Taking off shoes

[Dolcelatte]

AIBU to wonder what the etiquette is for removing shoes when you go to someone's house? Obviously you would remove dirty boots or trainers but what about kitten heels or more everyday footwear? I know that in certain cultures it is customary to remove footwear but would you do it as a general rule? I have noticed that some people do and some people don't (I don't actually mind at my house - I already have children and dogs to ensure that the floor receives plenty of cleaning!). Just wondering....

"Rachel so pleased someone else said that,I have been known not to go back to someone's house because of having to remove shoes"

Why is it such a big deal? I think you are being a little ridiculous.

It puts me off going somewhere if you know you have to take your shoes off. In one house I spend the whole evening trying to get some circulation back after walking over their freezing floor!

I always remove my shoes at home now so automatically do it at other people's houses if I see a line of shoes near the enrance and/or they aren't wearing shoes if I'm staying for a while. It does protect carpets and wood flooring. My parents never did it when we were young, but did have grubby carpets. i work and hate cleaning so anything that saves cleaning is a good idea. Hence I would never have cats or dogs, life's too short .

I would never ask guests to remove shoes though (unless dirty eg wellies or stilletoes) They usually do because they know we remove our shoes and our guests are people who like us.

"and our guests are people who like us."

And so are ours

I automatically take my shoes off when I go in anyone else's house but my own. I have wood flooding so it cleans easily. I get nervous when people have carpets especially cream !!! My brother keeps his on at all times but his socks are worse than any shoe!!!

I think if a guest of mine would rather keep their shoes on than visit me I probably wouldn't be too disappointed if they chose not to come anyway. Most of my friends aren't that fashion conscious.
Refusing to remove your shoes seems a bit uptight and anal to me. I am happy to do whatever my hosts prefer with my shoes when visiting. They're only shoes, I really don't get it. They are to protect my feet from stones and hard stuff.

I wasnt bought up to take my shoes off in the house.
I never wore slippers.

Now I hate wearing shoes and have several pairs of fetching slippers

I visit families in their homes and I always take my shoes off. I have terrible socks because I dont really like them so I have to be careful to find a decent pair on work days.

I also make sure I wear shoes/boots that are easy to get off and on. Summer is fine because I wear flip flops.

Lots of my families are muslim or from other backgrounds were shoes are not worn inside. My white families are eastenders and shoes are not usually worn inside because woe betide anyone who gets dirt on the floor

My friends want to see me , not my feet

Why does "me" include your shoes though? My identity isn't bound up in my shoes. I don't stare at people's feet I look at their faces when I talk to them!

Luckily my family and friends are not anal about a bit of muck on their floors

tbh I have all types of friends, some with odd ways. I don't see wanting to keep shoes on as odd, but even if I did I would accept it. I think lots of people have their own odd ways and its good to be accepting of this - especially when it doesn't really cause you any problems - and no I don't see the tiny bit of dirt brought in from someone walking across my floor as a problem.

Thats how I feel , if people want to take their shoes off fine, if they want to keep them on also fine. It's really not a big deal to anyone I know.

I've ended up really confused about the shoes thing.

Round us, if there are children the rule appears to be shoes off.

And I've found a geographical divide (north, south; England, central Europe, far fast), age, socio economic class.

Worth a thesis?

East, not fast.

"Most of my friends aren't that fashion conscious."

Neither are mine

"Refusing to remove your shoes seems a bit uptight and anal to me. I am happy to do whatever my hosts prefer with my shoes when visiting. They're only shoes, I really don't get it. They are to protect my feet from stones and hard stuff."

I agree. I have read a lot of posts about people wearing crap socks and being ashamed of them. Why not just buy some new ones? they aren't exactly expensive. When mine go into holes I chuck them. What is so difficult about that?

I'd say that insisting people take their shoes off seems anal and uptight, it's only a floor. I usually take my cue from my host, but would prefer to keep them on.

I'm originally from Canada and it tends to be a shoes off culture, especially in winter. People bring slippers when they go to other peoples' houses.

And yes all my aged relatives would expect to take their shoes/boots off when they visit other people. They tend to wear shoes that slip off easily.

We have a divide in my house as I don't wear shoes and DH sometimes does. His mother does which annoys me but I let it lie. She always encourages my toddler DD to wear shoes in the house when she visits which also annoys me. At this age they should be shoeless as much as possible.

I take my cue from the host and other people in the house, as well. I've not had anyone demand my shoes be taken off, but I have gone back and taken them off if I've noticed I'm the only one still with them on.

I prefer shoes off in my house, most people take them off without my asking (and indeed, I usually tell them if they ask to just please do whatever makes them comfortable.) My husband, son and I take our shoes off when entering, though.

This isn't something I did in childhood. I might have picked it up from my husband's family in Germany. I don't know. I don't feel precious about my floors, but I do think it keeps things a bit cleaner in general.

My dh thinks not wearing shoes is slovenly,and interestingly Flylady is always telling to put on lace up shoes in the morning before doing housework,so she clearly doesn't have a problem with shoes.

My problem is that despite washing them twice a day and having fresh socks daily my feet still smell and the thought of watching people wince at the smell is unbearable .Also what about people spreading verrucas or athletes foot ,you can Hoover a bit of mud but not a fungal or viral infection.

We're shoes off & I do it at other's houses unless they expressly say not too. Our shoe rack is at the front door, so it's obvious that is what we do & prefer. If someone is at ours and has no socks on, we won't insist as we'd hate to make them feel uncomfortable. Mismatched socks are no excuse though! We just take the piss a bit & show them ours.

My dd(2) takes hers off as a habit wherever we go.

My parents' house is shoes on, my mother would never dream of leaving her outfit incomplete! It does my head in hearing her heels clattering up & down their tiled hallway.

I keep socks/fold up slippers in my bag to avoid awkward ballet pump in summer moments.

I take them off if its a shoes-off house. But if im goingto take my shoes off those floors better be clean. Hate it when i take shoes off and the floor is mucky and i go home wiht bits all over my socks.
Hate being offered slippers too. Yuk!

I was brought up that is was rude to ask someone to take their shoes off (we always laughed at the middle class families that would get cream carpet or posh wood floors, then expect everyone to alter their behaviour and outfit accordingly - if you can't afford to have your things cleaned/polished then you shouldn't have them). Floors are for walking on it's all part of wear and tear.

My shoes match my clothes and i do think it is rude to ask. In fact i don't like it if people do it. I don't want to see/smell their feet.

I wouldn't if someone asked me.