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?

*laminate not underlay

I have never entered a home and kept my shoes on. Neither have any of my family and to the best of my knowledge my friends. It’s rude, it’s unhygenic and it’s downright inappropriate, especially if the host/ess has bare feed/is just in socks.
I would find it very very uncomfortable if I was expected to leave my shoes on.

My shoes come off just before bed, after I’ve levitated up the stairs

Got it! You're a two-footed Dalek.

@OneStepSideways - I'd be a bit grossed out by the slippers as I wouldn't know whether they were washed between uses but being vaguely polite I'd put them on and wash my feet and sandals as soon as I got home.

If I hadn't heard you mention the slippers or you offered in a way that I didn't realise you meant "Take you shoes off, you troglodyte", and I heard you whisper (better to speak up though, my hearing isn't as good as it used to be), I'd take them off, and end up with freezing feet (I have reynaud's syndrome).

Then I'd be tempted to put my feet under me on your couch to warm them up. But I wouldn't, as I would consider that terribly rude.

But we could still have a cup of tea and a biscuit.

Oh I love when this debate comes round.

It's always been shoes off in our family and friends. It's all about not getting the carpet dirty! I remember by Granny having house shoes, which were basically sturdy slippers and to this day my family always seem to be on the look out for slippers with a decent sole so you can still pop out to the bins in them! I wonder if it's a regional thing or class thing or what?

The only people allowed to keep their shoes on when we were growing up were the vicar or Dr!

We went for hard floors in the main areas of our house to avoid the issue in general for visitors... But of course still no shoes on the carpet!!!!

@ToffeePennie- It’s rude, it’s unhygenic and it’s downright inappropriate,

No it's not. It's just different people with different preferences.

@Alsohuman - My shoes come off just before bed, after I’ve levitated up the stairs.

Any chance of a video?

@HarrysOwl - laminate not underlay

I was thinking the underlay would be terribly scratchy.

I go to a lot of peoples homes for work, I always ask if they are a shoes on or shoes off household (and always ensure i have nice clean socks on, though I rarely go as far as them matching!).

Sitting on peoples sofas whilst I would tuck my feet under me at a friends or in my own house I would not at a clients house, or someone I didn't know so well yet!

I’m genuinely surprised at the number of posters who don’t know it’s rude to ask people to take their shoes off if they’re not from a different culture - ie Muslim/ME etc.

I wonder if it's a regional thing or class thing or what?

Must be. It’s totally non-U.

I always take them off when at someone's house, but don't make people take them off at mine

Take them off but if they say not to then I don't.

When I'm entering someone's home I always remove my shoes as I hate wearing them for any longer than I need to. I do however, carry a pair of spa slippers in my bag that I put on.
In my home it's shoes off or you're not coming in, regardless of who you are.

grumpymummy you go out to the bins in your indoor slippers? Think of the dog poo! The spit! The urine! (The snails, if anything like my bins).
I think your family are shoes off hypocrites!

@Mydollymolly - I do however, carry a pair of spa slippers in my bag that I put on.

I'm visualising all these shoes off people with Mary Poppins style bags. You have spa slippers, someone else has socks and someone else has a pair of ballet style shoes.

The bags must be really organised too. There's so much crap in mine, by the time I found the socks, it would be time to go home.

@Isthisafreename, don’t be silly. I can’t video and levitate at the same time.

Shoes off. Always.

WHY would anyone want the dirt of outside stomped through their house. It drives me insane!!!!!!! And even if they are clean, trainers leave trainer marks in clean kitchen floors. Just taste them off. If your feet stink so much you’re concerned about taking them off then go home and have a sodding bath!

@Alsohuman - don’t be silly. I can’t video and levitate at the same time.

Of course. Silly me. I'll just close my eyes really tight and visualise.

Why would you have to be a Muslim for it not to be rude to ask people to remove their shoes in your own home? Did I read that correctly upthread?

@wildgirls - WHY would anyone want the dirt of outside stomped through their house.

I've obviously been doing it all wrong. I never stomp. My teenagers, on the other hand.....

Who are all these people with such dirty friends?

We have cream travertine through the ground floor and it doesn’t really get dirty. The cleaner washes it twice a week, but, aside from the kitchen, it doesn’t actually need washing.

Why would you have to be a Muslim for it not to be rude to ask people to remove their shoes in your own home? Did I read that correctly upthread?

Because in some countries, such as in the ME, it’s cultural. Whereas it’s not in the U.K.

Do you put socks on immediately after the shower before you step off the bathmat or something?

Yes, or slippers. I never wander round barefoot, I absolutely hate the feel of it. I think my children must take after me because they never go barefoot either, although I don't forbid them from doing it. My husband doesn't either, although we've never actually discussed it, so it must just be his preference too.