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]

i wont bother visiting someone who asks me to remove my shoes a second time. Im obviously less important to them than their precious carpets, wood whatever. Leave them to enjoy it alone because my time and company is worth more than their rudeness

It is the tradition here in the Czech Republic

praguemonitor.com/2009/09/11/leave-your-shoes-door

I would be utterly amazed if anyone came in your house with dog shit on their shoes!! They would tell you and take them off.

people dont always notice exotic. But anyway, shoes are outdoorwear. Do you sit there in your coat too?

If my shoes are really outdoor wear like wellies, walking boots or snow boots then of course I would take them off. I don't take my best shoes off-having come from home in the car or summer footwear. I think that anyone would prefer my sandals to my bare feet! If I have shoes to go with trousers I am not going to be happy tripping over my hems.
I am an adult-I can work it out.I am not going to make a mess of people's carpets-which, by the way, should be pristine if you are going to insist on this because I don't expect my white socks to be grubby as I go out! I'm also not happy at walking over stone floors and spending 2 hours trying to get some feeling back into my feet.
Quite simply I would visit as little as possible if I come after a floor!

I can think of one house where I do keep my coat on-the one with the stone floors, open windows and no shoes policy!

I just go with the flow. I don't understand why anyone would be offended at having to remove their shoes. I don't ask anyone to remove theirs, but they generally do because round where I live it tends to be the done thing as everyone has carpets in their houses. Also, people coming to our house sees the shoe rack full of shoes by the front door and just assumes that we are a shoes off household anyway. I would never ask anyone to remove their shoes though.

Personally I see shoes, like coats, as an outdoor thing and am far more comfortable in slippers indoors than shoes anyway.

My brother walked into my mum's house having been for a walk (and having stepped in dogshit unknowingly). The walk was just in a residential area, not in the woods or anything. Anyway, he trod it all across her hall carpet, all across her kitchen and then put his feet (with shoes still on) on her footstool. I was sitting opposite and said, um well look you have dog shit on your shoes and the dog shit is now everywhere you have been.

This is why I don't have shoes on in my house. People don't always notice and it is so filthy and disgusting and potentially dangerous when it happens.

nothappybunny - it's about respecting other people and their home, you obviously don't. No more to be said.

We take our shoes off at home.
I have a carpet in the living room though.
Wouldn't expect to take shoes off on a wooden/laminate floor as that can be properly cleaned.

"I wont bother visiting someone who asks me to remove my shoes a second time. Im obviously less important to them than their precious carpets, wood whatever. Leave them to enjoy it alone because my time and company is worth more than their rudeness"

Wow! You are easily offended! Don't you think you are being rude as well. I always respect the wishes of my host - it is called being considerate. Are you so uncomfortable not wearing shoes?

I just find shoes indoors both weird and rather disgusting. And no, I dont have carpets. Its the way I was brought up so part of my culture. You just dont wear shoes indoors. It makes me feel physically sick. But so far no problems with people removing them. Mainly cos most of my friends are shoes off people too.

Take your shoes off when you come in my house or don't come in.

Shoes are for OUTSIDE

Slippers are for INSIDE.

I don't want the outside world and his dog piss on my lovely floors ta very much.

It is the tradition here in the Czech Republic

It's not what I experienced.

YABU. A real welcome involves making your guests feel comfortable, not giving them instructions.

Sorry to be completely irrelevant, but I just read the poster near the beginning, Posy? who said that her downstairs hardwood floors were mopped daily. Please can you tell me how you achieve this? Do you have a cleaner? Or are you a SAHM who cleans everyday? Or do you do it when the children are in bed? I work part-time and it has never occurred to me to mop EVERYDAY! Am a slattern?

I usually expect family to be shoeless indoors - especially upstairs as shoes in bedroom are gross. When weather is good and we are all racing in and out of the garden this rule is suspended for the kitchen, hall and dining room. However, I would never ask guests to take their shoes off.

These threads all go the same way-half of us think it is rude to ask and don't want to take them off and half think it rude to keep them on. There is no middle ground.
All they have really done is make me aware that some people don't like shoes in houses so I have asked but everyone has told me to keep them on-evidently I don't know many Hyacinth Bucket types.

elinor I wash my floors every day on my hands and knees. I hate mops as they just swish the dirt around.

Takes five minutes - bucket, cloth and an old towel to dry. The towel is then spread out by the back door for Doglet to wipe her feet on.

I've always done it, even when I worked full time. I can't relax if the house is messy.

As for Hyacinth Bucket accusations - in my defence, I am a good old-fashioned working class sort who would be ashamed if someone thought my home was dirty.

My Granny taught me well [bugrin]

Huh? Mine get washed every 12th of Never. My granny taught me nothing. [bugrin]

I love this topic. Total Hyacinth Bouquet-ville. FWIW:

OP, your friend was probably posh. Posh houses are never shoes-off. In this country the shoes-off thing is a relatively recent cultural phenomena of the lower-middle classes (since they could afford wall-to-wall carpets and not rugs you'd beat). The posh classes are more influence by Victorian stiff-upper lip keep your clothes on for-god-sake-don't-look-undressed proprietry.

People don't like it but it's a class thing. Not that any of us care, of course.

It goes with having your special parlour that you only went in for best.

To be honest, I wouldnt invite those who seem to think they are too important to be asked to take off their shoes in someone elses home....honestly some of you need to get a grip and get over your selves its called respect and decency! I'd love to walk in your home with "accidental" shit on my shoes

We,as a family take our shoes off.

I don't ask guests to,unless we've been in the garden or on a walk and its a bit muddy.

In my personal view and feelings this is certainly not a class issue...perhaps traditionally yes but not now and people are much more aware of hygiene so In my situation it is about hygiene as like I said before people spit, dogs and cats urinate and foul outside I for one do not want any of that being brought into my home when I have small children crawling around, even if I didnt I still wouldnt allow it and would consider anyone who didnt take their shoes off (not that I have that issue) as rude and lazy.

'I'd love to walk in your home with "accidental" shit on my shoes'

Nice. This topic can touch a nerve.