People who walk around British cities barefoot what do you do when you get home?

Posted by MangoKakigori@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 26 comments

The other day I saw someone walking around barefoot in my city and was really surprised given how absolutely filthy and rotten and sticky the pavements actually are with years of filth but with regards to this if there are any of you people who prefer to be barefoot then when you get home how do you go about cleaning your feet before you enter your home? Do you keep soap and water or some kind of wipes by the door either inside or out? How does it work? Do you just simply walk into your home without washing them?

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26 Comments

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Forsaken-Increase995@reddit

I walk around my city barefoot but only in the summer. I’ve got a bit of a reputation for it in my town now.. “the girl who walks around without shoes” lol I’d go barefoot more but it’s the most socially acceptable in summer. My feet can get pretty black after walking around pavements and roads for a few hours. At home I keep a foot soak and soak my feet before showering if it gets that bad.

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Mysterious-Trip-9092@reddit

I've read the comments. I go barefoot everywhere and although I don't live in London, I've certainly trod London's streets barefoot. At home, it depends, normally the dirt doesn't really transfer, I shower each day so its not really a problem. Only places like London underground are properly grimey but that washes off with water. When it rains, that will clean your feet too. An old towel deals with everything else. There's nothing wrong with me, don't do drugs and don't get drunk. The thicker skin on your soles can get tinged darker in the summer, but its not permanent. Oh, why do I do it? Cos I don't like wearing shoes and am not too bothered about what people think. Hope that helps.

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asuka_rice@reddit

I’ll be barefooting and etc if U.K. interest rates get any higher.

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AutisticEnbyAce@reddit

I think you overestimate how often I sweep my floors. There are more crumbs in my kitchen/living room from being a messy eater / cook than there is grit on the street. If I've been out running I shower when I get in, and sometimes also have a bath or shower before bed. Not much sticks to smooth skin though (compared to shoe treads) so unless I've been out of the city and plodding about in the mud there's not much to clean off. Because someone will inevitably ask - I've never found a pair of shoes I can walk more than a few hundred meters in before the cramping pain in the arches forces me to stop and rest, despite trying several hundred different brands. I'm not sure how far I can walk/run barefoot. My feet feel fine after marathon distance but my hamstrings are pretty tired by then, so I've never tried going further. I wear socks if it's very cold or I really can't deal with being yelled at by strangers that day, although the latter happens less often since I started transitioning.

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SpaTowner@reddit

I’m not at all trying to force you into shoes, but have you found barefoot brands like Vivo or Softstar any better than standard?

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AutisticEnbyAce@reddit

Not really. My smaller / higher arched foot still cramps like crazy and I can't get beyond 2km without taking the shoe off to let it recover.

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EmphasisDue9588@reddit

I don’t know this experience but I have seen people who had to live in the woods develop “permadirt” it gets embedded into the skin. Anyhow, I doubt those people use Reddit. Would be interesting to see a reply

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MangoKakigori@reddit (OP)

I can understand a more rural type scenario because it’s somewhat more organic or natural matter which seems less intimidating and potentially hazardous to me (I could be wrong) But with city/urban living it just seems far more dangerous and dirty

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AutisticEnbyAce@reddit

Barefooting is much easier in the city. On country hikes you never know when there will be gravel or spiky plants or slippery mud or something else difficult. Concrete is concrete.

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grumpylazybastard@reddit

And broken glass and dog piss and last nights vomit and bird shit and exhaust particulates and spit and fag ends.

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AutisticEnbyAce@reddit

Yeah that's all there. I live next door to a spoons. Doesn't seem to cause any problems though.

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steeplebush@reddit

I saw a tiktok or reel recently of a rural American gentleman who had developed about an inch thick layer of callous on the soles of his feet (presumably from working barefoot his whole life), he holds a lighter flame to it and can’t even feel it.

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MangoKakigori@reddit (OP)

It is interesting I understand the ability of the foot to develop durability and strength but it’s just bringing that dirt into the home that confuses me

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ProfessorYaffle1@reddit

I don't go barefoot in towns or cities but often got barefoot in my garden which might include going onto the pavement outside. Depending on how dirty my feet are I would normally rinse off under the outside tap and then slip on a pair of crocs to walk to the bathroom to wash them properly . Similar to if I've been on the beach or somewhere like that.

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MangoKakigori@reddit (OP)

That seems perfectly reasonable and far less contaminated than a city centre

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tmstms@reddit

Not exactly the same idea, but my aunt used to hoover her house naked and then have a shower, so no household dust could adhere to her clothing or body. She was hard-core. The never let me stay in their house (in Switzerland) but paid for me to stay in a hotel. On one occasion when I turned up too late, they let me sleep in my own sleeping bag on the top of a bed. Only my aunt's sister and brother in law (i.e. my mum and dad), and my uncle's father were allowed to stay. My sister and her husband were likewise booked into a hotel.

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MangoKakigori@reddit (OP)

That is super extreme Some people just prefer it that way I guess

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LondonCycling@reddit

Used to work with someone who walked bare foot. I'm not sure she did wash them when she got home, but not sure tbh. I remember going to view a student property and when we got there there was a guy walking bare foot, and you could see the tram marks on the cream carpet where he'd left dirt from months or more of walking over the same bits of carpet bare foot. The whole property was a bit grim. Yellow mattresses without sheets on them. The walls stunk of weed. I don't mind people having a toke but they must have been doing it all day every day.

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MangoKakigori@reddit (OP)

I’m guessing you didn’t move into that property

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BigDanglyOnes@reddit

Septicaemia.

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Nervous-Toe-6779@reddit

Only ever done this a couple times but when I have I definitely wash my feet like no tomorrow afterwards I hate dirty feet it’s gross.

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YchYFi@reddit

This person is probably not well. I've only seen homeless walk barefoot.

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28374woolijay@reddit

Maybe they wear shoes indoors at home?

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saywherefore@reddit

If it's wet then I probably won't be barefoot, but a quick shuffle around the grass in my garden gets them pretty clean. If it's dry then I'll just wipe them on the doormat. Feet aren't terribly absorbent, and they don't have treads for large lumps of mud to get stuck between, so they don't bring much dirt indoors. Do people clean their dogs' paws when they come inside? Not in my experience.

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Flat_Development6659@reddit

Are you sure you didn't spot someone who was mentally unwell, homeless or on drugs? I've never seen anyone barefoot in a city centre.

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