Removing shoes indoors

[diagold4u]

Am interested to know how many people actually have the rule of no shoes indoors.
We've had this rule from when I was young and have carried it on when I moved out. I think it makes sense not to walk all over the house with shoes that have been worn outdoors, who knows what you've stood on and then bringing all that in to your home.
I have shoe covers that I provide to workers.
Especially with young children I think it's even more important not to wear outdoor shoes indoor, carpets/rug will harbour all that dirt no matter how much you Hoover up.

My actual aibu is, if someone came to my house as a guest would it be U for me to ask them to remove their shoes? Obviously in a polite manner.
I feel quite embarrassed having to ask when these people already know.
My current house is all flooring with large rugs everywhere, the main living room is carpet.
I've noticed certain extended family members get annoyed at my request but the way I see it, it's my house, if I don't walk with shoes, why should you when you've chosen to come to my house.

yes, yes and yes, what is people's problem at not bringing pavement/road dirt into your house - I lived in Asia for 11 eleven years and it was so lovely, removing shoes before you enter indoors is automatic - people think they are so clean here, but wearing outdoor shoes indoors is not - I generally get very strange looks/comments when I ask visitors to remove their shoes - but now, I operate a strict rule - no shoe removal, no entry - deal with it (and I don't mind if you have holes in your socks!)

I struggle to think of a single television programme that involves people walking into a house and removing shoes

I struggle to think of a TV programme that involves people watching TV programmes (apart from Gogglebox).

What do you mean?

Why would anybody object to removing shoes if they had socks on? Socks get washed every night (I assume) and a shoes off house is likely to have clean floors and carpets.

@Sookiestackhouse5

I actually feel uncomfortable wearing my shoes in someone’s house as I was raised not to wear them indoors. I will always ask, “ would you like me to take my shoes off?”

In my house the answer would be “No, please keep them on”. What would you do?

Socks don't give any support to your feet (plantar fasciitis). Lots of people have problems standing on one leg and removing a shoe (age, arthritis, other mobility issues) and even if a seat is provided (rare) may still find the whole thing tiring (bad back etc).

We are generally shoes off. However, if we have people over we do not make them take their shoes off. If the weather is bad, we do, however, have cheap slippers that they can put on. A thing I learned in Czech Republic. It is rude to ask people to take their shoes off and not provide something for the feet. What happens if they are wearing sandals?
Our puppy is now 8 months and she brings in so much dirt I have almost given up on clean floors/carpets.

However, it is concerning that you are so stressed that you have to scrub the floor afterward? Perhaps it is worth looking at your anxiety levels.

I don't mind being asked. We applied this rule when carpets were new but they are wreaked now so don't bother as much. We tend to take shoes off though but not 100% of the time.

@StoneofDestiny

I struggle to think of a single television programme that involves people walking into a house and removing shoes

I struggle to think of a TV programme that involves people watching TV programmes (apart from Gogglebox).

What?

I am responding to itsbeginningto...

Best not to expect TV programmes to reflect accurately what goes on on people's houses.

@StoneofDestiny

Why would anybody object to removing shoes if they had socks on? Socks get washed every night (I assume) and a shoes off house is likely to have clean floors and carpets.

hahaha that's debatable I can't think of anything worst than using somebody's loo or going into a kitchen with just socks on

I am not rude about it, but I also don't like being cold. If I know it's that kind of houses, I pack a couple of spare socks in my bag and I put them on. Ideally as an extra layer against the floor .

I especially don't trust carpets, people pretend that hoovering is enough to clean them. It's rank.

I am also very mobile so it's not an issue for me to take shoes or boots. I feel sorry for people who struggle.

@ItsIgginningtolooklikelockdown

I struggle to think of a single television programme that involves people walking into a house and removing shoes. (Hyacinth Bucket possibly! Certainly not The Crown 😂)

I was going to mock this but then I realised it can't be serious; it's just a poster trying to kick the class obsession hornets' nest. No need, love, this is MN.

@VinylDetective

How is it disrespectful to take your shoes off in any way shape or form?

If I ask you to keep your shoes on in my house, how is it respectful to ignore me and take them off?

Why on earth would you WANT someone to keep their shoes on in your house...?

@Mba1974

I once saw a sign, in a magazine or Instagram post, by a front door that said “we leave our pretentiousness at the door not our shoes” and wished I didn’t hate naff signs so much that I could get it.. So shoes on here, obviously like anyone muddy/wet shoes/wellies off but clean dry shoes on. We have pets so unless we’re going to put “booties” on them for either outside or inside it would be a waste of time... I’m happy to take shoes off during the day in other peoples houses but I’d definitely eyeroll and don’t actually know anyone now where that would be expected.. There is however nothing more ridiculous than a group of adults at a dinner/drinks party standing around in stockinged feet like a bunch of untrustworthy toddlers and I would point blank refuse in that instance... If you don’t want people in your house then go for white/cream carpets but if you do just choose practical flooring..

Lol about the untrustworthy toddlers. If I had a cream carpet downstairs (i dont!) I'd be more bothered about drink spillages than people walking dirt in there. We are similar that if we got wet/muddy we would obviously take off shoes but otherwise its choice. For the most part I do because its more comfortable and I like my slippers.

• for a dinner party or party I would choose an outfit that included shoes and sometimes the look would be changed,or more unflattering with no shoes

-I'm really short and shoes help me get a bit closer to eye level with other people!

• some of my boots require a pair of socks over tights which is a really awful look without the boots!

But obviously all these are just vanity and my friends love me for my sparkling wit and humour, so will forgive overlook my stocky calves in their tights and socks combo!

Why on earth would you WANT someone to keep their shoes on in your house...?

I don’t want to see people’s feet. I hate feet. I have sensible flooring and am capable of cleaning it when required.

Ah get a life drsbaito, it is perfectly reasonable to point out that shoes-off can't be quite as commonplace as some posters believe or it would be reflected in television programmes.
I mention keeping up appearances as a joke was made in it of the main characters obsession with removing shoes. I can't think of other shows where it happens. Do you sit shouting "take your shoes off!!" at unrealistic portrayal on the tv? Well no, as many many people do not have this as a rule.
These days, my family do all remove their shoes but I wouldn't ask it of a guest.

@therealteamdebbie

RMNMummy

Urm... How is it disrespectful to take your shoes off in any way shape or form?

Ignoring your host preferences or customs is just rude.

Do you also ignore any social rules when you travel because you think you are superior to every one else, or just in this country?

Necessary with the ‘superior’ part? 🙄😑

I’ve never, in my entire long life, in this country or the many I have visited (and respected) been ASKED by my host to keep my shoes ON.

If, for example, a friend informed me in advance that they would want me to keep my shoes on when coming over, then I would presume there would be a proper reason and obviously I respect that. I would however ask them whether I could possibly keep my socks on as a compromise.

It’s my opinion that it’s absolutely disgusting to keep your shoes on inside a house, seeing as our shoes are walked all over outdoors where dogs pee & people spit.

I would expect the same. We never wear outdoor shoes indoors and would not expect visitors to,.

Its gross, I argue relentlessly with fella. To save yelling I bought him some huge slippers that go over your boots.

May inside ad outside front door, and I always indicate the Uber one to guests and say “you can leave your shoes here”. If they don’t take the hint, I stop them and ask them to take their shoes off. Workpersons I ask to use shoe covers. Parents and grandparents houses it was always shoes off, and at all my friends. I would really not want it any other way, as frankly otherwise you may as well be rolling around on the pavement!

I was raised in a keep shoes on house and dp was raised in a shoes off at door house. To be honest never bothered him unless I was wearing heels (wood floors downstairs). Since covid I have insisted all shoes off at door, even my mum (extended family) keeps a pair of slippers at ours now
However I would never ask a guest or insist they remove their shoes. I remember the utter embarrassment of being at my MILs house the first time and do did not warn me, mismatching socks, one with a hole my big toe was sticking through!

I dont think its an unreasonable request to be honest,especially if it's your household rule. If I am visiting a household, often one i have not been to, I often ask if they would like me to remove my shoes, out of politeness. At home, its not necessarily a rule, but on the whole, once in, we take our shoes off, out of comfort.

@TheKeatingFive

Why on earth would you WANT someone to keep their shoes on in your house...?

I don’t want to see people’s feet. I hate feet. I have sensible flooring and am capable of cleaning it when required.

Is it a phobia? If so, totally understandable.

Are sock-on feet acceptable?

I didn’t realise one spends time with their visitors sat looking at their feet. Interesting!

I dont worry about it because i have wooden floors through out.If i had carpets..i would worry.When i was first married..we had a new flat.It had very nice off cream carpet..2 days later..someone dropped a cup of coffee on it..it never really came out.I would never have carpets..ever.

Only read about half way through so far and am amazed by how many people have a shoes off rule. I've lived in different parts of the uk, mostly in rural areas, and don't have any friends or relatives who do this. Years ago we used to know one couple who lived in Surrey and they asked us to remove our shoes. We were very surprised and thought it quite rude. We live in the country and I just about persuade my husband to remove his gardening boots in the kitchen before tramping through to the sitting room.