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AIBU?

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Shoes on or shoes off?

110 replies

Asheyr · 15/04/2024 11:05

I often hear how no shoes in the house is a stereotypically Asian thing.

We have had a lot of plumbers, builders and estate agents in and they have without fail all taken off their shoes unprompted. Even the Estate agent lads in their very early 20s.

Our pales floors are currently spotless as we are selling so that may encourage this.

We are no shoes mostly but occasionally allow shoes in the kitchen if we are going back out/doing a big bin job.

What about you?

OP posts:
Catastropher · 16/04/2024 09:33

Shoes off. We had maggots in the carpet and the exterminator said someone probably brought eggs in on their shoes.

VestibuleVirgin · 16/04/2024 09:22

Shoes off.
Always

Growlybear83 · 16/04/2024 09:09

We don't generally wear shoes indoors and I'm usually barefoot in the house, and garden during the summer, or any time if I'm just popping out to then bin or car, and I've not owned a pair of slippers since I was a child. I always appreciate it if a visitor asks if they should take their shoes off but would never expect them to do so. The only time I would be concerned would be if someone was wearing stilettos on my parquet flooring. I think the idea of expecting visitors to wear slippers is just bizarre. I always offer to remove my shoes when visiting someone else, but don't remember the last time anyone wanted me to take them off.

Oganesson118 · 16/04/2024 08:52

I hate wearing shoes so I usually take mine off as soon as I’m in. We have a shoe rack by the door so most guests take a cue from that. However if it’s a short visit, I don’t mind them keeping shoes on and I certainly never ask them to. Although if they ask/offer to take them off I’ll usually say yes. We have wooden floors in most of the house other than the bedrooms anyway, maybe it’s different with carpets.

2chocolateoranges · 16/04/2024 08:51

We have wooden floors downstairs so I don’t mind people wearing their shoes downstairs but if it were all carpeted I’d have a shoes off rule.

however dh broke his foot last year and cannot walk without the support of his shoes(without being in pain) so he wears his shoes inside and out.

ovals · 16/04/2024 08:48

I’d mop if someone’s sweaty socked feet were on my floor too.

Geebray · 15/04/2024 22:59

I have hard floors so just hoover and mop when visitors leave. No drama

That is drama.

Geebray · 15/04/2024 22:58

fiddleleaffig · 15/04/2024 22:40

I'm a shoes off person, and raise my dc to have shoes off, both in our home and when visiting other people, however I never insist my guests remove their shoes. My dna (94) walks with a stick, I could never demand she removes her shoes. I have hard floors so just hoover and mop when visitors leave. No drama

She's made it to 94 without taking shoes off. Why do you think it's necessary?

Applescruffle · 15/04/2024 22:46

Shoes off for me and I would always remove them in someone else's house without thinking. I have slippers I keep in my porch and in tbe cooler months I just slip off my shoes and slip on my slippeds abs reverse the process when I leave the house

I wouldn't expect a tradesperson to remove their boots though, as they are part of their PPE. DH wouldn't ever remove his steel toe caps but he would also put down dust sheets.

fiddleleaffig · 15/04/2024 22:40

I'm a shoes off person, and raise my dc to have shoes off, both in our home and when visiting other people, however I never insist my guests remove their shoes. My dna (94) walks with a stick, I could never demand she removes her shoes. I have hard floors so just hoover and mop when visitors leave. No drama

Genevieva · 15/04/2024 22:38

We are shoes off upstairs, not downstairs. Small farmhouse with a stone floor directly on the earth. Dogs etc come and go. No dogs upstairs and ditto shoes off.

ovals · 15/04/2024 22:33

I put slippers on as soon as I get home but guests can do whatever they feel comfortable with.

MereDintofPandiculation · 15/04/2024 22:33

EricHebbornInItaly · 15/04/2024 22:13

But @MereDintofPandiculation you are doing shoes off, indoor shoes are slippers or an equivalent 🤣

The whole reason for shoes off is to not have outdoor shoes on the floors of your house.

I may be doing it, but I don't ask my guests to take theirs off. That's the difference. And I would happily wear an indoor pair of shoes to take the bin out, or even post a letter, whereas I wouldn't wear my slippers to do that.

Geebray · 15/04/2024 22:30

On. Shoes on. Shoes on households are not dying at massively increased rates.

iamwhatiam23 · 15/04/2024 22:28

I will remove my shoes if asked by the homeowner but i find it incredibly rude to expect someone to mess about taking shoes off! I would never ask someone coming into my home to do it!

hcuoc · 15/04/2024 22:25

Shoes off. I can't stand the thought of shoes being worn in my home.

I'd automatically take my shoes off when visiting someone else's home too without a second thought.

AllProperTeaIsTheft · 15/04/2024 22:23

I'm not that fussed. We have all hard floors and a big dog and a cat. I take my shoes off at other people's houses unless I know it's not a shoes-off house.

Edited to add: it's actually not great for me to take shoes off if my hosts have hard floors, as I have recurring plantar fasciitis.

smilesonlyforyou · 15/04/2024 22:19

Mainly shoes off at my own home, however as a GP doing home visits I'd never offer to take them off and have never been asked.
Some people's floors are disgusting and as a lone worker I need to be able to make a quick exit if required!

ShanghaiDiva · 15/04/2024 22:16

Shoes off.

EricHebbornInItaly · 15/04/2024 22:13

But @MereDintofPandiculation you are doing shoes off, indoor shoes are slippers or an equivalent 🤣

The whole reason for shoes off is to not have outdoor shoes on the floors of your house.

category12 · 15/04/2024 22:13

Sitting here with my boots on.

MereDintofPandiculation · 15/04/2024 22:11

Shoes on. I think it's as rude as fuck to ask someone to take their shoes off.

As family, we don't wear our outdoor shoes indoors. I don't like going round in stockinged feet so I take my indoor shoes when I visit, having washed the soles to ensure there can be no reasonable objection.

ChicagoBears · 15/04/2024 22:11

Camp shoes off. I’d never dream of traipsing my mud into someone’s home.

UndertheCedartree · 15/04/2024 22:09

I find it funny when Asian people explain it as if it's a new concept for English people. Everyone I know of my age and younger takes shoes off. Older family members are shoes on so not sure if it is a generational thing. However, I don't ask guests to take shoes off but the mostly do. My parents are the exception.

pizzaHeart · 15/04/2024 22:05

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This has been deleted by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines.

spot on ^
You are welcome at ours anytime @DiamondArtists

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