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....

"Also what about people spreading verrucas or athletes foot ,you can Hoover a bit of mud but not a fungal or viral infection."

Most people I know wear socks unless it is hot, so that isn't an issue in my house. Besides, I would expect anyone with a foot problem not to walk around my house in bare feet.

At my house, stiletto heels must come off or they dent the parquet flooring which has been there since 1930 so I'm not happy for someone to trample all over it and wreck it. Otherwise happy for people to keep their shoes on as downstair floors are wood or tiles so can be washed.

Prefer it if people didn't weat shoes upstairs but as I tend to break this myself I don't get too uptight about it, you can clean carpets too but that is a pain in the butt

madabout if you had a party and all the ladies came in posh high heels, to match their outfits, would you expect/tell them to take them off and walk around in stockinged feet while everyone else wore shoes?

People don't wear socks in the summer though

Stiletto heels is fair enough tbh.

But I have been to parties where everyone had to take their shoes off

This thread is split into:

1. Those who always remove shoes
2. Those who ask first when arriving at someone else's house (I would include myself in this category)
3. Those who always ask their guests to remove shoes
4. Those who don't mind either way (That's what happens in my house)
5. Those who are too vain to remove their shoes.
6. Those who just feel undressed without shoes
7. Those who hate wearing shoes
8. Those who are too embarrassed to remove their shoes
9. Those who are easily offended

Have I left anything out?

i don't think it's embarrassment, easily offended, vanity or discomfort bunbaker , for me it is just odd and rude that someone ask me to take off an item of clothing.

And if they can't maintain their floor then they shouldn't have it - walking on is what floors are for. Form follows function an' all!

Those whose feet get cold?

• those who think if you want to keep your shoes on then you can stay outside

yes - those with disabilities e.g. arthritis for whom removing shoes is difficult

Here in Canada, it would be unheard of to walk into someones house with your shoes in. We even have to take them off at the dentist and hairdressers. Oh and I have 'indoor' shoes that I keep at work!

oh dear eternally - DP and i are moving to Canada, looks like we won't be invited anywhere. HA!

Shoes off. End of

I have never been asked to remove my shoes in anyone's house, and don't ask people to remove them in mine.
North South divide?
I thought that's what doormats were for, to wipe your feet? Coir matting does a great job of removing any loose debris I think.
Do people put shoes on and off to go into the garden or empty rubbish etc.
As a family we remove shoes when we are settling in for the night and don comfy clothes and slippers.
I think the pets tread in more muck than any human.

*those who don't want to be in peoples houses who are so precious about the floor, and would rather just go to a nice relaxed boozer where they are allowed to keep all their clothes on.

Eternally -I want to live on Canada

''Do people put shoes on and off to go into the garden or empty rubbish etc.''

yep

outside = shoes on
inside = shoes off

When I visited Canada I went to quite a few houses and no one took their shoes off-probably because it was summer. If it was snowing I would expect people to leave wet boots at the door-however we hardly ever have snow.

So say you have friends over for NCT coffee morning and everyone has to take their shoes off, what happens when you say 'Let's go and sit in the garden?' Everyone traipses back to the front door, picks up shoes and children's shoes, walks to the back door, puts shoes on, puts children's shoes on and goes out to the garden. When it's time to leave does everyone then have to remove shoes at the back door, carry them through to the front and them put them back on again? I'm just wondering how much time is left for actual socialising

I often go in the garden barefoot , I am always barefoot at home but I still wouldn't ask visitors to take their shoes off because I'm not wearing any.

If you go into the garden barefoot and then come in and walk on the carpets it seems to defeat the object!

I don't have carpets

I have slip on sandals at back door for putting stuff in bin etc. If doing gardening I'm in wellies and they get removed before I come in. My garden isn't big enough to have a social party in so that's not a problem.

If my kids have friends round and they go out they all put shoes on and remove them when they come in. It concentrates their minds a bit on whether they want to be in or out and they don't piss around trailing mud in and out from the park.