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Saturday, June 28, 2008

Do you remove your shoes before entering your RV

Removing street shoes at the entrance of your RV keeps the carpet cleaner. I have a rule when we are at the fair with our grandkids - NO SHOES IN THE RV ! After my FFA and 4-H grandkids have been in the pig stalls, sheep pens and horse barns the shoes and boots are not allowed inside.We normally wear our street shoes in the house when the campground is clean and free of contaminating elements like mud and dirt. When it rains or we are camped in the dirt the shoes come off at the door. An outside vinyl or foam mat with a door mat is a must when camped in the dirt.Having a throw rug down in the entrance area helps a great deal. When we do remove our shoes we place them on the throw rug at the entrance. If you leave your shoes outside you might find a surprise the next morning. Rain water, spiders, scorpions (when you camp in the desert) and who knows what else may be in your shoes if you leave them outdoors.

Some RVers put a container at the entrance for shoes like a plastic wash basin or a laundry basket. I leave a pair of slip on sandals by the door and go barefoot most of the time. Leave a comment below and tell us what you do. Sorting out the RV shoe issue - Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing

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posted by Jim Twamley at 6/28/2008 04:00:00 AM

28 Comments:

  • I would think I had died and gone to heaven if I could get "theMan" to take his shoes off when he enters the RV. But some things are not gonna happen.

    But I do try!!!

    beth

    By Blogger Beth&Leo, at June 28, 2008 8:40:00 AM PDT  

  • We take off our shoes before going inside our home so we do the same thing in our RV. Always seemed strange to me to step all over the elements and stuff people leave in the street and then bring it into our living space.

    By Blogger Frank, at June 30, 2008 3:58:00 PM PDT  

  • I think you gotta take the shoes off. Too litle space to get it all covered with gunk.

    By Blogger joe, at July 2, 2008 2:47:00 PM PDT  

  • We have a piece of plastic lattice under the steps attached to the framework for the steps to put our dirty clodhoppers on.

    parrothead

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at July 3, 2008 12:34:00 AM PDT  

  • I don't own an RV, but I think it is great that you remove your shoes.

    I have an whole blog all about removing shoes in homes.
    Shoes Off at the Door, Please
    You might want to take a look.

    By Blogger Celestial Fundie, at July 3, 2008 12:27:00 PM PDT  

  • My wife is Japanese, so we have just grown accustomed to never wearing shoes (other than house slippers of some sort) in the house and we do the same while in ou our MH. Now if we could get the dogs to wear shoes outside our floors would stay much cleaner!

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at July 12, 2008 4:42:00 AM PDT  

  • my husband and i are now full-timers. when we still had our house, everyone who came to visit knew to take their shoes off on our porch. my dear husband never enters anyone's home without first taking off his shoes. so we continue with this practice, all shoes are left at the door, if it's a damp, rainy day, i keep a mat just inside the door for shoes.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at July 12, 2008 4:43:00 AM PDT  

  • Removing shoes at the door has been ingrained into my brain for as long as I can remember and I do it in the RV too. My husband is starting to get the hint!

    By Blogger Sandra, at July 12, 2008 6:11:00 AM PDT  

  • My family learned to take off our shoes at the door years ago when we lived in Guam. I carried over the practice in my own home and have continued it in my 5ver. I keep a "boot tray" inside the door to place shoes in. I also keep an old hand towel on the peg for my wiping off my dog's feet when they get dirty or wet. If only I could train her to wipe them off outside...

    By Anonymous Karen K, at July 12, 2008 6:12:00 AM PDT  

  • I always remove my shoes on entering my house or my motor home, and usually other peoples' too.

    My hubby, on the other hand, has one leg an inch shorter than the other, and has to wear a built up shoe. Removing his shoes would increase his pain.

    Other people have similar issues, so shoe removal is not always an option for everyone.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at July 12, 2008 7:15:00 AM PDT  

  • After working for a Carpeting & Flooring Store. I learned it is not good for the carpeting to go bare-footed all the time, wear socks or anklets. There is too much oil in the skin and it will transfer to the carpeting, which will also make it look dirty.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at July 12, 2008 8:28:00 AM PDT  

  • I removed all the carpet and put down sheet vinyl in the motor home. That makes it much easier to clean and avoids having to remove shoes every time you enter. RV looks much cleaner with the tile than carpet.
    Gord

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at July 12, 2008 8:40:00 AM PDT  

  • LOL...photo looks like our set up sans the "dog crate mat" that protects 8x10! Helmet heads and all. With a journey DL, the inside steps lift up for boot storage during rainy days!

    Linda in DeLeon Springs!

    By Anonymous Linda, at July 12, 2008 8:42:00 AM PDT  

  • I'm with Beth on this one. I take mine off and have "inside" sandals to wear. However, the other half of this marriage refuses to take off his shoes at home or on the road. At his age I don't think he's going to change so I just keep vacuuming and shampooing regularly.

    Walking Woman

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at July 12, 2008 10:53:00 AM PDT  

  • I agree with anonymous: wear socks or something inside. Taking shoes off is fine, but depending on where you camp, don't leave them outside all night. Raccoons like them, too, and you may miss one shoe or the whole pair. Peetie in New Mexico

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at July 12, 2008 11:53:00 AM PDT  

  • If we had carpet in our RV, I would be pulling my hair out! With a dog and two small kids who like to go in and out repeatedly, we chose an RV with vinyl flooring. We keep a floor mat inside the entry, and an outdoor mat at the foot of the steps. Also, I'm a big believer in having an awning mat. It really helps keep tracking in dirt to a minimum.

    By Anonymous Stevie, at July 12, 2008 3:54:00 PM PDT  

  • We live in Arizona so we know all too well about critters in the shoes - eeewwwwwee!! Walmart sells a small kitty litter pan that just fits the shoes - we keep it inside under the utility shelf by the door. Perfect solution - we take off the muddy, yucky shoes, set them in the pan - the clean, slip-on shoes wait on the bottom shelf of the shelf. It has worked for us for thousands of miles.
    I must ask, is that large patio mat in sections? (we have a garage floor mat that looks just like that but it's all black) Where can one get the colorful version - or did some crafty person make it for you. Thanks so much!

    Holly in Arizona

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at July 12, 2008 3:59:00 PM PDT  

  • To Holly in AZ - the colorful mat can be found at WalMart or Lowes. It can be used in a children's play area. You need to buy several packages to get the area shown in the picture - but it is easy to clean and take apart.
    Sheryl in Ohio

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at July 12, 2008 5:52:00 PM PDT  

  • My husband bought velcro tennis shoes and fits the velcro so he can slip in and out of them. Still can't get him to wipe his shoes outside, but at least the grass stays mostly on the rug I have just inside the door.

    By Blogger Barb, at July 12, 2008 6:10:00 PM PDT  

  • I bought a plastic shoe rack and put it by the steps. We hang our shoes up on it before we go inside our RV. It not only keeps dirt out but it allows the shoes to "air out" and we find they don't get stinky. Just remember to ALWAYS check for critters before you put them on. Nothing like putting your foot in a sneaker and crunching down on a large roach!

    By Blogger geniekri, at July 12, 2008 8:08:00 PM PDT  

  • We both go barefoot or in socks in the MH since it was new - 7 years ago. Hubby even drives in sock feet. Course he shampoos the carpets, so it's easy. And, no I didn't train him, he just came that way!!! He also cut a plastic computer floor mat to fit the front entrance to leave shoes on. Also, thanks for the good hint from the person who worked in a carpeting store.

    By Anonymous Carole, at July 12, 2008 8:10:00 PM PDT  

  • Hello this is the USA not Japan. I have a medical problem that requires me to leave my shoes on and I know a lot of other people that have problems that are aggravated by walking without shoes or have problems taking them off or putting shoes on. We have a mat to clean your shoes and use plastic rugs outside the motorhome. Uor rig is now 5 years old and is still like new inside. Shoes allowed at all times. JC

    By Anonymous jjchip3, at July 13, 2008 4:40:00 PM PDT  

  • We always take our shoes off. We are full timers and need to keep our rig as long as we can so really need to care for it. We have a rack just inside the door we picked up at Menards. It has 4 shelves. Our Grandkids 2 and 6 even use it.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at July 13, 2008 4:40:00 PM PDT  

  • Since we camp a lot in Natonal Parks, there are lots of critters and we do have rain or snow to deal with as well..so we don't like to leave the shoes outside. We brought in rubber floor mats that we put under and around the driver's seat of our motorhome to put our boots and shoes that have been outside. We then have croaks or slippers to wear inside. You don't have to be taking boots off standing in the rain. The steps get dirty but that is much easier to clean than the carpet and floors in the RV. We also keep several rags and water by the steps to wash the dog's paws before he goes in as well.

    By Blogger dashlinda, at July 13, 2008 5:30:00 PM PDT  

  • We too remove our shoes if the weather or campgrounds are messy. We have an attractive small, metal, collapsable bookshelf just inside the door with three shelves for shoes and slippers - one for my husband, one for me and one for our two dogs (basket of toys and an old towel for their paws). If you have screen guards (grids) inside your screen door,hanging metal or plastic file holders used to put file folders in(from a business supply shop) hold shoes well too - attach with "s" hooks. And lastly, because we always make a mess no matter how careful we are - we took out all the carpet and installed flooring (wood grained vinyl)throughout the trailer - it matches the cabinets and makes the unit look larger, is spill, muck and pet resistant and each night it's a breeze to sweep up.
    Madge -

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at July 14, 2008 6:53:00 AM PDT  

  • We have found the hanging shoe organizers for closets are inexpensive and do a good job of keeping shoes out of reach of most critters. We just hang it on an arm of the awning. They also keep the shoes mostly dry if there is an unexpected rain.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at July 16, 2008 10:09:00 AM PDT  

  • We always wear our shoes inside, but of course we wipe our shoes on the mat at the door. Also I think it would be rude to guests to ask them to take off their shoes. It's too inconvenient to always be taking shoes off & on. Carpets CAN be cleaned occasionally & should be. They will get dirty anyway from other sources other than shoes.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at July 26, 2008 3:37:00 PM PDT  

  • We, too take off our shoes. We camp alot in the mountains & that dark dirt tracks in so easy. I also have plastic runners to cover our 'light-colored' carpet for when we camp up there. But I don't expect our company to remove their shoes (plus some have "stinky" feet) {LOL} so my hubby purchased those paper - cloth type booties that nurses & doctors wear in operating rooms, etc. & we have a sack by the door. The "company" can just slip them on over top of their shoes while in our 5-er. Works great! Sorry but I don't know WHERE the hubby got them though. Happy RVing!

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at August 6, 2008 8:13:00 AM PDT  

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