How does the day-to-day work of not wearing shoes in the house?

newbeni@lemmy.world to No Stupid Questions@lemmy.world – 115 points –

I have been reading a lot lately about not wearing outside shoes in the house and it interests me even more because I've been saving to re-carpet my whole house. It hits me every now and then about how to do things though, like, say I'm cooking all day on Sunday then need to take the trash out. I'm assuming it's change shoes, then say the grandkids stop by and want to go go for a bike ride? I'm assuming it's change shoes. I guess maybe what I'm asking is how many baskets by how many doors with how many pairs of slip-ons (both indoor and out) do I need?

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TIL I learned some people wear shoes all the time. What a time to be alive.

These are the same assholes who sound like a jackhammer when they walk in apartments.

Your neighbors probably aren’t particularly loud, your landlord cheaped out on sound insulation. And probably regular insulation.

My parents had this mini dachshund.

If you were downstairs and she decided to run the ~5 pound dog…. Well let’s just say we nicknamed her “thunder paws”

I have an old cat who is 7lbs soaking wet. Wife calls it the exorcist when running around upstairs.

it was truly impressive. you could always tell when someone started cooking- especially if they so much as glanced at the carrots.... (she knew she got the tips, it was her treat....Vet recommended for training. Just chop them into tiny nibs.)

even if you didn't break out the carrots.... She was hopeful something would fall. It was amazing, at how even when she was 18; she could go from old-lady-napping to rug-shark scarfing up whatever just fell before it ever touches the ground.

Well my 250lbs upstairs neighbor makes the ceiling creak and groan, but the jackhammering they did to fix the slab on the apartment behind mine rattled my bed.

I learned from TV, American shows like Seinfeld or Simpsons where the characters are always wearing shoes. Growing up in Canada we didn't do that and I thought it was weird

I have been rewatching Friends and it drives me nuts. They regularly jump on top of the couch and the coffee table with their outside shoes on...

Mr Rogers had inside and outside shoes so that's the end of the line, champ

You come from outside

You keep your shoes on

Sounds like it dirties up your apartment and is lazy, but okay, it's about laziness I guess

You come from outside

You switch to different shoes

Makes no sense to me. Why would you do that?

It is a mixture of things. Carpet gets dirty quicker and is harder to clean than hard floors. Hard floors are worse for your feet, ankles, knees, and cause more pain. It is healthier to walk on hard floors with shoes on, padding and carpet wasn't much of a deal (closer to grass).

Many people are moving to house shoes, I personally don't like them. But then again I don't like walking on tile floors for long periods of time either. It encourages sitting/laying down more often.

We just have those regular carpets (not whole floor carpeting) and socks inside. Don't have to clean the carpets very often and isn't hard on the feet or anything.

Wait that's not just artists being lazy?

So is it not rude to leave your shoes on in some places?

Uh ya, it’s called TV not real life.

They are on set, not in their comfy house.

At least that explains Seinfeld. Not sure why they would do it in the simpsons. I’d imagine it’s because the writer does this shit at home too like a savage.

That's just their workplace. They aren't going to stop to have Kremer take off his shows. Also for people like Tom Cruise, the shows are used to change the perception of height.

People wear shoes indoors? That sounds utterly barbaric to me lol

I'm not American in any way, but I am fond of urbanism. Imagine your cities built in a very car-centric way, so to get anywhere any time you always use a car. Your shoes are almost clean all the time. Home, car, groceries, car, home, car, office, car, bar, car, home. A park is miles away, you don't pass it by when you walk from the office. So I disagree with the barbarism. The concept is just suitable only for a specific urban design.

That’s a lot of dirty parking lots you’re walking through… even the cleanest surfaces outside have way more dust and grime than inside.

You are totally right. I'm just trying to find at least a theoretical explanation for this behavior.

You make it sound like sidewalks are sparkling clean

no-no, not at all, I'm just trying to find at least a theoretical explanation for this behavior.

Go on with your bubble boy mentality. Git.

Do you wear gloves before opening public doors too?

Lmao living in filth and being proud of it. Congratz, you're the epitome of intellect!

Imagine thinking that taking your shoes off indoors makes you some sort of superior being.

Congrats on being able to eat food off your pristine floors I guess.

It was about your attitude, not the shoes ;) I am aware that not everyone cares about basic hygiene, that's fine by me!

We aren’t talking about basic hygiene here my friend. Unless you are spending a lot of time laying on the floor… but most people have couches and chairs and beds and whatnot - places you don’t put your shoes on. And most people clean their house on a regular basis, which includes vacuuming and/or mopping. You anti-shoes-inside people are silly.

Yes, because dirt and germs stay exactly where they're left and never move or multiply, and are always completely benign! Lol, I stand by my comment. :)

Also funny that you're calling basically the rest of the world silly for figuring this out before you.

That's why we don't eat off floors, but from raised surfaces like... a table.

I find it so interesting people are so horrified by the thoughts of shoes indoors. I can see the benefits of having a no shoe policy, but this opinion that people must be pigs if they wear shoes inside is crazy.

In my country (The Netherlands) it's fairly common for people to have shoes indoors. Muddy shoes will always be left at the door, obviously. And if I worked in, lets say, the garden, I obviously don't go around the house messing up the floor. But being afraid of the germs under your shoes to hit the floor? Are people that careful with their bags too? With their pants? Or.. hell.. with their phones?

There's nuance to having shoes inside which does, in fact, not make us the monsters we are told to be by this thread.

I think in this example it'd be the shoe wearers wearing gloves inside all day

Just, take your shoes off inside, and put them back on when you go outside. It's like clothes and the shower, lol

Truly bizarre it needs to be stated.

I don't shower 10 times a day but I do leave the house in and out at least that much and not just little quick trips I could wear slippers, I'm not gonna lace up my boots 10 times and unlike them 10 times everyday. I also don't have filthy carpets so it's easy to clean my floors.

Why are you acting like shoes with laces are the only footwear in existence

For what I do for work and the shoes I like shoes with laces are the only option

When you come in you leave the shoes in the mudroom and when you go out you put those shoes back on. What exactly is the issue here? This is like asking how do you shower without clothes on.

Exactly. I have my outside winter boots (simply called winter boots), outside shoes (simply called shoes), and a dead pair (last outdoor pair) at the back door to take out the garbage. Rest of the time I and the others in the house are barefoot or in slippers

What if you aint got a "mudroom?" Whatever that even is... Check your privilege.

Foyer, mudroom, entrance way. If you don't have a small cube between a storm door and a front door, then just as you come inside.

This isn't some privilege thing, it's literally just an area of your house or apartment. Different environments have different entryways for the houses there. No need to be so hostile just because you don't know what a "mudroom" is.

Then you just take it off at the front door area. Have some sandals you can slip on in half a second if you need to take the trash out. "Check your privilege." How fucking cringey.

Excuse the fuck out of me for not having a whole separate room for that.

I grew up in Texas. I understand your confusion. Houses are oriented a little differently here, but think of the "mudroom" as the garage. You know how you have a side door and a front door? And the side door is usually sort of attached to the garage, basement, or maybe laundry room? It is just that. A lot of people have a spot right inside that door, off to the side, for piling shoes. Otherwise you have a rack when you walk in, or you can use the closet right by your front door. It isn't really a separate room. Good idea to have mats on both sides of the door. For whatever reason people are obsessed with split levels up here, so there is easier access to basement type areas.

Excuse me but my cardboard box only has one room. Check your privilege!

These size 11 shoes were put on me as a toddler, I've never taken them off since.

How I aspire to one day have a mudroom so I finally have a place to take off my shoes.

Real talk, just leave em by whatever you deem to be the entrance to your home.

We've got a mat in our hallway that effectively serves as one. A mud room is an area to be wet or dirty and clean off before entering the house... for moat of us it's just part of our hallway.

So... I keep crocs at the door for those moments where I need to step out for a moment. slip on, slip off. For anything more... extensive than checking the mail or running out the trash; yeah, I put on proper shoes.

You're house will be cleaner if you don't wear shoes inside. If your feet get cold, socks, or slippers that stay inside are useful, but I generally just go barefoot. (or socked,)

This is probably why crocs are so popular.

I own a pair a couple of sizes too large for winter, so that I can step into them without even taking my slippers off.

I own a pair a couple of sizes too large for winter

I already knew what you meant by this point, although I assumed it was for giant/layers of wool socks, lol

My slippers are practically giant socks, just fleece-lined and grip soled.

Send me a link immediately, lol

Lol I just buy them from the local shops, but if you search for sherpa lined slipper socks or fleece lined slipper socks the same sort of thing comes up!

mom was introduced to bombas recently. got everyone a pair. they're very nice as slippers.

Oooooo

that's what I say everytime i pull them on. Not much of a slipper guy, but... for these, I make exceptions.

Updoot for Crocs!

I have a shoe tray near the front door, so anyone coming in has a place to put their shoes.

For mine, it has

  • Crocs, for those quick errands like taking out the trash. Easy on and off!
  • Sneakers, for anything longer, like walking the dog or going to the grocery. It’s no big deal to take a few seconds putting them on, since it’s for something that takes a while
  • if I wore boots or work shoes or dress shoes, I’ll leave them there until they dry. No big deal to get them from my closet, since I don’t use them every day, and it would be only once
  • socks for inside

This is the way. My wife has a pair of crocs just for around the house.

and now, I'm having visions of all the mandalorians in crocs.

with socks. because whose going to criticize a Mandolorian going full on dad mode?

How many fucking doors do you have that you're concerned about multiple shoes and multiple baskets brother?

People wear shoes in their house like it’s normal? Wtf?! Fucking savages

We did growing up. Most people I know are indifferent minus a few friends. I don't wear them at home now, but I don't see the big deal in keeping them on once in a while.

Do you not have carpets or what?

I couldn’t imagine fucking up all my carpets and furniture over time from being too lazy to take shoes off.

Plus I just don’t understand how it’s comfortable to wear shoes all day long. I usually can’t wait to get home just so I can take my shoes off. I don’t feel like I can truly relax without them off.

Do you wear your shoes when you’re in bed and snuggling on the couch under a blanket too???

This thread is absolutely insane to me. I can’t imagine wearing shoes all around my house.

I can't imagine not because of the dirt issue but just because of how uncomfortable shoes are compared to just socks or sandals.

Do you not have carpets or what?

I don't, no. Only one room in my house has carpet, and they're from the original owner and already gross anyway, and that room is a storage room. The rest of the house is hardwood (which needs to be redone) or linoleum.

I couldn’t imagine fucking up all my carpets and furniture over time from being too lazy to take shoes off.

It's not always laziness, I prefer just having my shoes on unless I've got my feet on the couch, then it's just socks. People have their own preferences, there's nothing wrong with that.

Plus I just don’t understand how it’s comfortable to wear shoes all day long. I usually can’t wait to get home just so I can take my shoes off. I don’t feel like I can truly relax without them off.

🤷‍♀️ Don't know, I just feel more comfortable in shoes an/or socks. I've never understood people who have to take their shoes and socks off as soon as they get home, you're just getting dust and dirt and whatever else all over your feet.

Do you wear your shoes when you’re in bed and snuggling on the couch under a blanket too???

No, shoes don't go on the furniture, unless I'd get too high in the past and fall asleep with them on. They're warm and protect my feet.

I'll also add, I have a dog, so, to me, it's a moot point. He's not wearing shoes, and he's going to drag even worse stuff in the house on his paws, and I'm not cleaning his paws literally every time he's gotta go out and pee, so... 🤷‍♀️

Idk, I see all of the points people are making about why you shouldn't wear them inside, but I don't understand why people are acting like they've never even considered the concept of just... Wearing shoes inside? Like, to me, it's more astonishing (as a former chef) that people will cook barefoot, like, haven y'all never seen what hot oils can do to bare skin? That's insane to me, but I'm not losing my mind over the concept.

Same here. Wood floors, 2 dogs, 2 cats, 2 kids. I will still argue that wood floors are cleaner than carpet but cat litter, dogs don't wear shoes and it doesn't snow here or anything like that.

I just don't have the sort of controlled situation that people who ban shoes in house seem to have. Yes we wipe the dogs' paws before they come in in the summer when it's muddy and yes I have gardening boots that don't come inside, but I put on shoes when I get dressed. We do run the Roomba twice a day, have a biweekly cleaning service, central A/C with filters and an air purifier, it's not filthy by any means but the floor is the floor, we walk on it.

Like, if you are having a party and people are dressed up, they are barefoot? When they go on the back deck do they run to the front and grab their shoes then take them off again to come inside to grab a drink? Is it just that people up north are used to getting undressed when they come inside anyway so shoes are just like coats and scarves and hats to you? Like OP I have questions.

Yes and what's best is we can be fully relaxed while having shoes on anywhere outdoor as an added benefit.

My mother sewed. She lost pins all the time. As a result, I am pretty much only barefoot in the shower.

I hate having litigious family members - they're always leaving sharp objects around the house.

OP specifically mentioned grandkids, so I'm assuming they are on the older side. When you get old, it can be nice to have the extra support of shoes, even inside your house. I never wear shoes inside but my parents (in their late 60's) always do since their house has hardwood floors.

My dad has a few pairs of boat shoes for this reason, and my mom uses her old pairs of Birkenstocks.

Right? It’s disgusting. I don’t even see how some people can rationalise it. Would rather hurt my feet going barefoot/with socks on than drag in a thousand contaminants from the outside.

I had a rule at my house, If you want to wear your shoes inside, lick the sole from heel to toe and I will grant you can wear them. no one ever took me up on it

You are licking your floors regularly? Then yes sir, absolutely will take off my shoes. I would not dance on someone's table in shoes; if you eat off your floor I understand.

But really, of course if someone asked I wouldn't dream of pushing back, it's your house not mine. Do people really fight you on that?

There were a few that pushed back on it back in the day. I hate washing floors

I actually noped out of a potential roommate situation when I saw 20 pairs of shoes on the stairs leading to the apartments front door.

Perhaps you're overthinking this? In the house you can go barefoot, keep socks on, and/or wear slippers/loafers.

When you go outside you put on shoes.

So yes most people would have a shoe rack or just keep their shoes placed near the door. If you have multiple doors sure you can consider keeping extra pairs of shoes there or some sort of in between like outdoor slippers/something for when you just need to go check the mail or whatever.

Sandals for a quick trip outside shoes for everything else. No shoes inside.

This is the craziest thing to me...

I live in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. I put my boots or shoes on at the door before I go out, and I take them off when I get home. If I get cold feet, I may put on slippers.

Inside the house, I'm bare foot or in socks. If I take the trash out and it's nice, I go out barefoot. If it's snowy or frigid cold (I'll leave the Winnipeg weather up to you for a fun google) I put on my boots.

I don't know anyone who wears shoes indoors unless they are elderly and need the support. It's a sign of middle age / senior age living here.

I don’t understand this question. Are there people who wear their filthy, disgusting shoes around their nice, clean house? What animals and monsters do this? And how do you afford to constantly sweep and mop your house five times a day to keep your house clean? Or do you actually not do this and live in a disgusting, filthy, dirt-covered house all the time?

How revolting!

I don’t even wear my outside clothes inside. I change when I get home into comfy pajama clothes to relax in.

Outside shoes …. In a carpeted house!

Throw in a fully carpeted bathroom too.

Jesus Christ, some places...

Or do you actually not do this and live in a disgusting, filthy, dirt-covered house all the time?

Sadly, in my limited experience with people who wear their shoes inside by default, it has been this one.

My house is held together by mouse shit and the chucks of flesh I've lost trying to keep it up right lol

Ya know what, I work at Home Depot. Maybe we could help you with that.

And I know Jimmy Carter is in hospice now, but I bet he knows a few people who can help!

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How often do you go outside?

How often do you go outside?

I'm in and out at least ten times a day. Hauling firewood, tending a greenhouse, shoveling snow, walking to work depending on weather, going outside to enjoy nature, etc. Changing my clothes each time would be extremely impractical.

How dirty is your outside, that this is a concern? Are other places strewn with trash and excrement? The sidewalk outside my house and the grass in my yard isn't any dirtier than the century-old cottage between them.

It’s dirtier than the inside of my house, and I don’t want to track that inside.

Is that truly so difficult for you to grasp?

I think it might be more difficult for you to grasp it's not really nice to call someone doing something other than you an "animal" or a "monster."

Good lord- it's shoes man. Relax.

I didn’t call anyone anything. And if you want to track dirt and filth in your house, go right ahead. Work on your reading comprehension at the same time.

I don’t understand this question. Are there people who wear their filthy, disgusting shoes around their nice, clean house? What animals and monsters do this?

Talk about lack of reading comprehension.

Blocked. No use talking to someone like this.

You still haven’t shown me where I called anyone anything, just displayed how you see what you want to.

At least I won’t be hearing from you again.

Not everyone trudges through mud when they go out. My state has asphalt and concrete most of the places I want to walk.

I live in a major city that is almost entirely concrete, steel, and glass— I’m not trudging through any mud either. That doesn’t mean I don’t encounter filth, grime, and dirt, as would anyone.

I don’t want that in my nice, clean home. Ew.

Don’t forget spit.

Or walk into a public bathroom, or really any public space for that matter. Who knows what you are stepping in all day.

Street asphalt and concrete are incredibly dirty. Car exhaust, dust, whatever the wind brings, bird droppings, insects, trash, there is like a thousand contaminants.

Civilizations are filled with these disgusting things called humans. Hairy, greasy, smelly things, constantly touching and smearing themselves all over everything with their excretions and fluids and dandruffs… eeeuugghhh….

So gross.

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I can't imagine wearing shoes indoors (at home), My feet are kept warm by socks.

Added benefit of socks is being able to do a 'turn on your heel' little spin 180 move.

It's fun and satisfying, for me at least.

We have tiled floors and a sock lets you rotate easily on one heel, when you want to turn around. I never gave the saying any thought before this("to turn on ones heel").

Doesn't that destroy your socks prematurely?

Doesn't wearing your shoes constantly destroy your shoes prematurely?

They're a helluva lot more durable than my socks.

Are you wearing shoes without socks?

No, the whole point of socks is to protect your shoes from your feet.

You know what? We could just put a plastic layer over the carpet to extend its life. That way we'd have shoes plus plastic and our carpet would always technically be clean, too!

Add some quality of life to this by installing multi-layer plastic sheets with perforation at the wall for easy cleanup when you forget whether your current shoes are indoor or outdoor.

Not sure who's down voting you, but socks are meant to be in shoes and shoes are meant to be in contact with the ground. Shoes have rubber soles, socks are cloth. One of these things is much more durable than the other.

I have 90% hardwood floors and my socks get destroyed if I don't wear slippers of some sort.

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What? This is like asking people if they wear a coat inside the house.

We have outside clothes and we have inside clothes, and the outside clothes are not worn inside, because they're outside clothes.

say I'm cooking all day on Sunday then need to take the trash out. I'm assuming it's change shoes, then say the grandkids stop by and want to go go for a bike ride? I'm assuming it's change shoes.

Yeah? Why would I want mud and dirt tracked into my carpet?

I grew up in a shoes inside, coats inside house. To see this much shock at both is kinda crazy to me, didn't realize it was so uncommon.

I’m so confused. Why would you track all that shit into your house?

I still wear a light jacket inside often as I keep the place between 60-65. Stopped wearing shoes inside as I hate cleaning. That's how I was raised though, and wearing shoes inside isn't terribly uncommon here. Maybe it's a regional thing, maybe a class thing, but people asking you to take off your shoes when you visit is way less common than not. I have to ask people to take off their shoes when they come over and it's considered bougie.

Interesting. Here in France the "bourgeois" thing is usually to not have your guests take their shoes off inside (because you're not the one doing the cleaning later)

Ya might be interested to know that "bougie" is an American slang term pronounced "boo-zhee" that refers to someone acting high class that isn't. That's really interesting though, how common are housekeepers in France?

Bougie is derived from bourgeoisie, and would mean the same thing, as in a bourgeoisie would let you walk in the house with dirty shoes since he's the lord of the manor and cleaning is why he has servants.

Yeah that's where it's derived but the connotations are a little different.

Old-timey style housekeepers are basically only a thing for the ultra rich, but hiring someone to clean your house and/or do some laundry is quite common in the upper middle class

Oh wow. That’s interesting as hell to me. Are you in America? I was born in Midwest lived in south and back in Midwest. I had one friend whose house I didn’t have to take shoes off at and I uh didn’t cause their carpet was gross… lol

Yeah I'm in the US, fahrenheit probably gives that away, always lived in more rural communities too.

What do you do if it was raining? Don't you now have mud and water inside your house.

I usually don't get mud on my jacket when it rains, how do you even do that?Unless it's a complete downpour, microburst levels of water, the jacket would only be slightly damp. Jackets don't hold water by design, and if it's drenched I'd put on something else. If your shoes are muddy, wet, or covered in snow then you take them off.

Right so you do take your shoes off when you go inside.

This is such a weird thing to try and suggest is normal.

Yes but 90% of the time they are not muddy or wet or snowy, and they stay on.

Yeah, and I'm the strange one for asking guests to do so, and wasn't raised that way. Even people with much nicer places than mine don't expect others to take their shoes off.

Same, never crossed our minds growing up unless we were wet or muddy.

After I come inside and take off my outside coat, I always put on my inside coat. Except for bedtime when I put on my bedtime coat (and shoes)

You mean you don't have a morning coat?

Of course, I put it on after I take off my shower coat

Um.. I have one pair of shoes by one door. The main door. A second pair by another door you use regularly wouldn't be a stupid idea.

I don't change shoes though, I just wear socks in the house. No slippers.

You come in the house, you take the shoes off. You want to leave the house, you put them on.

It's that simple.

I have a question, do you put on your shoes when you wake up if you're not going anywhere?

Yep.

I’m not mad at you. I’m upset. 😆

This is at least hilarious to me.

I just don't get people downvoting. It's odd. Maybe it's odd I put them on but I just like being prepared to go do whatever. I might take the trash out, might go for a walk or go to the store, might sit on the deck, etc. Makes it easy to just have them on already.

I live in Alaska, so... Basically just a pair of Xtratufs by the door. Sandals and running shoes get added during the summer. Big snow boots come out for the heavy snows.

Inside I just wear socks. If I need to pop out, I pop the xtratufs on.

I can't imagine not taking shoes off and just wandering around the house with shoes on, tracking the outside in everywhere. I don't even know anyone who does that.

I can't imagine wearing shoes indoors because of how filthy the outdoors is, but good for you for taking the leap!

Wear socks in the house only. Have an indoor doormat near the door where your outdoor shoes sit. Treat your indoor doormat as the "outside" and treat it like lava, not to be touched by anything but outdoor shoes. When you come in from outside, you remove your shoes near the edge of your indoor mat and step your clean socked feet one at a time off of the mat and onto your normal flooring (not on the mat, the mat is dirty).

When going outside, step your clean socks from your flooring into the shoes on your mat.

TL;DR: the outside is lava, your indoor door mat (because your outdoor shoes touch it) is lava. Your shoes are all lava-walking shoes. Your socks will burn up in the lava 🔥

Your floors will be so much cleaner and more sanitary and won't have to be cleaned as often, and you won't have microscopic amounts of dog poop and piss and grime and dirt everywhere.

You COULD invest in an enterprise grade shoe rack unit which can act as the centeralized hub. Essentially, all users would connect with the server each time they need a shoe. As you note, distributed shoe storage technology exists, but there are actually a few different implementation strategies.

One option is to retrofit an area in the personal closet for shoes. This has the advantage of keeping each user's shoes away and out of reach from threat actors who wish to gain access to the shoes. A disadvantage occurs when there are poor weather conditions. The strategy there is to leave the shoes outside to dry.

Another option is to implement the strategy you outlined and practice a door-first shoe storage policy. Slides near the doors, work boots at the back door, and nicer shoes at the front door. In cases where shoe resources are over assigned, you would construct a priority chart to ensure that the shoes (usually slides) are stored at the door where they are most needed.

Another popular option in my region is to forgo shoes outside if you're staying within the household property. Depending on a user's mass, testicular fortitude, and the surrounding terrain, it is actually quite possible to take the rubbish to a wheely bin while walking over perfectly smooth pavement. Just wipe your feet a bit when going inside.

There are also homebrew hybrid solutions which mix and match any of the above, but be warned that a novel approach might have limited community support.

Quick trips outside - get something that is easy to slip on. Sandals, crocs, or sneakers without laces.

Standing in the kitchen - house shoes

This. I have a pair of Vans slip ons near the door, and wear their checkered goodness to the garbage bins. No need to mess with laces or even crouch.

Ah those are last years Vans, this years Vans are usually in the closet next to the FRESH out of the box "Going out" Vans.

Yes, I have 3 pairs on rotation at all times.

Word. I have some chucks and tigers without laces. Those are my daily drivers.

Do you have to put socks with these if you're gonna wear them slightly longer say to go to the shops or something?

I wear socks indoor, usually.

I don't.. I hate having to go upstairs and put some on for quick outings. I have slippers and flip flops that I use around the garden etc but I wouldn't go further or drive with them so as a vans guy already I looked at the slip ones but worried they wouldn't pair well with bare feet.

ITT: a bunch of fragile mfs who never walk barefoot outside.

If you can walk outside in -20 f (-28 c) barefoot and still feel your feet after ~15 seconds and avoid frostbite inside of five minutes, I might accept that I’m weaker than you.

But, assuming you’re human and not possessed of prosthetic feet…. I’m going to assume your toes would fall off just the same as mine.

Yeah I go out in the yard with the dog or take out the trash in winter here in Montreal. Granted it's a minute here or there but it's true. Not calling anyone weak or anything but it's just a little snow or cold.

You're still probably getting frost bite, and yes, the cellular damage caused by frostbite can add up over time making it quite severe even with the 'casual' exposure.

There's no weakness in prudence. being imprudent can lead to it though (or rather amputations, at worst.)

Do you have a source to back that up? I'm having trouble finding anything that says you have to be out less than 15 minutes before frostbite kicks in. It's like saying you'll get frostbite in your hands if you hold some ice for a minute.

Every cold safety thing ever; Keep in mind, that’s wind chill (“feels like”), in limited wind, the ground is going to pull more heat faster.

Freezer ice is usually not -20, though. (Freezers are usually set to 0-10 degrees f)

To be fair in that kind of weather going outside is a 15min, 12 layer ordeal, the shoes are a small concern at that point.

Doesn't this defeat the point of taking your shoes off inside? If your concern is tracking in dirt or germs on your shoes, tracking them on your feet is arguably worse unless you've got foot wash stations at the doors.

I live in the UK so if I did that I'd get wet feet. It never really dries here.

I'm sorry, what? 😶

Poster heard about people who don't wear their shoes in the house, except for slippers. They want to know how to make it work for quick jaunts out of doors.

Yes, but they answered their own question...

Right? It's not rocket science.

Seems they misread the community name, and thought they were posting in "No, Stupid. Questions"

Shit if these people are struggling so hard with shoes every day I can only imagine what the rest of their life is like.

I walk around barefoot in the house. Thr moment I get home I take of my shoes, and when I'm comfortable somewhere I'll then take off my socks. If I need to go outside to take out the trash or something I'll use flip flops and if I need it go somewhere in the car I'll put socks and shoes back on but the shoes never leave the foyer.

I pretty much wore shorts and a tank top at home for decades. My new place has concrete floors but I don't like the hardness on my feet so I have indoor sandals.

I used to always do that until my carpet guy told me the oils from my feet directly on the carpet accelerates it's end of life. He suggested keeping socks on or using indoor shoes (slippers, etc).

I think I'd still just go barefoot personally. Socks aren't bad, but shoes for carpet kinda misses the point of carpet IMO.

Agreed.

The carpet is for my comfort, I'm not hosting it.

This reminds me of a similar discussion on reddit, years ago, about garbage disposal care: The absurdity argument was someone referencing a plumber who told them that the only thing that should ever go into the disposal is water.

We steam vacuum the carpets... wouldn't that help for that?

Why do you need shoes to Cook ( well one du, Imight be injured by a falling knife) also use commons sense, if I break glass, I would keep shoes until It's cleaned.

Garbage Day is like once a week, so not sûre why this example. If I go shopping, I take 30 seconds to pass a pair oh shoes. It's net that long

Wait, you keep your garbage inside until pickup day? That's gross.

As to cooking: hot oil or water, slipping and falling are much greater dangers. That said, I cook barefoot all the time.

I only fill up a trash bag maybe once every 2 weeks. I only take the can down once a month since there's so little waste. Between composting and recycling there's so little that actually gets thrown out.

I'm envious. My retired neighbour is like this. Me and my partner and our various animals produce so much waste, I can fill a "recycling" bin and most of a bag each week.

But you don't take the compost or recycling out daily, either? I also compost and recycle, but rinsed recycling and cardboard are the only waste that stays inside overnight.

I have a closed 5gal bucket that I empty once a week and keep the recycling in spare cardboard boxes and take them down the street to the center whenever I get enough to fill my car

You empty your garbage every single day? How small is your trash can? That's a lot of bags.

Five person household. By the end of the night, it's always at least three-quarters full. Plus, it beats attracting bugs.

Five people makes a little more sense. Serious question, what kind of bugs does garbage attract where you live?

fruitflies, houseflies, wasps

Edit: five people and four cats, we usually take the trash out right after scooping the litter in the afternoon

You keep the bag in the trash can until its full. Then you take it to the outside trashcan. On garbage day, you wheel that trashcan to the curb.

There's so many answers but no one has answered your question.

In our house there are 4 external doors.

Only one of which is used for egress when we intend to leave the property. This is where all our actual shoes are kept on a rack.

We have a "pool" of slip ons which are shared between the household. Slip on like flip flops or sandals. No care is given as to where these are left. If you exit through door 2 and re-enter through door 3 then you leave the slip ons at door 3. Occasionally when you go to exit there's no slip ons at that exit, just go to another exit. It's a minor inconvenience and doesn't happen often.

You could use baskets but it's just a pain. With flip flops there's no "putting on" stage. You just walk over them and they become attached to your feet. Baskets wouldn't get used if they were present at our house.

You just take your shoes off at the door and put them back on when you leave.

Bonus points if you have dedicated slip on shoes near the door for taking out the trash, getting the mail, etc.

Not everyone lives in an apartment with 1 door.

what does this have to do with anything

They said, at "the" door. If your house has multiple doors, then it's a habit and memory activity to remember to change shoes.

Stay at a friend's house where people don't wear shoes inside and watch them.

Have done, and my takeaway is that they don't go outside as much.

My wife has some clogs next to the door. Slip in, take out the trash or water the plants and take them off on the way inside.

If you go outside for longer periods, you can put on proper shoes. You can also keep your porch clean and get away with going out in socks or nothing at all.

I mean depending on the amounts of doors your house has to the outside, you'd need about that amount of slip-on shoes. Or less if one way to the outside requires you to put on proper shoes anyways.

keep your porch clean

That's what I've always done, which is why I'm barefoot inside and out.

Sounds good to me. And washing feet is easier than washing shoes anyways.

How does wearing outside shoes inside work? Do you just live with the muddy streak, grass and dirt that gets dragged in on your shoes? Does everyone just own a steam cleaner truck they use once a week?

I've never understood that concept. Maybe I don't live somewhere that they vacuum the outdoors so I don't drag it in.

What drives me wild is shoes while on the bed.

You have no idea if you walked on dog shit and now you're spreading it on your fabrics?

You overestimate how much nature we step in on a given day. It's usually basically cement everywhere

I grew up in a house where we wore shoes all the time or just didn’t think anything of having shoes on in the house. Obviously, if you had muddy shoes or something else bad you wouldn’t traipse it around the house. It wasn’t until I met my wife that I realized, “Oh, apparently wearing shoes indoors at a house isn’t done everywhere.”

What really kills me is people who don't do this seem to get ANGRY that some do. Like, it's not your house, what do you care?

On both sides of that I would say i agree.

It's amazing how many get upset that I do wear outside shoes inside.

Yep. And quite frankly, I don't understand the hostility. I take my shoes off if they're clearly dirty (ie. mud, water, etc.) but normal just walking on sidewalk? Why?

Maybe there is some kind of very trace amount of dirt on there but what difference does it make to my floors? I wear shoes in the house too so if they are dirty, oh well. I guess if you had one person going barefoot and one wearing shoes, maybe that is why you find it odd?

I also think a lot of people here are very afraid of any dirt. I vacuum weekly and mop biweekly and it seems fine (mostly hardwood here.)

Like why would my floors need to be spotless? Do people just find it "icky" or what? I have to think there is like a next to zero chance you contract any kind of sickness by just wearing shoes inside your house and "bringing in dirt" so

Did your wife grow up in a house that was all carpeted? And did you grow up in a house that was cement or wood? I could understand not wanting shoes on inside if it was wall to wall carpet or rugs.

She grew up in Kenya, their floors were just barren concrete I believe. There’s not alot of paved roads out there where family is out in the countryside, so it’s either super dusty there or super muddy, no in-between. When I visited there, it made total sense.

I live in a culture where we 100% do not wear outdoor shoes indoors.

Slip on shoes/sandals! You get really good at kicking off your shoes and stepping into your shoes.

Leave the shoes on the ground, so they are easy to reattach.

For style points you can get a shoe rack/bench for shoe storage and a place to sit. Ikea shoe bench

When you go outside you put on shoes. Inside no shoes, you walk around in socks or bare feet. You can keep a pair of flip flops at the door for quick things .

Baskets of slip-ons? Dafuq? Just put your shoes on at the door. You can carry them to a different door if you need to. It's not that far a walk.

I have soft soled slippers for bedroom / office parts of the house.

Hard soled slippers for those short trips to the garage or trash or to get the mail.

And for everything else, an actual pair of shoes (yeah yeah I only have one).

I actually always wear some sort of slipper inside though because 1) my feet get cold 2) I don't want to get my socks or feet extra dirty and 3) I feel weird having my feet "unprotected", I know slippers add nothing but it somehow brings me peace of mind.

What ends up happening is shoes at every door. I'm barefoot in the house nearly at all times. Floors need to be cleaned at a minimum weekly (especially with kids).

How many external doors does your house have??

A better question is how many do you usually use. A house and some apartments will have multiple doors, but a lot of people tend to use only one most of the time. For me, I’ve found my front door generally most practical. It’s the only one I use frequently enough to keep shoes near

It hits me every now and then about how to do things though, like, say I’m cooking all day on Sunday then need to take the trash out. I’m assuming it’s change shoes

It depends on where your bin is and the ground conditions. After long enough not wearing shoes the soles of my feet are like leather, so it's no great hardship nipping outside in bare feet. I did once step on a snail while tripping and that was one of the most unpleasant sensations of my entire life.

I don't wear my indoor clothes when out and will usually wear something different when out in the evening, compared to the day. So quickly putting some boots on is no great extra hassle.

I have outdoor-only sandles by the door and pop them on to run outside. Many people are just wearing shoes/boots that are easy to slip on and off here. Inside, I use slippers in the cooler months with socks, then just socks, and then barefoot as the weather gets warmer. Basically all of Japan functions this way. Many dentists/doctors offices require taking off shoes as well (though this seems to be fading somewhat).

Crocs, my homie, crocs.

You just keep a pair by the door. That's for outside.

You wear either slippers, a different pair of crocs, or whatever slip-ons you prefer around the house, then just swap out.

Me? I'm barefootin' it inside, and slip into either crocs or mud boots, depending on weather and task. If I'm leaving the house, I go for regular shoes though. Crocs chafe over long periods.

Generally, you'll only need three pairs total to make it work. 1st for indoor use, 2nd for yard duties, 3rd for public wear. Obviously, you can do more, like boots or different stuff for public wear.

For public slip ons, go with mocs or driving slippers. But wear real shoes for biking or extended walking.

I don't do baskets. Makes slipping on and off a pain. Just pick up some mats. You can get cheap ones for this, since you won't be wiping your feet on them, they're just to keep the shoes semi contained.

You can carry your shoes wherever you need.

Carpets need to be cleaned more often if you wear outside shoes inside, or if you go barefoot inside. Wearing socks (better) or slippers (best) inside keeps carpets cleaner longer. Hardwood floors are easier to clean with bare feet.
I really prefer hard floors and area rugs that are small enough to be washed in a machine.

I have dogs and for the last ten years or so, owned indoor sneakers. I do not like slippers or sandals so I buy some running shoes or something, cheap ones, on sale. They last forever because it's indoor only. I replace them when they get smelly.

I do not wear shoes that have been outside, in my place.

Works for me!

Slippers inside the house and a pair of clogs/loafers for stepping outside (take out trash, get mail, etc.). You don’t need a pair for every room in your house.

I have a pair of slippers inside if needed, but I really just keep my shoes by the door and wear socks.

Also if you don't already have it, get a longer shoe horn so you can also slip into robust shoes more easily!

I have slippers for when I want to cook in the kitchen or nip outside for a minute, etc. Other than that, I just wear my socks indoors.

Also of course, don't wear dirty shoes past the entryway of the house. If they're not dirty that's another story, but if they are, off they come.

I never wear shoes in the house, and rarely wear socks unless it's really cold.

say I’m cooking all day on Sunday then need to take the trash out. I’m assuming it’s change shoes, then say the grandkids stop by and want to go go for a bike ride? I’m assuming it’s change shoes.

If I'm going on a bike ride then yes, I put shoes on (I'm not "changing shoes", because I had no shoes on to begin with). If I'm doing something quick outside like taking the trash out, I'll either just stay barefoot or maybe slip something like Crocs on if they're close by enough to be convenient. You know if your skin touches the ground outside, it'll be fine right? It also dries way faster than a sock or a shoe if you go out in the rain. It's entirely fine.

Doesn't this defeat the purpose of no shoes inside? The point is to keep anything that touches dirt outside your house. Aren't you tracking in dirt if you go outside barefoot?

It's not like you're outside for long enough for your feet to get manky. If there's dirt on them just brush it off on your doormat and carry on. The point of not wearing shoes inside for me is comfort, not cleanliness!

I have house moccasins by Softmock. Swap footwear by the door. If I am putting my feet up on the couch or whatever the mocs stay on the floor. If I have to go outside, shoes go on. I have outside mocs(the old worn pair of house mocs) that I swap to for quick outside excursions for trash, mail, dog. I used to have an old pair of converse low tops with the backs folded down, but I don't wear chucks anymore.

I wear moccasins indoors. My partner wears slippers. All shoes are at the door either on the floor (under a slim table for keys and accessories) or in a shoe rack (for her shoes; I only have three pairs).

I usually wear slippers in the house. Taking trash out, I keep the slippers on. Driving somewhere? I swap into tennis shoes in the bedroom (I don't keep any shoes by the front door).

I wear whatever I want whenever I want. I have no carpets to fuss over, and I have cats so you never know when you might step in some mess. We vacuum and mop regularly so don't really care.

As a sandal wearer I have a pair next to the door for when I head out (and boots in the closet for bad weather). I just take off my sandals when entering and go about my life.

We do sweep very frequently, though, as we have cats.

If you prefer shoes you probably still want a pair of somethings you can slip on easily.

As someone with one leg 6mm shorter than the other and has had a history of knee/back problems: I wear indoor only crocs w' foam insole in one croc. You don't realize how much going barefoot or just socks in your home hurts your feet, knees, or back over time. Crocs have the perfect amount of cushion for me to no longer have constant feet and joint pain. I use Skechers slip-ins for quick outdoor things. I go back and forth between the two as needed without hassle.

For folks without a disability, being barefoot is not damaging.

I thought that it was the opposite even, and that walking barefoot from time to time strengthens certain parts of your feet and legs that would otherwise be underused.

Is not damaging

Right up until you step on something or kick something by accident and then it's real damaging

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I remember a few years ago, my feet started bothering me. Then I realized it happened after I moved to a house with hardwood floors.

Sanuk house slippers fixed me right up.

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It's exactly what you described. I have a pair of slippers and a pair of shoes. I change footwear everytime I need to pass through the door. You only need one pair of indoor footwear, just make sure you enter the house the same door you exited.

You may not like it, but the easy answer to this question is Crocs. You buy them in bulk, leave them by the door, and slip them on to do your thing outside. Or I guess sabots if you are oldschool and French (they pair very well with some type of slippers we call "charentaises" that were originally made as inserts for sabots. So basically if you are using this ancient combo you don't even have to take your slippers off to go outside).

For the bike ride you would obviously get some proper "outside" shoes. Although if you have dedicated gardening shoes you could choose to keep them on if you don't care about looks (and if my grandparents were of any indication, I'd say that if you have grandkids, you don't).

I'm going to second this: a few pairs of Crocs, each placed at a strategic exit and going outside for a few minutes is no inconvenience at all anymore. For anything that takes longer than that, I put on suitable footwear for whatever I'll be doing.

It's my house. The kids are always making a mess. I'll wear my shoes where I please.

Have indoor footwear and outdoor footwear. Walking flat. On the floor is not great for your feet, legs, knees, low back. Should always have some arch and ankle support, and some toe protection. If you want to be mobile when you're 80, consider this now.

The general advice is that unless there is some issue causing you pain that would corrected by footwear, being barefoot around your house is fine.

Ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

Agreed. Just not sure how it applies here, unless you're arguing that the current scientific evidence is wrong and being barefoot is bad no matter what.