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]

Ewww I really wouldn't want to be wearing someone else's slippers...they're sweat soakers!

It's a British thing perhaps.

Come move to Canada. I don't think I've ever seen anyone wander around inside with shoes on. But perhaps that's because we have to wear snow boots covered in slush and salt for 6 months of the year and it's just the natural thing to do.

After a few months of this I'm totally used to automatically taking my shoes off at the front door. It's one of those thing that now I think I'd find it going back to England and seeing folk wandering around with their mucky, crappy shoes all over the place.

I'd still never ask someone to take their shoes off though.

If people don't want shoes inside - then fine - be clear and provide alternatives.

Some people do that here, provide guest slippers. Which personally I find even more gross than bit sticking to the soles of my feet. You never know what sweaty hobbit feet have been in them before.

I would point blank refuse to wear anyone else's slippers or slippers that had been on anyone else feet. I would just leave or sit there with my feet off the floor curling my toes.

I think what it comes down to for me is, how does your guest feel about it? Some people don't really care; some are snobs and think it's more upper-class to keep your shoes on (because after all, you have servants to clean up and can afford new carpets). If they don't care or if they're snobs, it'll do them no harm to fall in with your rules.

But if someone coming into my home is genuinely ill at ease at the idea of removing shoes, to me, that has to come first - it's just basic good manners unless there is some strong reason, like a crawling baby or very muddy shoes.

Kladdkaka I'm howling here @ sweaty hobbit feet

I will of course, take off my shoes if asked BUT giving you guest slippers is utterly vile! Do not even think about it!

^^ What DoomCats said.

Also, for some it can be a bit humiliating (ie me). Sometimes I can't put my shoes on myself or take them off or do up the laces. Asking my husband or daughter to help at home is one thing, asking someone else ... nah. Plus I can't do it standing up.

I call it highly rude to expect people to take their shoes off-if they are dirty, muddy or wet they will anyway.

Worra that term was invented for my incredibly beautiful 18 year old daughter who unfortunately is cursed with sweaty hobbit feet. She didn't inherit them from me.

I find the whole divesting yourself of shoes at the doorstep unbelievably coy and I hate, really hate doing it. I hate people taking their shoes off in my house even more. I don't want to see their holey socks and have piles of shoes cluttering up the hallway.

I would take my shoes off if they were soaked or muddy though.

I always stop people taking them off in my house.
I always thought Hyacinth Bucket was a joke until I started reading MN and found that she alive and well all over the country!

I don't wear shoes at home and neither do DS, DD and OH. For DS, DD and myself it is a comfort thing - we hate shoes and would rather be barefoot. For OH it is a comfort thing too but he wears slippers...

However, we don't use the front door and come in through the kitchen and there is no room to leave shoes at the door so we have a shoe rack in the hall..... That must confuse people! DD can usually be found from the trail of shoes and socks she leaves behind!

If I visited a house I'd check if it was shoes on/off I think but actually none of my friends seem to care either way. The only person who did was my old childminder. It made drops offs ridiculously inconvenient.

It would never occur to me to take my shoes off at someone else's house and I would be a bit about anyone who asked me to. Exposing holey smelly socks would feel very rude.

Am always somewhat if workmen remove their shoes. The builder was doing some work in the bedroom and he took his shoes off - I thought this was a bit odd - but presumably he thought he was being polite.

I generally keep my shoes on in my house because they keep my feet warm, old, draughty house & dodgy circulation, and slippers are a danger on the stairs.

I have a set of matching executive luggage, don't you know.

What do you think about Sheridan as a boy's name, btw??

My DH tells the DCs that it's rude to keep your outside shoes on. I don't think it is, and merrily clump all over my house in shoes. Poor things must be very confused! [bugrin]

I prefer feet covered up

someone should customise thoes plastic elasticated shoe covers they give you at swimming pools - quilted anyone?

I really don't care , take your shoes off or leave them on in my house.

Anyone who cares more about their floors than their guests is someone I'd rather not be friends with.

Fascinated at the number of people who want to keep their shoes on and thereby track 50 types of shit into their homes. Which, if you have DC, get transferred in a multitude of ways into their mouths. Half-heartedly wiping your soles on a mat doesn't solve this.

At Chez TFL, Shit Stays Outside.

ninah I ordered some of those from eBay 50 for £2 is use them for when work. Men come who are not allowed to remove their shoes for health and saftey

I take mine off in other people's but don't care what they do in mine unless they're covered in dog shit

No way would I wear a stupid pair of slippers in someone elses house.

I suppose if you took your shoes off at the door, you'd save ten minutes shouting WHERE ARE YOUR SHOES? WHERE DID YOU LEAVE YOUR SHOES?! every morning.