Shoes off house

[acornfed]

We are a shoes off house. I've grown up that way, I've lived in countries where that is the norm and with small children
And crawling babies I hate the thought of dog mess being trapsed into my house of which there is plenty around.
I am not a clean freak, my house is not full of precious rugs or floors. We just don't like shoes in our house.
Recently a couple of friends have been noticeably offended that we've asked them to take their shoes off (so politely) before they come in.

Why are people like this?

Pure wool white/cream carpets are clearly not fit for purpose, they are merely for show imo.

If you want to know who voted leave and whether it was racism that fuelled their decision - you should ask this question. The answers here in many part show a little islander mentality with no real concept of other cultures. Which in this day and age is quite frankly pathetic.

mrspear I don't get your logic.

Are the people with no concept of other cultures the shoes on or the shoes off team?

I'd love to know if I'm pathetic and racist.

Are you ok mrspear?

We have shoes off. I'm in a flat that's up two carpeted flights of stairs ( which my bro is always saying well the shoes are clean by time we get into your flat) but still my home my rules.
Always have done in any of my homes. The shoes for that day are out on door mat. So people see them and naturally Take theirs off.
My bro is the only one who moans. But funnily enough he's a no shoes on house.

One of my dp family have shoes on and my baby'sovelt cream or white tights generally have to go in the bin they're that grubby from crawling around, as its so ground in.
Slowly remembering to put dark items on to go there

• baby's lovely cream tights

You’re not so far away from your brother’s dickish behaviour there snowydays
“My baby’s lovely cream tights” and ground in dirt 🙄
Yeah all shoes on houses are like that 🙄

Pure wool white/cream carpets are clearly not fit for purpose, they are merely for show

Totally agree. Why anyone would have white carpets is beyond me.

See also cream tights on a baby. Surely that's just making your life difficult?

Diydnt say all houses did I? But they happen to be the only house we know that doesn't have shoes off.

When I lived in Asia, where it is common to use the floor to sit on then shoes off was obviously essential... slippers were always available in schools and homes for this purpose.

I have raynauds which means temperature changes cause havoc with my toes, and I'd rather not take shoes off in someone's house this time of year, otherwise it's painful. I would if asked though...each to their own, though I don't fully understand the dog pooh arguments...I keep shoes on abdd don't traipse dog pooh through my house :/

If you are visiting someone's house and know they like shoes off why not just take slippers with you?

My in laws like shoes off... so I take my slipper socks with me to wear

The only time he has annoyed me is people who take shows off in their houses, but not mine. They tend, and their kids, to not be in the habit of using the doormat to wipe. These are the only ones who has actually trailed fox shit through my floors and sofa

Maybe they have smelly feet?

Shoes in the house make me cringe. It’s like shoes on the sofa or shoes on the bed.

Definitely not a thing in Ireland. I'd be mortified at the thought of making guests uncomfortable.

We have one friend who insists on it (not Irish). I hate it and don't feel comfortable at all in his home.

"I'd be mortified at the thought of making guests uncomfortable."

But you wouldn't be mortified at making hosts uncomfortable?

It works both ways.

I’ve never had to ask a guest to do this, it’s just an automatic thing. Same if I go to other people’s houses. I thought everyone did this! Don’t see a reason to be awkward about it.

The absolute worst for me is when people have parties and insist on shoes off. I have worn my high heels so that I can feel confident amongst all these strangers (and tall enough to talk to people comfortably!!) It feels overly familiar to be removing my shoes in this situation. But even in a normal setting, I don't want to snag my tights or slip over on wooden floors. If I am dressed I am dressed and that includes shoes. Socks are underwear and should not be on display. Bare feet is even worse in the summer. This is reserved for pyjama time (even then I like slippers!!). That said, I am now in a conflicted household as DP likes shoes off! Of course I would never dream of complaining if somebody has a shoes off house! (Despite my diatribe above, it's really not that big a deal!)

Of course it works both ways, which is why in real life there isn’t all the angst about it that there seems to be on MN. I take my shoes off in shoes off households. In mine, people don’t have to take their shoes off but some still insist. They keep coming round and inviting me round to theirs so I assume we are all kind and understanding towards each other and they aren’t that fussed about poo particles in my house

I find it amazing that anyone actually gets so upset about this. I've genuinely never worried about what people have on their feet in my house. I'm always barefoot at home, so I think most people take theirs off when they visit (never really noticed).

Thinking about it, I usually work on the concept that if I'm having dinner inside their home, then I'll take my shoes off, and if we're having a BBQ outside, then I'll leave them on. But it's a very relaxed community and I don't recall anyone ever discussing shoes. Since a lot of community events are at the beach, shoes off is definitely ok by everyone.

"I find it amazing that anyone actually gets so upset about this" For some people it's cultural. It would be like coming into someone's house without a shirt on. Nothing technically wrong with it, but it would be considered very weird and wrong for most.

And for some people it is cultural in the other direction - like taking your shoes off in a restaurant. But we can all be understanding I’m sure.

It's a cultural thing. In this country and on the continent, it's a very good indicator of the social background of the host. Shoes on or shoes off tells you exactly how your host has been raised and what class they belong to. People tend to get really irate about it if they have a chip on their shoulder, but it's very true.
I couldn't be more working class, but even I know that.

her but I find it disgusting when people wear shoes in the house, so cultural or no, people will either have to take them off or not come round.

theonly so...is shoes off middle class? I'm working class but shoes off is minging to me, so I don't think it is a big class thing. I think it's normal in working class households because many men have physical jobs and their shoes are always minging.

I agree with shoes off if you have carpets. Though maybe you can have some options for visitors of guest slippers to wear? Sounds a little crazy maybe but I've seen a couple of people do that.

I’m confused does shoes off mean I’m common? Is shoes on posh? Because you can afford to have your carpets ruined