Taking shoes off before you come inside your house

My almost-son-in-law insists no shoes inside his house, so I take light rubber-soled moccasins in winter; his parents keep slippers in the house. Don't mind being barefoot in summer, but when wearing tights I am terrified of slipping on tiles and wood, which I did when I was eight and broke my front teeth, plus the floors are cold.
Personally I think it is impolite; I would never ask anyone to remove their shoes even though I have light coloured carpets, but as he is lovely in every other way I say nothing.

I started changing into indoor shoes when I began to wear trainers and put my feet up at every opportunity. The soles of trainers hold a lot of visible dirt which I do not care to display when I put my feet up.

I always take my shoes off if I go into someone’s else’s house. But, for some reason, no one seems to do the same when they come into my house ( except children: the younger generation seem to have grown up doing it). It might be because I used to have an old green carpet that was grubby anyway but that was replaced ages ago. I don’t like asking people to remove their shoes. This is all pre covid, of course. I wear crocs a lot of the time and tend to carry them around with me so I can slip them off easily.

Removing shoes was rarely or never requested years ago but has become the norm for many. I consider it to be a bit OTT unless you've trodden in something unmentionable. When visiting these days I always ask if I should do so and feel relieved if they say not to bother.

Friend A always makes a thing of this - dancing around to take her trainers off without undoing the laces which takes her ages - I find it a bit daft but bite my lip. I'm expected to take my shoes off when I visit her and you should see the state of her carpet. Again I'm too polite to say anything.

Friend B always looks at me askance and says not to bother. Mind you, she has a 'lady who does' who comes to clean for her. I find the poshest folks (B) don't worry about this but 'middle-class' (A) are more uptight.

It never used to be 'a thing' did it?

I always take my shoes off when I go to people's homes. I think it is only good manners to be honest. When we had new carpets a few years ago my husband bought a new mat and we agreed to wipe our feet. Came in after a walk and horrible smell and dog dirt on my husband's shoes all down the hall! Since then never use outdoor shoes in the house. I then bought new slippers for guests and asked them to use when they came to visit and no-one ever objected. I work as an Avon lady and when asked in I always slipped my shoes off.

It is very common here in the US, done for hygiene reasons.

Yep;shoes off at door. otherwise, what is on the road is on your floor.

My husband is diabetic and will not remove his shoes. Diabetic neuropathy means loss of feeling in the feet and so any damage to them is not always felt, and could lead to major problems. Apart from that, he has difficulty bending and needs a shoe horn, so just slipping shoes off is not going to happen.
Both my children expect visitors to take their shoes off but would not insist. They laugh because I take my slippers with me to put on, but I don’t like getting my feet cold. The grandchildren always remove their shoes without being asked.

I always take my shoes off when entering a house, it’s only polite. I do expect guests at my home to do the same.

We usually enter through the kitchen door which is tiled and we usually change into our slippers if we are intending to stay inside. We have tiles in the hall and carpet in the lounge but we wouldn’t ask guests to remove their shoes. If they offer to we usually say don’t bother unless they are muddy. Our plumber always takes his shoes off and does the work in his socks and when we had a new kitchen the fitter brought along some plastic covers which fitted over his shoes. I think some wooden floors, as opposed to laminate, are easily damaged and perhaps high heels could cause scratching so I can see why anybody might want to protect them.

jaylucy

I've just remembered the scenes in last of the Summer Wine, when the character played by Thora Hird used to get her poor husband to walk into the kitchen on sheets of newspaper!(grin)

Yes, there is a distinct hint of that attitude in the shoes-off thing.

My memory is that started many years ago, when my children were quite young. Just absoilutely normal now to take of outoor shoes whenever entering anyones home, whether they have carpets or hard floors. I keep a spare pair of slippers at the homes of my adult children for me touse when i am there. Visiting friends I always take a pair of slippers with me and change either in their porch or as soon as I go into their hallway.

It is as much a habit as removing my coat when I go indoors. All my g.children just automatically kick off their shoes when visiting me, and in their own homes.

It is much to do with comfort as cleanliness.

Any workmen/women coming into my home I expect either to have shoe coverings or else take off their shoes. I am more concerned about this than with them wearing a mask!!!

How do we feel about people smoking inside houses? That is also a big 'no' from me and always has been.

Goodness, who knew? I have never ever been asked to remove my shoes in any home I have ever visited and I have never ever asked anyone to remove their shoes before entering my home. Seems like the height of rudeness to me! Having said that, having dogs and horses at home, I am often in wellingtons, walking boots or riding boots and they come off at the back door and a different pair of shoes popped on or I walk around in socks and I'd do the same if I was visiting a friend in any of these shoes. Friends who visit me will do the same but normal outdoor shoes are fine by me and I wouldn't dream of asking anyone to remove them. TBH I've got stone floors in the kitchen, carefully matched to the colour of the dog's coats so their hair doesn't show and frankly the odd splodge of mud doesn't bother me. It has nothing to do with hygiene, I've yet to serve food off the floor and I haven't killed anyone yet. I find this astounding! I don't have slippers either, hideous things in my view.

I agree re slippers. Hideous things indeed! If anyone takes off their shoes when they come in to my house I feel totally uncomfortable at the sight of their stockinged feet wriggling around on my carpet! Even worse bare feet! Obviously if shoes are very muddy then that's different, but generally you can bloody well keep your shoes on!!!

dahville

I always take my shoes off when entering a house, it’s only polite. I do expect guests at my home to do the same.

Same here.

To me, it is disrespectful to wear outdoor shoes into a home where the owner might have spent lots of time, effort and hard-earned cash making it beautiful. Taking off shoes shows I appreciate their efforts.

We don't wear shoes indoors and neither do the family. It stems from the days when we lived on a very muddy smallholding. I never ask anyone else to take theirs off.

Loislovesstewie

To me, it is disrespectful to wear outdoor shoes into a home where the owner might have spent lots of time, effort and hard-earned cash making it beautiful. Taking off shoes shows I appreciate their efforts.

That is your choice and rather different than asking a guest to remove their shoes, I just respect my guests and their comfort somewhat more than my carpets. If someone insisted on taking their shoes off, I certainly wouldn't insist they kept them on, that would also be rather rude. Manners are about ensuring people feel comfortable and welcome, not about making sure your carpets keep clean.

Getting DH in and out of shoes has become time consuming and difficult and involves him sitting on a chair and me doing the bending and pulling. Would think very harshly of anyone who thought more of their carpets than of the difficulties they were causing.

We always take our shoes off, and take slippers if we need to. My DiL is Asian and it is the norm in their homes. We have just adopted it. Much cleaner.

I have only been asked once and that was a Thai friend, its the normal thing in their and other eastern cultures.
No objection it’s her house her rules.

I always take my shoes off when I get home due to the fact I prefer to wander round barefoot/socked.

Nobody has ever asked me to remove my shoes when I am visiting friends and neighbours.

I would never ask anyone to tale their shoes off either . I find it rather rude.

Also, the thought of seeing guests barefoot/wearing tights or socks would make me feel rather queasy .

You're having a dinner party. 10 guests. All looking rather smart but wandering around with their tootsies out.

Nope. Can't imagine it.

Removing footwear before entering houses is the norm here in Canada. Everyone automatically does it.

I have never asked anyone visiting to take their shoes off, they just do. If they don’t I say nothing, and if they ask I say don’t worry. So no offence or discomfort incurred.
However most people just do it.