and in the summer, plastic sandals. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-accommodate-guests-while-keeping-a-house-shoe-free#post-210568 Wed, 04 Jul 2012 02:46:04 +0000 mediagirl 210568@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@sslm: @Grace the first time I heard of taking off your shoes in someone's house was with my friends from Canada. They told me they do it because they're used to wearing boots in the snow and you wouldn't track snow into someone's house. I know they're uncomfortable when they come to my house and I don't ask them to take their shoes off! </p> <p>I don't mind if you wear your shoes in my house as long as they're not obviously dirty or wet. My FIL wears his damn wet shoes in my house and I want to shoot him.</p> <p>If I wanted guests to take their shoes off, I would make a place for them and just ask. I wouldn't offer socks. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-accommodate-guests-while-keeping-a-house-shoe-free#post-210562 Wed, 04 Jul 2012 02:21:48 +0000 BoogieBea 210562@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I grew up with no shoes in the house policy. We make people take shoes off at our house now. But I don't like to be barefoot at other peoples' houses so if I know I'm going to someone's house, I try to wear socks that day. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-accommodate-guests-while-keeping-a-house-shoe-free#post-210556 Wed, 04 Jul 2012 01:49:36 +0000 Mrs. Superhero 210556@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm Canadian so it's shoes off, and I expect the same from my guests, no matter what their upbringing, because it's my house. I offer slippers if someone looks cold.</p> <p>It drives me crazy when I'm in Chile or the States and I have to wear shoes inside because I feel so rude! It's just so ingrained in our culture. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-accommodate-guests-while-keeping-a-house-shoe-free#post-210508 Tue, 03 Jul 2012 21:24:44 +0000 MsMamaBear 210508@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>No shoes in this house! I bought a carpet cleaner JUST for this.LOL I just leave shoes over there so they get the hint. My SO has a problem with it and forget and I have to scream at him.LOL </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-accommodate-guests-while-keeping-a-house-shoe-free#post-210497 Tue, 03 Jul 2012 21:06:36 +0000 chopsuey 210497@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mrbee: when we had our vents cleaned I had DH ask the guys to take their shoes off. We don't have booties, but I handed P some plastic grocery bags that the guys could wear on their feet. HAHA. They actually had booties though so they wore those. </p> <p>I've never met anyone who refused to take their shoes off.. I think I'd be really shocked and offended if I asked someone to take them off and they refused! We always ask about shoes when we go over to someone's house for the first time. I always feel weird wearing my shoes inside..! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-accommodate-guests-while-keeping-a-house-shoe-free#post-210409 Tue, 03 Jul 2012 18:12:27 +0000 mrbee 210409@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@eeh: I would gladly wear shoes into your house, if that would make you more comfortable as a host!</p> <p>My cultural norms are more around having guests in my own house. If someone insisted on wearing shoes in my house, I wouldn't force them to take them off if they were obviously upset. It's more important to me to be a good host than for me to be personally comfortable. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-accommodate-guests-while-keeping-a-house-shoe-free#post-210398 Tue, 03 Jul 2012 17:52:25 +0000 eeh 210398@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I grew up wearing shoes in the house because my dad absolutely refused to take his shoes off every time he walked in his own house since he comes and goes so much throughout the day. We were always taught to wipe your feet and that's that. I would never ask my guests to remove their shoes because I find it annoying and awkward. Who wants to sit and untie their shoes upon entering, especially if their hands are full? I want my guests to feel welcome and invited in my home and I guess to me a large part of that is dealing with the dirt they bring in. </p> <p>When I go to someone else's house I try to glance at the door and see if I need to remove my shoes based on their being a pile and if they asked me to, I would remove them but I wouldn't enjoy doing so. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-accommodate-guests-while-keeping-a-house-shoe-free#post-210387 Tue, 03 Jul 2012 17:28:51 +0000 mrskc 210387@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My husband grew up w/ no shoes in the house (he's Taiwanese) and I did not. I've converted to his ways though and I like it so much more. Our house is all tiled except the bedrooms, so we allow people to wear shoes in our home. We did just have a party at our house and everyone wanted to see the nursery. We just put down new carpet and I asked everyone to take their shoes off before the went in. Some of them made such a big deal out of taking off their shoes. They just couldn't understand why it was such a big deal.... made me mad. It's my house and I don't want your dirty shoes trekking all over my nursery. Anyways, maybe it would be nice to have a pair of slippers in case someone doesn't want to walk around barefoot. I would think most people are ok with taking off their shoes and walking around barefoot. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-accommodate-guests-while-keeping-a-house-shoe-free#post-210373 Tue, 03 Jul 2012 17:09:02 +0000 sunny 210373@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>None of our friends wear shoes in the home so we never have a problem with that! I've only ever met a few people who tell me to keep my shoes on when I come inside.</p> <p>I've never understood when people say "my shoes are part of my outfit and I'm not taking them off, just like I'm not taking my jewelry off". To me, when I am the guest of someone at their home, I would abide by their rules and traditions. I expect the same of my visitors. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-accommodate-guests-while-keeping-a-house-shoe-free#post-210339 Tue, 03 Jul 2012 16:10:15 +0000 DigAPony 210339@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I didn't grow up in a no-shoe house so this is always mysterious to me. My husband and I only take our shoes off at home if it's rainy/muddy. But, we always respect whatever people do in their own homes, though I would find it strange if I was offered guest slippers/socks. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-accommodate-guests-while-keeping-a-house-shoe-free#post-210271 Tue, 03 Jul 2012 15:08:06 +0000 sandy 210271@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I grew up with no shoes in the house but my husband did not. We have hardwood through about half of our main floor and I hate it when someone walks in with shoes and I can see their shoe prints. My husband is much better about not wearing shoes in the house bc he sees how much effort I make to sweep and mop the floors but his parents have been harder. I purchased slippers for them but I think that pissed them off and now they bring their own slippers when they come over. His sister takes off her heels but wears her uggs...it's not about damaging my floors...it's about keeping the floors clean especially with a baby in the house! </p> <p>We have a small shoe rack by the front entry and a bench where people can sit and take their shoes on and off. I also have some slippers but now I am totally getting some of those shoe covers/booties that Mr. Bee mentioned. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-accommodate-guests-while-keeping-a-house-shoe-free#post-210262 Tue, 03 Jul 2012 15:04:03 +0000 LAGS 210262@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Ugh, I hate when people wear their shoes in my house. I'm probably a little over-sensitive about this right now because I recently had a family member staying with us for a few months and they constantly did... even on a rainy day. I was not impressed having to mop and clean up mud/blades of grass all over the house while trying to care for a newborn... </p> <p>I've never thought twice about taking my shoes off in other people's houses. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-accommodate-guests-while-keeping-a-house-shoe-free#post-210255 Tue, 03 Jul 2012 14:57:07 +0000 MamaMoose 210255@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mrbee: Gotcha! I was worried my first comment was being taken as culturally I sensitive and that definitely wasn't how I meant it! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-accommodate-guests-while-keeping-a-house-shoe-free#post-210247 Tue, 03 Jul 2012 14:49:53 +0000 mrbee 210247@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>"@mrbee: I don't think it's really fair to say that someone is uncomfortable with other cultures because they don't like taking their shoes off."</p> <p>@MamaMoose: Didn't mean to suggest that someone was uncomfortable with other cultures just because they don't like taking their shoes off! I meant, if someone refuses to take off their shoes even after you explain it's important to you and your culture... then they may not realize what a big deal shoes-in-the-house can be.</p> <p>I don't like taking my shoes off at other people's houses either, so can relate to not liking to take them off! </p>