Do You Go Shoeless?
I’ve known for years that my shoes, no matter how Jimmy Choo they may be, still tread all kinds of horrors from the street directly into my ostensibly non-toxic home. However, becoming a shoeless home is proving a little problematic. I’ve met with more than a little resistance from my husband, who wasn’t thrilled when I presented him with a pair of orange reflexology thongs immediately upon his return from work. Maybe it was the way I did it—perhaps waving them at him before he’d even stepped out of his car wasn’t quite the best approach—or was it the color? (They were clearly on sale because of the color.) Still, I insisted “they’re eco-friendly and made in the U.S.” I watched in horror as his Nike tennis shoes stomped their way across the living room rug and imagined all the pesticides seeping into the deep pile of my new organic rug, urrrgghh!
It is actually a little alarming when you consider that no matter how pesticide-free your own yard might be, you probably walk through all kinds of toxic horrors on a daily basis. Pesticides are routinely sprayed on many sidewalks and car parks, they run off front yards onto sidewalks, they’re found on parks, playgrounds and just about any area where you see grass. And that is just the pesticide problem; what about oil, dog excrement, chewing gum, spit-up and all the other gross things (I’m sure you can think of a few more) that foul our public pathways? Enough said, but truly, the pesticides are the worst because if you have small children or pets, their little hands/paws (and even mouths!) are very close to the ground.
Pets are another worry. Phoebe, my scraggy dog, comes in from her daily walk, probably caked in pesticides. I really can’t deal with giving her a bath every time we come in the house, so if anyone has any bright ideas on a solution here, you might be set to make a lot of money. I even tried some eco-friendly doggie “boots,” but Phoebe was appalled (think trying to squeeze your dog’s paws into the finger of a rubber glove!).
So, how’s a non-toxic obsessed girl to deal with this “shoeless house” thing in a graceful manner? My eight-year-old daughter is fine running around bare- or sock-footed, but only when she remembers, and I have become something of a nasty nag of late to all members of my long-suffering family (dog included). Having had a good look around, I think I’ve found the solution for my husband. It’s got to be comfortable and look vaguely cool and naturally it’s got to be eco-friendly; luckily, I came across some moccasin-type house slippers that he agreed were “manly” enough. For myself, I love an eco-friendly thong that is quilted and made of hemp. It’s literally the most comfortable thong slipper I have ever worn; kind of like walking on soft, deep cushions.
Now what about slipper socks? The thing I love about slipper socks and socks is that you can keep a basket of them by your front door to encourage visitors to take their shoes off. It’s one thing asking them to remove their shoes, and quite another to gently invite them to choose a pair of beautiful colorful socks from a basket. I say beautiful, because some visitors may need to be…let’s say…encouraged to de-shoe.
During the summer months, you may want to look for some colorful slides to fill your common basket.
So now I’m stuck with a pair of orange thongs in a size 12 and a dog whose feet I can always dip in a sink of warm water with a cup of white vinegar (removes much of the dirt and grime) when I can be bothered. Maybe I can encourage grandaddy to wear the thongs when he next visits from Georgia…then again, maybe not! What are your solutions for a shoeless home?
10 Comments
I have had a shoe-free house for nearly 15 years. If someone’s husband doesn’t want to abide by the rule, tell him he can take over the cleaning and I guarantee he will make the change. Both my husband and I LOVE taking off our shoes. Not only does it keep toxins and dirt out but it also is a lovely ritual of leaving the outside world outside and it marks the beginning of the serenity of our home. I ask people to take off their shoes and if they don’t want to (e.g. workmen), I have a box of overshoe booties. I present it as an either-or statement so it is win-win. I also have thick wool socks for people.
at home we don’t have a solution, because being barefooted at home is already part of the culture in malaysia… and many other asian countries, i’m sure..
i love the home-y feeling when i’m barefooted :)
oh and, perhaps being non-toxic isn’t the only way to look at it.. being barefooted has other advantages: you’re allowed to naturally curl and stretch your feet as they are meant to, which you would not otherwise do whilst wearing shoes and even slippers.
I can’t fathom the idea of wearing shoes in the house. It’s so weird. I like to let my feet out and breathe when I get home. Usually I go barefoot, but I wear slippers in the winter.
the secret to inducing a shoe-free visitor is to have a clean floor that invites ‘the joy of being shoeless’ without walking around on floor-feelies. once a visitor sees how clean and clear your space is, they may feel compelled to want to respect that and how you value your home interior. it’s a very zen practice to remove shoes before entering and a sign of reverence for the sacred space that is your homelife.
I was born and raised in Poland and the tradition there is to take off your shoes at home and wear slippers. My mom has always a few pairs for guests and people generally take off their shoes at the door.
When I went to the US to study I was surprised that almost no one took off their shoes inside, I would always do it whenever I visited someone, and just stay in socks (even if the floor was quite dirty, probably because of wearing shoes inside!).
Wearing shoes inside feels to me like invading a sacred space. So if I visit someone for a couple days I always bring my own slippers. It also gives your feet some time to breathe!
Thanks for bringing up this subject.
The thought of starting a ‘no-shoes rule’ seems to make a lot of people nervous.
But I think once you take the courage to ask your guests to go shoeless, you find it is actually not such a big deal. Most people will not be offended.
I have an whole blog about removing shoes in homes: Shoes Off at the Door, Please You might like to take a look.
I never wear shoes inside – it just seems ‘wrong’. Barefoot from March to November usually, socks the rest of the year.
i found this interesting, and I find going shoeless at home saves my carpets. However, I have a sister with OCD who cannot tolerate bare feet in others, and the idea of bare feet running around on the carpet is horrifying. Why? Fungus. Yes, it’s a reality and a lot of people have it. What about that?
Sara, walking bare foot will rarely cause you too contract athlete’s foot unless the floor is very wet. The fungus needs damp conditions to thrive.
Hi Sophie,
Great topic! I have many sizes of slippers and fancy socks to choose from at the door, but mostly people want to keep their shoes on. But I hope they will realize in time it is not hard at all to do, it is just a new habit, a new way of thinking. My mother took up with the habit as well :-) and now her place is shoeless. We will win them over one by one ;-) bye Kristina
March 24, 2010