Shoes at the door.

[Gerr]

What would be a tactful/non-offensive way to let people know who are coming to your house that you would prefer they leave their shoes at the door?

Gerry

[Woody]

Would that be inside the door or outside the door?

[Woody]

Oh well ... inside or outside ...

Put up this sign ...

Quote:

"Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot" covering. Proverbs 4:27

and

Quote:

"put off thy shoe from thy foot" Isa.20:2

[ChildofChrist]

Whether I am at home or out in public, I wear shoes. Should I know ahead of time that I will be expected to remove my shoes, I'll take along a pair of indoor shoes. Reason being, my left foot has NO arch and it is painful to walk without proper support beneath.

And the thought of going to an airport to 'walk' thru a check point without shoes gives me the willies! Wheelchair, anyone?

Now, if you have slippers to have your guests put on when they come over, then I'd feel welcomed for sure...and it would give your visitors the hint straight off the bat.

[Woody]

Plus a bench to sit on so that this task could be accomplished.

[Woody]

Also .... serving refreshments to those who are being required to perform this task would be nice. But, no tea or coffee.

[Amelia]

I have several friends, myself included that are a "no shoes in the house" families. They have a basket of assorted knit slippers by the door and a chair/bench to sit and change. Plus I often just run around barefoot when it's warm enough.

[Amelia]

Oh P.S. My sister has a box of those blue paper shoe booties that surgeons wear next to her back door (which is the entrance most used). For those who wont be staying very long or are servicemen etc.

P.P.S Also have a mat for wet or muddy shoes to stay on.

[Dr. Shane]

I think the suggestions of having slippers and a bench by the door are good. Serving refreshments may be a little too much.

I really don't care if people take off their shoes or not. Now, if I lived where there was snow, I wouldn't want snow tracked all over the house. I do have a carpet shampoo machine so keeping the carpet clean isn't a problem for us.

[Amelia]

Um Shane? You can come over and do my carpets anytime you feel like it.

[Woody]

Shane .... No refreshments? Party Pooper.

[fccool]

I think you should be free to set reasonable rules in your house. And removing your shoes is more than reasonable. In Biblical times people washed their feet before entering . If some people feel offended... or have difficulty removing those we keep a couple pairs of elastic covers to put over their shoes. It's very easy to just slap these on top of the shoes and we usually do it for the visitors who are older and don't want to sit down and untie and retie. It can be tedious for disabled people.

[Guest truthseeker007]

"What would be a tactful/non-offensive way to let people know who are coming to your house that you would prefer they leave their shoes at the door?"

i don t know, just don t tell them they ll burn in hell for ever and ever, the catholics did that but they kept reading the bible anyways.

[Guest truthseeker007]

what i am saying makes no sense at all. That s the beauty of non sense making. This whole world is designed to be a great mystery covered in sweet soft boiled potatoe fried chicken wings on the hill tops of the mount everest. The most rational way to behave is to be irrational.

[D. Allan]

If someone comes to the house and walks all over the carpet with shoes on, the only polite thing to do is put one's own shoes back on and walk all over the carpet too! I like Leo Buscaglia's attitude. He once brought bushel baskets of leaves into his home and dumped them on the carpet so the he and the kids could enjoy rolling around in the beautiful fall leaves. I haven't gotten up nerve to try it, yet...

[Guest truthseeker007]

Lol if you are not a proponent of explicitly telling them to put out their shoes, i would recommend them to do this implicitly. For instance, once they are in your room with their shoes on walk to the refrigirator take some milk and cookies, throw em all over the place in your house and keep staring at your geusts. If they say you are nuts, you can tell em ' well euh.. at least i am wearing my shoes'...

[Woody]

Back to the serious question.

During the winter ... you could ask them if you could take their coats and shoes for them?

[Guest truthseeker007]

yeah, or tell em you are having a footwashing party...

[Stan]

most developed countries, people take shoes off, the US is not one of those who have this custom.

[Gerr]

I thank you all for your input.

Gerry

[cricket]

Along these same lines...

What's a polite way of asking people to wash their hands before you shake hands with them?

What's a polite way of asking people to shower in non-perfumed soap and to use non-perfumed deodorant, shampoo, lotion and detergent before hugging them?

[Gerr]

Along these same lines...

What's a polite way of asking people to wash their hands before you shake hands with them?

What's a polite way of asking people to shower in non-perfumed soap and to use non-perfumed deodorant, shampoo, lotion and detergent before hugging them?

I am very concerned about germs, especially now with MRSA. But I think the 2 questions are apples & oranges. People cover their noses or the mouths with their hands when they cough, etc. You don't know where those hands have been, so I hear what you are saying. But a place to wash one's hands is not always available when you meet a person. What I often do like after church today was after shaking so many hands, I went to the restroom to wash my hands right away before I left. I push doors with my body whenever possible and avoid touching the handles. When going #1, I wash my hands first. Or carry one of those antibacterial wipes along with you.

Gerry

[aldona]

Oh well ... inside or outside ...

Put up this sign ...

Quote:

"Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot" covering. Proverbs 4:27

and

Quote:

"put off thy shoe from thy foot" Isa.20:2

Hey, I like that idea. I'm a sucker for signs. Our bathroom has one on the door which reads "Danger - Contaminated Area - Approved breathing apparatus must be worn." And my compost bin has an industrial-looking "Biohazard -Authorized Personnel Only" sign.

I have been to Muslim homes that have had a discreet "Please remove shoes" sign by the front door. It's something that is important in their religion.

aldona

[Lil Star]

After seeing what all goes on in the smaller towns, I've decided this. If I decide to shake a persons hand I will offer this hand sanitizer that smells so good they should try it too. Then put some on their hands and ask what they think of it. It doesn't dawn on them what is going on and I am making sure there are no germs when I do shake hands. teehe I have a bottle of that purex hand sanitizer in my car, one in my purse, one in every area of my house now. I also make sure that when I use a restroom in the store or wherever that I use the paper towel to also open the door. If the two are too far apart, I then put the paper towel into the first garbage can I see. After I use the shopping carts and put them back I use my hand sanitizer as soon as I get back into the car. Then again when I get home. I wash my hands to even do the dishes. I have been called a germaphobe. My house sometimes does not make that impression. Oh well. To each his/her own I always say.

[cricket]

Interesting, Lil Star, but if you were to offer my husband or myself any perfumed lotion at all, we'd have to decline. He is highly allergic to any and all perfumes and fragrances. People just don't seem to understand that he's not being rude when he refuses a hug or a handshake, but rather, if he were to engage in such an act, it would give him a migraine for the rest of the day.

So, what's the polite way to "refuse" such a gesture of friendship? To be quite honest, the perfumes alone are enough to make my husband quit going to church all together. I actually have to take a shower when I come home from church because he can smell the perfumes on me and it gives him a headache and sometimes even hives.

This morning was the first time in 5 months that he's actually stayed through the entire sermon. Unfortunately, a number of people approached him with handshakes and hugs--welcoming him back--but in reality, what they've done is given him grounds for not returning for another few months.

It's a lose/lose situation.