If you don't take shoes of indoors

[TW2013]

At what point do you take them off? I was brought up in a house where there was no expectation to take shoes off but then travelled in late teens and lived in a country where it was the norm. From then onwards I have always taken off my shoes at the door. I now can't remember when I did take my shoes off. My parents are now no longer able to tell me (dementia etc.). So I am just wondering what others do. I obviously didn't sleep in them, there wasn't a shoe rack, although wellies etc. were kept in the coats cupboard. I can't remember if I would come in and then kick them off somewhere in the house (quite probable) or if we would eat with them on.

I do remember having to clean them on the door mat and checking for dog poo. My mother was far more house proud than I am so it really isn't a clean vs unclean thread. I see shoes off as an excuse not to sweep as much .

We didn't take them off as a family, and I didn't like it. I'm trying to remember when they came off- probably to go upstairs?
But houses were colder and draughtier when I was little! So it was probably warmer to wear them inside.
Never wear them in the house now, unless I'm popping back into the house for something.

Like clothes, take them off before you go to bed.

Upstairs in our bedrooms. Ours lined up under our beds.

But houses were colder and draughtier when I was little! Yes we had large single glazed windows with ice on the inside in winter. I do remember having slippers but there wasn't a clear point at which slippers were put on. For some reason we always used the back door so I imagine my mother wouldn't want us taking them off in the kitchen. Front door was always for guests!

I don't remember being told to take them off to go upstairs. My dc wouldn't dream of going upstairs with shoes on or food.

Like clothes, they were taken off when I changed into my pyjamas at night.

We took our shoes off when we got home, simply because we found it comfier in slippers, socks or bare foot. There was no rules.

However, I can’t imagine just walking about the house in my shoes. I do have a friend who does it, and I find it a bit strange to be honest.

I pretty much take my shoes off as soon as I get in the house.
It's just so much comfier for me to wear slippers indoors and let my feet breath a bit from wearing shoes all day.

I put mine on to go out in (as in I don’t put them on straight away) but I don’t take them off at the door and will happily keep shoes on in the house. I take them off if I want to put my feet up on the sofa, if I’m sitting normally then I tend to keep them on. As children I think we took them off downstairs before getting ready for bed.

Mine get put away on the rack in the kitchen and I wear slippers. DD kicks hers off in the hallway but doesn't wear slippers so bare feet or socks, DH same. Visitors can walk around the ground floor with their shoes on. They don't go upstairs

We took them off to go to bed. Slippers were only worn with dressing gowns either to go to the bathroom in the night or if we were allowed to go downstairs in our Pyjamas as treat. Always dressed for breakfast (including shoes!). I never saw my parents downstairs anything other than fully dressed unless they were making tea in bed on Christmas morning. A combination of a cold drafty house and doing the ‘proper’ thing.
Needless to say shoes are kicked off and the foot and we stay in our Pjs until lunchtime if we feel like it now. They still think it’s unbearably slovenly!

Thank you. Sounds like a range of variations. I think that my gut reaction is definite no to shoes on sofa and beds, going upstairs with shoes is probably ok if just going to the loo but probably not to do homework/ play in bedroom. I guess we were probably a shoes downstairs sort of a family. I remember my mother being quite surprised when I came home and always took shoes off so I don't think it was a walk indoors and then take them off when you sit down sort of house.

In later life, in a different house they would always come in and change straight into slippers. They would go into the garden in slippers. We now tend to be bare foot/ socks in summer, slippers if we feel cold in winter. I wouldn't go outside beyond patio with slippers on, would either be barefoot (hanging washing) or garden shoes.

Oh yes and always dressed for breakfast (unlike now, still in pj).

I saw a podiatrist recently and he said shoes off as much as poss at home, that’s what’s best for your feet anyway. Shoes can compress everything apparently, especially as your feet expand as the day goes on.

Grew up in a shoes on household, became a shoes-off household when I moved out. Just made sense to me as part of 'coming home' to kick shoes off by the front door, along with unloading coats/ bags etc.

My mum tells of growing up with plastic matting all over the carpets to protect them from outdoor shoes and muck. I was wondering why they didn't just take off their shoes instead- something about being a busy working household- in and out all day, no time to do it was easier.

My kids are always barefoot and helpfully leave a big pile of shoes by the front and back door despite us having adequate shoe storage in the utility room...