Taking shoes off before you come inside your house

We always expect children to and most adults follow suit. As a family we take our shoes off and put slippers or indoor shoes on when we enter anyone’s house unless the family tell us not to. I used to work with a Chinese family who always did this - they even had lovely washable slippers for guests at their front door - and it seemed a very sensible idea. Why would I bring the dirt of the street onto a carpet I may want to sit on at some point or children will play on? I now have real problems with my feet if I’m not wearing correct footwear and can’t walk properly so I try to remember to take my indoor footwear with me when I’m visiting someone.
It’s a matter of hygiene and courtesy.

Yes, we take our shoes off in the lobby near the front door and change into slippers or just keep our socks on. Would never tramp round the house with outdoor shoes on. We don't make visitors take their shoes off though, just hopefully they wipe their feet on the mat.

How unwelcoming and what a kerfuffle at the doorway, when everyone is untying laces, on boots and trainers. Not to mention the possibility of smelly sweaty feet on the carpet. It's totally unreasonable and disruptive. It starts off the visit with disconnection, and then the hassle of everyone gathering back at the door when they leave, balancing on one foot, etc. bending over to tie laces back up.
Oh God, my worst nightmare. And the person who has the blue elastic over thingy's, for everyone, .....I'd be absolutely insulted. That's like saying put your PPE on your feet, you are unclean and germy. Trust me, people will be talking about you behind your back!

We remove our shoes and leave them by the back door, I am not at all house proud and I have a dog who doesn't wear shoes. I don't ask guests to remove theirs, some do, some don't and some bring their slippers to put on

Cymres1 I don't think it's anything to do with living in the countryside or even if it's tiled or not. I grew up in a rural area (not a farm but down a lane) and had cold floors as a child too. We changed shoes long before we had fitted carpets and central heating.

I live in Scotland and remove my shoes when entering my house. I don't ask others to do it but when I go to someones home I take them off as I think you do it in your own home it's only respectful in someone else's.

I always offer to take my shoes off in someone else's house.
Some like you to, others don't - no problem.

We take shoes off when indoors, i like inside my house to be cleaner than the pavement! Wouldnt dream of having shoes indoors i thinkbits filthy. Anyone who visits has to take shoes off too. Same as a smoker should not smoke in s non smokers house obviously. No way i want dog wee, spit etc etc on my floors?

I wonder if it’s a North v South thing in the U.K.?. Before I moved to the South Coast I never took shoes off when entering anyone’s house, nor was I asked but here everyone seems to do it. Not a practice I like.

If you come in through the back door i will allow you as far as the kitchen in shoes ( not muddy wellies) as it is a flagstone floor. Come in the front door and shoes come off in the porch. Pavements are full of dog wee/pooh, dirt and spit. Our fields are full of cow pats and sheep droppings.

Peasblossom

I’d always take my shoes off. Family always take their shoes off. Most of my friends do too. But I wouldn’t ask a guest to do it if they didn’t offer.

I never did this when living in England, I started in the 70s because of fitted carpets and babies but still continue now with wooden floors and no children. I have a pile of cheap slippers I buy in the sales and I do take my own when going elsewhere.

Have had no house visitors for so long its not an issue in my house....
Before hand most people would either kick their shoes off in my porch or hall or ask if I would like them to pop their shoes off. Even the double glazing chap offered to remove his shoes As for me I think its simply a habit I had got into and if I visited my close friends I would pop slipper socks in my bag. Now I arrive carrying a blanket and wearing a thick coat,cardigan , gloves and sturdy footwear.? My visitors here enter my garden by a side gate and stay out side, anti bac gel available to use. If they did decide to pop to the loo I wouldnt insist they took shoes off but I would ask them to use anti bac gel before going in and after they leave will clean surfaces they may have touched. Oh my how times have changed. Roll on the sunshine days of summer.. X

We always remove our shoes in our own home even my grown up kids automatically do this when they visit . I think it is polite to remove shoes when visiting other people’s homes . Do you not like being told that you have too remove your shoes I wonder ? Ask them if you can keep a pair of slippers there if your feet get cold & if you visit often enough to warrant keeping slippers there

I always take my shoes off at my house. I leave slippers at my daughters/sons which are left there.

I also have those plastic overshoes at front door for workmen to put over their boots!

Most of my pals are like me and automatically slip their outdoor shoes off. Not a major issue.

NO!

I would normally take my shoes off when I come into my hall and I would expect visitors to wipe their shoes on the doormat but wouldn't expect them to take them off.

Yes I always swap shoes for slippers just inside the door. All my friends and family we all do the same at each other’s houses just think it’s respectful.

I have got dogs, there is no point.

We all do since we had a person come to our house and ruined our carpet with cat pee could not get the smell out of the house. We was glad she did not turn up any more.

I have never in my life asked anyone to take off shoes before coming in to my home. I have had dogs for many years so they are the only ones to come into my home with bare feet. I do remove shoes in someone's house if they ask me too . its not a problem. but it is rare. In Scotland.

I'm beginning to think that I live in a different world, but I wouldn't dream of expecting people to take off their shoes. I don't live in a pristine house, we live in a ordinary cosy home with pets and kids. I take my shoes off when I am ready for slippers, or if I have been in wellies.
I think I'm in a minority here, but people matter more than spotless floors. Probably down to a farm /countryside childhood, no central heating and ancient slate floors. If asked, of course, I would take my shoes off but it's not always easy with arthritis.

Always and I do it entering other’s homes too even if they don’t ask. I was previously married to a Chinese guy and they all remove their shoes (interestingly it’s considered offensive not to do it). I carried on with the habit and my regular visitors all take their shoes off. I don’t insist (apart from family if they forget) but I much prefer it that way.

When I lived in a big town I had the horrible experience of a visitor treading dog's mess right through the hallway and into the sitting room. I would never want to have to clear that up again. Since that time we have always taken our shoes off and put slippers on at the door. When I visit family I take my shoes off - and I have a pair of my own house shoes in each of my children's homes.

I’m also in England and I always remove my shoes no matter who’s home I enter. Also so do I boys and wife’s and grandkids. Anyone who enters my house to visit I would ask to remove. I have a sign that says remove your shoes. Lol I don’t want outside dirt in my house. Could have stood in dog poo or anything. Also it’s a sign of respect and manners. I don’t see why you shouldn’t

We always take ours off but would never ask others to. I do it as a matter of course when visiting others if they have carpets.
However, our cousins always arrive with folding slippers in their bag which they change into on arrival, which I think is a lovely idea and we have started to follow suit.