Shoes on or shoes off?

We take our shoes off in our house, but we don't insist others do. Some of our friends do, others don't. One of my friends brought her slippers last time she came.
I wouldn't expect others to take their shoes off in our house because I know some poeple feel it's a bit 'familiar', and they also might (like me) have permanently cold feet!

Shoes on in our house, and always was growing up too. I will always offer to take my shoes off when I go to other people's houses though - their house, their rules, but I feel quite vulnerable without shoes on for some reason. Even in my own home I always have something on my feet, whether it's slippers or shoes.

I don’t insist on shoes off for guests but we have hardwood flooring on ground floor and tiled kitchen floor so easy to clean. I do insist on no shoes upstairs though

shoes off in other people’s houses and actually two of my friends have a few pairs of spare slippers for you to wear at their house. I’d love to get to no shoes here as all of their floors are so clean but we just haven’t properly enforced it and myself and dh are the worst offenders, it’s just we’re generally running out somewhere and it’s easier to have shoes on!

Shoes off. Mostly because I don't like wearing them in the house myself.

Most people offer when they see the pile of shoes by the door tbh.

If they don't then I don't force them - none of my guests/ tradesmen ever seem to be wearing stilettos which are problematic on my wooden flooring.

I take my shoes off when going to people’s houses but would never ask or expect visitors to take theirs off at mine. At a party as per other thread I’d expect them to stay on.

I don’t mind either way. We have hardwood floors everywhere, as we have animals, so they’re very easy to clean.

I specifically buy slippers with proper soles that I can hang the washing out with and empty the bins, I don't want to be faffing around with my shoes every time I pop outside to do something. I avoid the hedgehog shit though

I'd feel uncomfortable in socks or even worse bare feet in the summer if I had to take shoes off in someone elses house. I do take my shoes off at home for comfort but I'll happily leave them on if I'm going back out.

We are shoes off. DH is German and that is standard there. We lived there a couple of years and I really got used to it.

TBH everyone we know is shoes off to a certain degree. No one demands it, but it's appreciated and I'm in the habit now of bringing my snazzy travel slippers in whatever bag of drinks etc I take to their houses.

I take my shoes off at home but that's for my comfort. I'll happily take the bins out in my slippers or take a shopping bag to the kitchen in shoes.

In other people's houses, I want to keep my shoes on. I don't feel comfortable in bare feet in someone else's house. I'll take them off if I'm forced to, but it does annoy me. It's rude to ask someone to get their feet out.

Shoes off! We’re a farming family, if people were coming in from the farmyard with their shoes on, our house would be a shithole! DH and I both wear slippers in the house, and close family members who visit a lot also have their own slippers here.

@Sunquest how is it uncomfortable not to wear shoes? I truly don’t get it. I love taking my shoes off when I get home.

But luckily we aren’t friends and my friends all really enjoy the novelty of having their own slippers, except one dear friend who relishes the opportunity to show off his mismatched novelty socks.

I just care more about my friends comfort than my floors.

Off. I have twins who are crawling so it’s a hygiene thing. I don’t have the time or inclination to mop / hoover every day.

I’ve never expected to have anyone take off shoes in my house. I don’t, can’t see the need to do so. Don’t you use a vacuum to clean the floors?

I lived in Asia, and we all had a pile of shoes outside the front door.
Our apartment was small with tiled flooring, so it was quick to clean, so shoes off wasn't enforced .
Back in the UK now and new carpets throughout the house means shoes are definitely off. Teenager however doesn't always think this applies to him 🤔 🙄.

@Sunquest lucky you aren’t invited then 🤣. Guests don’t have to wear slippers, one of my friends just prefers to wear socks. I just don’t allow shoes on in my home. I warn people before they come over, so no one’s being ambushed 😅

Seriously though, this is the norm in my home country and in large parts of the world. Are you always so inflexible? Or not particularly well traveled outside Europe?

I think this is generational in the UK. Family of my parents’ generation (70s) are all shoes on. Friends and family of mine (30-45) are invariably shoes off, as are we. It’s just so unhygienic to wear them in the house. Having said this, for a bbq where we’re in and out then shoes on is ok, we just clean the floors the following day.

No shoes upstairs.
No football boots downstairs but otherwise, knock yourself out.

I'd definitely avoid going round to someones house who made me wear slippers.

Shoes on. I don't want to have to take my shoes off in someone else's house. I'd probably avoid going round. And my DHs feet are pretty awful - who on earth wants him in his socks round their place?

Feet smell.

Because it's actually better for your feet to not be in shoes all the time ! It's also cleaner as outside dirt doesn't end up indoors. Even if your floors are hard and easy to clean... Why create more work for yourself

@Sunquest They aren’t manky they are hotel slippers, guests get their own fresh pair. I label the bottoms with the person’s name so that they are ready the next time they visit.

Obviously these are my good friends who regularly visit. I have cheaper versions for tradesmen etc, I bought both the nice and cheap versions off a hotel supplier.

Shoes on. Cannot bear shoes off.