to expect you to take your shoes off in my home?

[BelleTheBeatnik]

That sounds so much more confrontational when I use direct address! [bublush]

I'm not criticizing those who don't remove shoes in their own home, but do the British automatically do it at other people's houses?

Asking this question is a life-long supporter of slippers, by the way. [bugrin]

Worra I do that if I have to take shoes of in other peoples houses. Its normal

Don't do it at home though

I'm not generally fussed but DON'T ask me to take my (clean) shoes off when your carpet is FECKIN' FILTHY! It's revolting putting your shoes back on with a ton of filth stuck on your socks, and you feel all the grit rubbing as you walk.

I didn't usualsuspect! I was surprised that quite a few of the mums had strong opinions on the subject though.

I have no hard and fast rules on this one, though I would expect someone to remove their footwear if it was wet (etc) outside.

My BIL is a bit weird with this though. He fully expects people to remove their shoes in his house, but won't remove his in ours unless he's staying the night.

Sparky it's weird

Therefore I can only deduce that both you and my son are weirdos!

[bugrin]

Due to MN I now feel torn (in other people's homes) 'remove shoes/leave them on' - offend by leaving them on/offend by taking them off - it's a nightmare!!

I spend a lot of time in people's homes who have babies - I think it's only right to remove outside shoes when you have small babies crawling on the floors - but that's just me :) or if people have lovely, clean, light coloured carpet :)

Belle, your mum group sounds like a barrel of laughs! Get out of there, quick.

Tidy - what a GIT!! What is his excuse for that incredibly rude behaviour?

We've never talked about it really. It's rude though, isn't it?

PatsysPyjamas DH has just suggested that next time I'm at theirs, I should bring some of those ugly blue things they make you wear at show homes. Just to keep those pro-/anti-shoes happy.

One of the Mums at the school was so anal she wouldn't let the gas man in to read her meter.

I couldn't believe she stood in the playground sounding off about what a 'dick' the guy was because he wouldn't remove them and told her instead, to shout the numbers out to him.

Can you imagine if he had to unlace/remove/put on/re-lace his boots every bloody house he went to?

i have decided as a result of various threads on MN that i will now carry a pair of slippers in my bag.

I don't mind what other people do when they visit me, I've got hard floors and it's no big deal if they don't remove their shoes. I always do when I go to others' houses but then I lived in Canada where it's the norm. I've found that here in the UK people can be quite surprised that you remove your shoes and, sometimes, almost seem offended.

Belle That's what I need!!!
Y'know, for emergancys when I'm forced to take shoes off

Sorry everlong. [bublush] I think I need to lurk more often. By the way I would never ask anyone the question myself, I was just wondering if it's acceptable to do so IYSWIM.

I ask in other people's houses. Mine is a shoes off house and I do insist.

I expect people to take their shoes off and will pointedly say Shoes go there if they don't.

But I am very clean so no one would have anything to fear about what is on my floors.

We have a family who absolutely will not take their shoes off, nor ask the children to. Since their daughter climbed all over our sofa and the carpets with dog shit on her shoes, we haven't asked them back.

No shoes off, no come in.

Only exception is a dinner party as I will suck it up for the sake of the outfits.

When did taking shoes off come in? I am guessing it was a 70s thing when all that fitted shag pile came along.

My parents never went for fancy carpet (cord was their thing). DF wore sandles with black socks. The rest of us kept our shoes on.

Sorry about that dip into the past!

Sparky I'll pop some in the post, shall I? [buwink]

I don't wear shoes in my own house and the children don't, its hard enough getting them to put them on to go outside but I don't care if people wear their shoes in my house.

In fact I'd think it was strange if someone took their shoes off when they came into my house. To be honest I'm 37 and had never heard of people taking their shoes off or being asked to when going into someone elses house until it was metioned on here.

I think that's a good compromise, putting up with shoes at parties but not regularly.

I think its very rude to ask people to take off their shoes in your home

I take my cue from the hosts or other guests, also depends whether carpet or hard floor. I have never been asked to take them off, I would think that quite inhospitable. I prefer to keep them on, especially on hard floors.