I'm on both sides of the fence when it comes to shoes on or off in the house. It wasn't an issue growing up in the 50's and 60's, I remember tile floors and shoes were optional. In the 70's most of the house had carpet. Vacuumed weekly and shampooed a few times a year. I was known to wear flip-flops or running shoes.
In the 80's I developed toenail fungus and a few treatments of Lamisil (at $200 each) reduced the severity, but never eradicated the fungus. Hint:
The podiatrist said it was contacted from the many years I went without shoes.
Somewhere in the 90's I started wearing (light-weight) construction boots as I was a project manager and often I had to be on jobsites. I'd wear them all day, in or out.
One day while in the waiting room to see my doctor, an advertisement for Jublia came on the TV. It's a prescription strength anti-fungal liquid. I told my doctor, got the prescription and it actually worked. So 20+ years of chasing a cure for fungus was gone! I'm more careful about going without shoes, especially in areas of wet grass.
A girlfriend asked why I wore shoes in the house and my answer was simple. "FIRE... everybody out... FIRE!
Most of the people I know leave their shoes at the front door and walk around barefoot.
As a worker in clients houses, many insist my people remove their shoes. I have to remind them it's against OSHA safety regulations. If they were to get injured without safety shoes on, insurance would not cover the claim. I've asked if they want to sign a waiver to accept the cost of medical in the event someone would get hurt and not be wearing proper shoes.
Disposable booties/shoe covers were provided by the company.
Prior to booties becoming readily available, I've gone into clients houses and removed my shoes because they insisted. One family who professed their cleanliness had a dog. When I was done with the minimal visit of measuring and discussing the design, my socks were dirty AND collected dog hairs. Foolishly, I put my shoes on and right after, the bacteria contaminated my shoes that required me to dispose of them.
Fast forward... I come up the stairs, into my apartment, wipe my shoes on the mat, head to my studio and put my bag with job folders on the side table. If I plan to be in for a while, I'll remove my shoes and get into leather slippers.
There's a shoe storage box on the wall by the door that doesn't get used. When I go to my daughter's house they have a pile of shoes at the door and usually family/friends go barefoot or change to slippers as the upstairs rooms are carpeted. I keep my shoes on. If it's an issue, I'll wear booties.
Yahoo ran a story about shoes in the house and the opinions/experiences varied wildly.
The fear factor of lead based paint, bacteria and E. coli was over hyped.
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