A year ago on Unclutterer
- No shoes = less cleaning
I’ve been to homes where they are militaristic in their no shoe policy and I must admit that it definitely keeps the floors and carpet much more clean. - Save money and help the environment
Unclutterer participates in the first annual Blog Action Day.
Popularity: 2% [?]
Posted by Erin on Oct 15, 2008 |
Comments
| 
Tweet This
8 comments posted
Posted by maxie - 10/15/2008
earnest question: what do the militaristic no shoe people do when someone who cannot walk without proper shoes comes to their homes? Do they not let them in? Never invite them in the first place? What?
Posted by STL Mom - 10/15/2008
Maxie -
Read the comments from the shoes-off post. I remember someone telling the story about forcing a guest to admit he didn’t want to take his shoes off because he had smelly feet, then taking that guest around to the deck instead of letting him in the house with shoes on. They didn’t even seem embarrassed about being such terrible hosts.
This is why I have trouble with a firm no-shoes policy: it’s rude.
Posted by Lisa D. - 10/15/2008
One thing to add to the shoe post. While I do think that it results in less dirty floors, I often refrain from going barefoot in the house. Why, you ask? Bugs! If I walk into my kitchen and there is a cockroach or two skittering about, you bet I’ll want to smush the pests, and I’m too skittish to do so with my bare feet.
Just another point of view on the matter.
Posted by dave - 10/15/2008
Hello from Tokyo, Japan, the capital of no-shoes-in-the-house.
If your feet stink, they stink…no big deal…admit it and ask where the washroom is. That is why it is called the washroom.
militaristic? really? about shoes? it is that serious? you seriously can’t honor your friend’s place? just once? really?
the militaristic people who have friends with walking issues probably have a relationship established where it is no big deal about the shoes.
cheers and lighten up.
Posted by purpledot33 - 10/15/2008
Everyone has a point and I agree with them all. Last year I saw a company that created booties for this exact issue. They just slip on over the shoe to protect from all the worries mentioned above. It’s something you can buy or make yourself. A unique one for each family member? Plain ones for guests? There are all kinds of reasons they would be great. You can keep them by the door, offer them to guests when they come in so nobody’s embarrassed or uncomfortable, and everyone is happy.
It’s great for those quick runs down the hall for that one thing you forgot in the bedroom. I’m looking forward to making some for the start of this winter season. I think an outside set and one for inside is great too.
Posted by Susan - 10/15/2008
After reading about all the extra nasties (lead, pesticides, etc.) that have been found in higher amounts in homes with shoes-on policies as opposed to no-shoes, I am mightily tempted to impose such a policy in our home.
But then, these were in homes with CARPET where the toxins cannot be washed away.
So since I live in earthquake country where I can be surrounded by broken glass in a second, and have a talent for stubbing my toes, I have decided to simply replace all my carpet with hard or cork flooring (easily washable).
I’m also taking Don Aslett’s (author of “Is There Life After Housework?” and perhaps the primordial anti-clutter guru) advice and install five-steps worth of good quality door mats at the door and in the entryway of my home to knock the dirt off people’s shoes as they walk in.
I think that “no shoes” is any householder’s prerogative.
But in a culture where “shoes off” is NOT the norm, and people often feel uncomfortable taking off their shoes, I think it’s boorish to throw a party and insist that your guest do something that makes them uncomfortable.
If you don’t want to break the sanitary seal on your floors, entertain in a restaurant or only invite over close friends who you know don’t mind kicking off their shoes. OR only entertain just before you have your yearly carpet cleaning to get all the body oils off your carpet left there by people’s bare feet.
Posted by becoming minimalist - 10/15/2008
i love wednesdays.
Posted by thad - 10/16/2008
After hanging out with Japanese and Korean college students, I’ve come around to the “no shoes” line of thinking and that’s the rule at my house. At one Korean friend’s apartment, he nailed a strip of wood to the floor of the entryway to make it easier to kick off your shoes – I’m sure the landlord appreciated that. And no shoes doesnt mean bare feet – socks are ok at my house.
Post a comment