Dirty or Clean?

I like my soles naturally tough and dirty.

After a long walk, the arches and the edges are filthy, too, and the tops aren't very clean. ;-) So walking in my bare feet feels best, and it's interesting to throw a glance at the soles sometimes.

I don't like to "artificially" soil my feet, and when I go to bed, I wash them.

But I won't try to scrub off every remnant of a barefoot day then, because what you can't rub off with a brush and water wouldn't spoil the blanket. ;-)

I don't have problems with public restrooms or something icky on the ground because I think that shoes are much more disgusting in the way that the skin suffers.

I like much variety under my soles, so if there's something in my path I rather often like to step on it, enjoying the different feelings under my tough soles.

http://www.mrpoll.com/4269470941.html

Keep them bare!

 

right on brother, beautifully stated. thanks for the link, it was a fun poll.

 

I really have no preference. When I started going barefoot I would sometimes be embarrased at how dirty my feet would be by the end of the day, but now after totally giving up on shoes it becomes a non-issue. I don't really care anymore if they are dirty or clean. I don't even own shoes right now, so there is nothing I can do about it anyway. A girl at school once told me something cool. She told me that she admires seeing my dirty soles everyday in class because it gives my feet characture. I thought that was a cool compliment, since I don't have shoes.

 

I don't care if my soles are dirty or clean, but I like the tops fairly clean. They get dirty when I rest a dirty sole on top of the other foot's top - which annoys me a little bit.

 

If I can scrape it off, it is too much! It gets my bedding fucked to quickly. But if I'm in nature, who gives a damn.

 

Dirty is best. I agree with Barefoot Hiker. Hey - any interest in doing a poll here?

 

When I first started college I would be a little embarrased if I wanted to prop my feet up in the lounge or if someone pointed out my "black-bottomed" feet in class. But after 2 years of not even owning shoes, I just learned to not worry about it. My feet are NEVER totally clean since I have no shoes to keep away the dirt. One girl gave me a cool compliment at school once. She told me, she thought it was cool to look at my dirty soles in class. She told me not to be embarrased that she said that because she thought it was cool, she told me she thought the dirt gave my feet characture...lol

 

I feel like a true barefooter when I have dirty feet.

 

I received an interesting comment in a PM. She said the dirt on her feet actually helped when walking on rough surfaces. Has anyone else experienced this? I struck me a bit odd, but maybe there's something to it. I've never noticed any difference between clean feet and dirty feet (except my soles are usually a bit more tender when I first step out of the shower), but I'll start paying attention once it warms up.

 

Dirt definately helps. After I've been in the sea & hence my soles have softened, I'll puposely make sure I get them dusty or sandy before walking on the shingle or stoney concrete - it's no substitute for hardended soles, but it helps a lot.

 

i prefer them to be clean when i'm at home.. i'm always barefoot at home. but if i'm outside i don't really care!

 

I clean if they are really dirty. I enjoy washing them. It's cool.

 

I really gave some thought to this whole dirty / clean debate and I realized that since I no longer own shoes I even gave up on scrubbing my feet clean when I take a bath, unless of course I stepped on something nasty. I just let the soapy water do it's job and however clean they get is however clean they are...lol No need to be embarrased by dirt, since I don't even own a pair of shoes anyway...

 

For me it's more of an aesthetic thing. I couldn't care less about what others think about my bare feet, but since I tend to use my feet for more than just walking and standing as well as put my feet up on the furniture I'm a real stickler for clean feet at home.

 

i do love the dirty when im out and about but when im relaxing i like the clean softness

 

Straight toes wrote : I received an interesting comment in a PM. She said the dirt on her feet actually helped when walking on rough surfaces. Has anyone else experienced this?

dusty dirty feet are better on the scorching pavement, don't see how it would matter on rough stuff. I've yet to find anything which scrubs my soles as clean as snow.

 

Try coral beach sand. Even the deepest dirt and grime will be abraded away in a matter of minutes.

 

Don't forget, a majority of us are not lucky enough to live near the shore, so we have to use the "wet grass" method.

 

I wasn't sure how to vote as i like them clean on top, but dirty underneath, because i feel it proves i'm a real barefooter, a bit like the 4x4 owner who likes to leave mud on his tires to prove he actually goes off road...

 

Sighhh...

As I've stated here numerous times, there is no badge of honor for dirty feet, nor do dirty feet a barefooter make. I've not worn shoes for over 20 years and have hiked all over the world barefoot (including undergrounds in most major cities), yet have very clean feet 90% of the time. I do think I qualify...