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....

Actually I have altered my behaviour since the last of these shoes on/ off threads. I now say to guests who ask 'we do take our shoes off but no need to at all if you'd rather keep them on' that way I figure they will take them off if they feel comfortable and as some people don't, I figure I haven't made them feel uncomfortable about keeping them on. Tbh I do wish we were a shoes off culture, almost nothing upsets me more than mud (and quite possibly bird droppings as we have big trees down our road) on my cream carpets. Carpet cleaner does not solve the problem and it's full of chemicals I don't want my baby/toddler exposed to

I agree mrssweet

I have a baby and I don't want what people tread on outside on my carpets. I always make sure my cats feet are wiped before they walk in the house too.

lst - you wipe your cats feet? do you rub the cat down all over? i ask this as i have just watched my cat roll around the newly dug over flower bed getting lots of mud in her fur. my cats paws are often muddy/have soil in (she has long fur) but i wouldn't try and clean them as i know she would go for me, she can be a bit of a bastard in some ways :)

I even bath one! he enjoys it. I think he thinks he's a dog tbh. The others I baby wipe clean. The vet has a wager that by the next time I see him I can't brush there teeth. But watch this space

When I grew up we kept our shoes on but my mum always specifically chose muck hiding carpets and still does now as she has a dog.

Our previous house was not that bothered as had tiles and laminate floor with v. Cheap rug.

Our current house and I hold my hands up and am now very anal and want shoes off if you are sitting in my living room which has lovely cream carpet. Majority of ground floor is tiled so don't insist but have noticed visitors tend to mimic you, and as I kick off my shoes, so do they.

I don't think I'd dare do anything if my house had cream carpets :o

Im with Spuddybean, weird to ask someone to remove something. Were shoes on or off here, whatever you fancy. guests who ask are told their socks will stay cleaner if they keep their shoes on.
Discussing this thread with husband, he told me im the ONLY person to wear shoes in his mums house. id never even noticed. I asked him why he never told me this (not that i would have taken then off next time) and he thought that i was doing it as a little act of rebelion against MiL, that he was secretly quite proud of as he could see how much it made here twitch :)
Definatley a rebel without a clue.

TheLaminator, why would you want to make your MIL uncomfortable in her own house? Take your shoes off if it bothers her, fgs.

we are at the baby toddler stage and do remove shoes. somtimes if the floors are at their worst and needing a hoover, I'll not mind if shoes are worn

Like I said mockingJay... I hadnt even noticed! I grew up in a shoes on house, its not automatic to me to take my shoes off, its also not automatic for me to notice what other peolple have done & follow suit.
On the other hand, if it really bothers her, she could have asked me. I genuinly hadnt noticed it was a shoes off house. Most of the people I know, regardless of "class"(?) are not really bothered. It probably boils down to either being a little up tight or a more relaxed person...?
For what its worth my MIL could make anyone fell uncomfortable for having the cheek to breath, so i`m not going to feel bad about it.

*feel