# Do you pick up stuff with your feet? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 16, 2016, 10:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-pick-up-stuff-with-your-feet/752343 "2016-04-16T10:28:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![scabpicker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scabpicker/32/8268_2.png) [@scabpicker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scabpicker)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2016, 10:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-pick-up-stuff-with-your-feet/752343/1 "2016-04-16T10:28:32Z")
When I drop things smaller than a beer can, and I’m barefoot, I do. I can pick up things the size of a beer can with my feet, but that’s more work than bending over and grabbing it with my hands. Lighters, hats, anything I can wedge between my big toe and an alternate, I can grab. I thought of this behavior as normal for years, but wife’s pointed out that she can’t even pick up an pencil with her feet. Her toes are teeny, dainty things. Mine are huge. My big toe is as long as her index finger, and 3/4 the length of mine. I can’t do anything complicated, like write or play the guitar with my feet, but I do this as second nature. Do you? ---
**Author:** ![BrotherCadfael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@BrotherCadfael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrotherCadfael)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2016, 10:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-pick-up-stuff-with-your-feet/752343/2 "2016-04-16T10:58:59Z")
It freaks people out when I do it. ---
**Author:** ![jtur88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e9c0ed/32.png) [@jtur88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jtur88)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2016, 12:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-pick-up-stuff-with-your-feet/752343/3 "2016-04-16T12:29:14Z")
No. sometimes I can get a grip on a sock so I don’t have to stoop over for it. And my big toe is as long as my thumb, so I could prob ably learn… But, as usual, none of the poll choices apply. ---
**Author:** ![kopek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kopek/32/337_2.png) [@kopek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kopek)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2016, 12:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-pick-up-stuff-with-your-feet/752343/4 "2016-04-16T12:33:30Z")
I do and more as a rule around the house. I will sort of grip it with my toes and foot and then bend the knee to bring it more to hand/lower hip level. How I started I don’t know but its something I’ve done since I was little. ---
**Author:** ![Omega\_Glory](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/7c8e57/32.png) [@Omega\_Glory](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omega_Glory)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2016, 12:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-pick-up-stuff-with-your-feet/752343/5 "2016-04-16T12:52:46Z")
If there was an option between choices two and three, I’d choose that. I can’t even imagine grabbing something like a can, but something narrow like a pencil wouldn’t be a problem. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2016, 1:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-pick-up-stuff-with-your-feet/752343/6 "2016-04-16T13:09:21Z")
I can’t. You don’t want to see my toes. I don’t care when others do, but I must admit I haven’t seen it very often. ---
**Author:** ![MoonMoon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moonmoon/32/2959_2.png) [@MoonMoon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MoonMoon)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2016, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-pick-up-stuff-with-your-feet/752343/7 "2016-04-16T14:48:08Z")
It’s particularly handy when vacuuming. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2016, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-pick-up-stuff-with-your-feet/752343/8 "2016-04-16T15:52:11Z")
Yes, I have prehensile toes. Makes Mrs. J. a bit uneasy, but perfect for tidying up in the kitchen. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2016, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-pick-up-stuff-with-your-feet/752343/9 "2016-04-16T16:02:19Z")
Yep. Thumbtacks, bits of glass, thorns. The usual. ---
**Author:** ![FloatyGimpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/floatygimpy/32/7750_2.png) [@FloatyGimpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FloatyGimpy)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2016, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-pick-up-stuff-with-your-feet/752343/10 "2016-04-16T16:15:49Z")
My whole family has monkey toes. My brother can complete a rubix cube with his feet and I can pick up garbage, carry it to the garbage can, open and can and drop the item in, all with my toes/foot. When I was a kid, we’d sometimes have a contest to see who could write their name best with their toes. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2016, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-pick-up-stuff-with-your-feet/752343/11 "2016-04-16T16:16:58Z")
Yes, I can, and occasionally do. My knees are in bad shape though so the transfer to my hand is not easy anymore. ---
**Author:** ![purplehearingaid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7bcc69/32.png) [@purplehearingaid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehearingaid)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2016, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-pick-up-stuff-with-your-feet/752343/12 "2016-04-16T16:19:30Z")
I use to when I was younger , I have tried a few times it too hard . I would pick all kind of small objects with my feet. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Azile](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d07c76/32.png) [@Azile](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Azile)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2016, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-pick-up-stuff-with-your-feet/752343/13 "2016-04-16T16:24:26Z")
I trained myself to open the bathroom door with my foot - round knob, door opens in. Comes in handy when I have a toothbrush in one hand and a cat in the other. ---
**Author:** ![Channing\_Idaho\_Banks](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/channing_idaho_banks/32/250_2.png) [@Channing\_Idaho\_Banks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Channing_Idaho_Banks)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2016, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-pick-up-stuff-with-your-feet/752343/14 "2016-04-16T17:05:39Z")
The title mentions feet, but is the OP asking whether we pick up stuff with one foot or with both feet? ---
**Author:** ![scabpicker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scabpicker/32/8268_2.png) [@scabpicker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scabpicker)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2016, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-pick-up-stuff-with-your-feet/752343/15 "2016-04-16T17:27:20Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > Yep. Thumbtacks, bits of glass, thorns. The usual. Cheater! > [@FloatyGimpy](#): > > My whole family has monkey toes. My brother can complete a rubix cube with his feet and I can pick up garbage, carry it to the garbage can, open and can and drop the item in, all with my toes/foot. When I was a kid, we’d sometimes have a contest to see who could write their name best with their toes. So you’re the amazing person who answered option #1? > [@Azile](#): > > I trained myself to open the bathroom door with my foot - round knob, door opens in. Comes in handy when I have a toothbrush in one hand and a cat in the other. I would never do something this dangerous with my cat. One hint that you might not be a stable platform, and the claws are out for grip. > [@Channing\_Idaho\_Banks](#): > > The title mentions feet, but is the OP asking whether we pick up stuff with one foot or with both feet? Well, I’d envisioned the person to use the singular foot, but I’ll go with loose interpretations of the question. ---
**Author:** ![GusNSpot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gusnspot/32/436_2.png) [@GusNSpot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GusNSpot)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2016, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-pick-up-stuff-with-your-feet/752343/16 "2016-04-16T18:25:16Z")
> [@Omega\_Glory](#): > > If there was an option between choices two and three, I’d choose that. I can’t even imagine grabbing something like a can, but something narrow like a pencil wouldn’t be a problem. ↑ ↑ ↑ This 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![FloatyGimpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/floatygimpy/32/7750_2.png) [@FloatyGimpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FloatyGimpy)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2016, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-pick-up-stuff-with-your-feet/752343/17 "2016-04-16T19:17:54Z")
> [@FloatyGimpy](#): > > My whole family has monkey toes. My brother can complete a rubix cube with his feet and I can pick up garbage, carry it to the garbage can, open and can and drop the item in, all with my toes/foot. When I was a kid, we’d sometimes have a contest to see who could write their name best with their toes. > [@scabpicker](#): > > So you’re the amazing person who answered option #1? Nope, still picked option 2 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![spamforbrains](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e274bd/32.png) [@spamforbrains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spamforbrains)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2016, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-pick-up-stuff-with-your-feet/752343/18 "2016-04-16T19:43:43Z")
I can but I don’t usually. ---
**Author:** ![Chicken\_Fingers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Chicken\_Fingers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chicken_Fingers)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2016, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-pick-up-stuff-with-your-feet/752343/19 "2016-04-16T20:13:53Z")
I was a paranoid child, and practiced writing with my feet, just in case. . . . ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2016, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-pick-up-stuff-with-your-feet/752343/20 "2016-04-17T01:21:47Z")
My feet aren’t big enough to pick up something like a can, but if I’m about to shower and drop a washcloth or underwear, I can pick it up with my toes and neatly flip it into the washing machine that lives in the laundry room on the other side of the bathroom door. I also enjoy freaking the cats out by tossing them their fake mice and other toys with my toes too. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-pick-up-stuff-with-your-feet/752343.md?page=2)