Please settle an argument .......... in other peoples' houses ............shoes on or shoes off?

[helpamamaout]

On entering someone else's home, should the visitor keep their shoes on or remove them?

*Not so much a question of degree for me, but the type of dirt on feet (sweat, infections, skin issues) I find more disgusting than what’s on shoes.

And as I’m sure someone will raise dogshit, I have never found it to be a problem in all my years of being shoes on*

I’ve never had a problem with “foot dirt”. However dogshit trodden all over carpets is horrendous.

Pretty sure a foot swab will come up far less disgusting than a shoe swab. Tetanus and toxoplasmosis in soil for two, plus animal excrement and urine, spit... it may not be visible but your shoes will be walking through everything and anything.

Dp was a “shoes on” person as he suffered from foot infections and stinky feet. I can’t stand shoes on in the house- it took a week for his foot problems to disappear completely because he wasn’t wearing shoes all day.

No one like dog poo on their carpet. I suspect people who remove their shoes imagine that it is only by removing them that they avoid almost daily poo incursions. People who don’t remove know it is in fact very rare that you stand in poo, and even rarer that you don’t notice the distinctive smell and wipe it off.

Tetanus and toxoplasmosis in soil for two

Honestly, if you can show me anyone who’s gotten either of those infections from shoe contamination I might start to be worried, but in the meantime it’s a total non concern.

My issue with feet is more a general ick factor. I don’t think I’m going to pick up any thing but Verrucas, athletes foot, all that kind of stuff makes me heave.

I usually ask, thought everyone did.

@PinkieTuscadero - I'm in Irish and I've literally never met another Irish person that has a shoes off household. Ever.

I have. Once. My ds was looking for short-term accommodation while on placement. One woman told us to take shoes off. Mind you, she came across as completely insane for a variety of other reasons and we hot-footed it out ASAP and found him a very nice place with a very nice woman who was quite happy for us to leave our shoes on.

Of course, given that most people don't put the lid down when flushing, the door is already a festering pit of toilet germs. Which means you're only contaminating a different surface on your bag if you hang it on the back of the cubicle door, rather than putting it on the floor

@Isthisafreename You are right of course, I never thought of that! Durr!

I’ve been cursed with smelly feet all my life, despite scrupulous hygiene and would be hugely embarrassed to be forced to take my shoes off and have to subject others to the smell. A builder who came to give us a quote once put some plastic bag type shoe covers over his manky boots so he could come through the house. If you’re so fussy about shoes in your house, just buy some of those and offer them to guests.

@temperancefugit

Have you tried Actifresh? It's seriously good.

Off. It's disrespectful to tramp your filthy shoes all over a floor that's used by others barefoot. Can never understand those who wear their shoes happily inside. Grim.

@QueenOfIce - It's disrespectful to tramp your filthy shoes all over a floor that's used by others barefoot.

Whereas I think it's disrespectful to tramp your sweaty, potentially verrucaed, athlete footed feet all over my floor.

Can never understand those who wear their shoes happily inside. Grim.

Amazingly, I actually recognise that different people have different preferences and while I don't want visitors to take their shoes off in my house, I wouldn't dream of disparaging them for doing so in their own house.

A builder who came to give us a quote once put some plastic bag type shoe covers over his manky boots so he could come through the house. If you’re so fussy about shoes in your house, just buy some of those and offer them to guests.

Yes, that's a better solution, imo, than offering socks or slippers.

I always ask if somewhere new. Otherwise I just do what I have done before. In some I take off shoes in others I don’t. If anyone comes to mine shoes always remain on. I have no issue as they wipe the shoes on the mat when they come in so dirt doesn’t trail through

Whereas I think it's disrespectful to tramp your sweaty, potentially verrucaed, athlete footed feet all over my floor.

that’s why you keep socks on or wear slippers...

I don’t understand the number of people complaining from their feet... feet aren’t supposed to be that troublesome. I honestly think a lot of those complaining could be having feet problems because they never take off their shoes in the house.. my feet feel suffocated if I wore shoes that long.. I definately start suffering if it became a habit over few days and My husbands sweaty feet and fungus all went away when I helped him wear the right kind of shoes, less of them, and change socks more often.

If someone has feet problems then it’s understandable. Your shoes off host will tell you which areas to avoid stepping on (eg carpets)... and they will clean after you leave. Or offer you slippers or socks..

This verruca non sense is overblown just to be stubborn

It's really unpleasant to describe someone else's lifestyle as 'grim'. It's a very popular word on mumsnet.

Nothing would induce me to walk around a horel room without my shoes. God only knows what nastiness has been transmitted to the carpet on dozens of bare feet.

For me, shoes come off as soon as I'm in the front door, and slippers go on.

As a guest, I offer to take my shoes off. I have no problem taking them off or keeping them on.

I can't imagine all these people though in their own homes going around their rooms with outdoor shoes on?

When I was growing up in Yorkshire we had a back door (actually at the side) for family, close friends, neighbouring kids etc that was"shoes off" and a big shoe pile. And a posh front door that was shoes on for "guests" ie never used. Good idea I might restart it now (SE England)

Or offer you slippers or socks

Now that is vile. I really don't want to wear your slippers, thank you very much. And I would be a bit dubious about your socks too.

This verruca non sense is overblown just to be stubborn

But the germs coming in on the soles of shoes isn't......?

@HarrysOwl - I can't imagine all these people though in their own homes going around their rooms with outdoor shoes on?

Really? I find it easy to recognise that people are different.

Off! Unless they have dogs/cats roaming around, then I'd ask (and hope they say keep them on!)

I don't understand people who worry about matching socks/smelly feet! If you know you're going to someone's house don't you wash your feet, powder/antiperspirant them and wear nice socks??

If you know you're going to someone's house don't you wash your feet, powder/antiperspirant them and wear nice socks??

Not if you’re expecting to keep your shoes on, no

If you know you're going to someone's house don't you wash your feet, powder/antiperspirant them and wear nice socks??

Nope. I'd buy a pack of biscuits and hope to be offered a cup of tea to go with them

Genuine question (well, not really), but do you have special visiting socks? A bit like my mother would have a social nightie for hospital?

*special nightie not social nightie. My mother is very proper!

For those who can’t imagine wearing shoes indoors.

I think we’ve reached the point that we always reach on shoes on/shoes off threads where all arguments have come full circle and it becomes clear that no one’s mind will be changed, not even a little bit.

It’s interesting that the end game here is around what’s more disgusting, bare feet or shoes?

Rather than the more usual ‘is it more important to respect host’s floors or guests comfort?’

Never change MN, never change.