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.

Although, saying what I said earlier, it can depend on scenario.

Trainers or boots that have clearly been run through the mud, absolutely off. A few of my friends in high heels that have sat in their wardrobe for months, that are only waiting inside for our taxi to come? I won’t make them faff around taking them off and back on.

But day to day general scenario, then yes shoes off.

My feet get very cold without shoes on, even in summer, so I silently groan when I go somewhere where it appears to be obligatory to remove them. If I'm expecting it (or if it's muddy out so it will obviously be necessary), I take some slipper socks with me. If you're going to ask family members to remove shoes, perhaps warn them to bring slippers/slipper socks, or have some clean slipper socks available. Hotel-style slip-ons don't do anything for cold feet.
I only expect people to take muddy shoes off.

It might help if people were better about wiping their feet. I've stood by the door making sure children attending an activity wiped their feet thoroughly on arrival at a hall, only for the floor to get covered in mud by adults arriving later and not bothering.

We wear slippers indoors. Since guests don't bring slippers with them I wouldn't dream of asking them to walk around in socks or stockings.

We have two door mats, one in the porch, one just inside the front door and people are good about using them. If someone turned up in filthy wellies I would ask them to take them off but actually I've never had to make this request.

Even though I live in a flat, I always request guests to remove their shoes. Slippers are provided. I change them regularly so that they are always nice. In Asia this is automatic. I don't want what was on the streets spread over my floors.

Shoes off in my house. I do not want my carpet ruined.

When I go to someone's house I always ask if they want me to remove my shoes.

I was not brought up to expect visitors to remove outdoor shoes. I hate walking around in stocking feet (even in my own home)so if I know someone expects outdoor shoes to be taken off I take indoor sandals/slippers and change into them. Many many older people have great difficulty in taking shoes on and off so I think it is unreasonable to expect them to do this. I have only been aware of this trend in taking shoes off during last 10/15 years.

@MyLittleOrangutan

Shoes on here. Mostly wood flooring, only ours and babys room is carpeted. I dont like peoples feet out in our house, it's weird and too familiar.

I take my shoes off if asked, if I think your house is particularly nice I will ask if you want me to take my shoes off. But I like my shoes on.

i agree. it was never the custom in this country to take shoes off when visiting. it feels far too familiar. i don't want to reveal my feet, or holey sox. i can understand the occupants not wearing outdoor shoes indoors. i wonder if this is why some people have to be reminded to wipe their feet, ie shoes, on entering. anyway i don't have visitors, and hardly go in any others houses, so it's academic to me.

I would rather adults didn’t take their shoes off when coming into my house, unless they have muddy shoes. It makes me uncomfortable like I am worried all the time that they are cold, my floors aren’t clean enough etc. We were never a shoes off household as a child and I associate it with fussiness. Children are a different matter as they are likely to put their feet on sofas and things.
When I go round peoples houses I tend to look at their feet and if they are wearing shoes I keep mine on, and if they are not I ask do you want me to take my shoes off. I resent it though if I have to take them off especially in summer if I am wearing sandals or ballet pumps with no socks, and in fact in winter if I have nice shoes and thin tights. And also if it’s a garden type party, it drives me mad, take off shoes to go through house, put them in to go into garden, take them off to come in and help bring drinks outside, put them in again to take drinks outside, take them off to come in and use the loo etc etc

Novel thread idea.

I don't care.

If your guests have any manners they'll walk in, see the shoes by the door and you barefoot, and take theirs off without being asked. If they don't have any manners you shouldn't feel bad about reminding them to take off their shoes.

I’m not fussed about shoes on in my house, but will ask when I go to someone’s else’s house what they prefer. I wouldn’t get shitty if they asked me to take mine off

I don't want to see your socks or feet, so it annoys me when I say "please don't remove your shoes" and people still do

Why?

I always take my shoes off unless its a very fleeting visit. It's more comfortable.

@Bluntness100

We don’t wear shoes in doors, but I’d not dream of asking a guest to remove their shoes, I prefer them to do what they are comfortable with.

This, we always remove shoes indoors but would prefer guests to do whatever makes them feel comfortable.

My shoes come off as soon as I come home, for no other reason than I prefer to be barefoot as much as possible, I'd never ask a guest to remove their shoes. I've never removed my shoes in someone else's house either unless they've been noticeably dirty/muddy or I was going upstairs...which is almost never.

I’ve not grown up in the UK and I find it so weird people walking with outdoor shoes on carpets. Definitely no shoe rule in our house, this rule only excludes very elderly visitors. I don’t think it’s rude to ask people to take shoes off, I find it extremely rude when somebody doesn’t check whether it’s ok to leave shoes on before stomping in.

I think shoes on is fine if you live in a large country house with stone flooring and an army of servants to keep them clean!

I live in an average house in London and wearing shoes inside would be pretty revolting as there is so much mud and dog poo outside.

YANBU. We don't wear them past the hallway either. We also have shoe covers, mainly for ourselves if we need to run upstairs to the loo quickly on our way out or forgot something for the kids etc.

When I go to others houses I'm guided by them but will always offer to remove my shoes.

I grew up in a shoes on house and the carpets were filthy. Since I've had my own place, I've taken my shoes off. I don't ask my guests to, but they almost always offer and I said 'Yes please, if you don't mind.' I've got mostly wooden floors but even so, I don''t want crud trailed in.

People may do as they please when they come to my house. I don't think its very welcoming to demand shoes off when people arrive, especially if people are dressed up for a dinner/event.

I would definitely refuse the use of slippers if I visited another house. The previous wearer could have had verucas or fungal or other issues with their feet. [boak]

Don't people know any Canadians, Japanese people and North Africans? A lot of the world is shoes off!

No I don't nor am from one of those countries nor live in one so what they do is pretty irrelevant to me in the UK.

DynamoKev
Novel thread idea

You must be new - It's a recurring subject on MN.

Shoes off here. Unless elderly or disabled of course.

About half the world has a no shoes indoors rule, it's not eccentric to ask people to keep them on OR take them off, people should just go with the house rules either way and not be arsey about it.

I grew up in a shoes on household but now I am the one who paid for and cleans the floors, I have a shoes off rule.

It's shoes off for the family chez Cwaw, but downstairs is all hard floors so if people ask, I tell them they're welcome to keep their shoes on. There is a downstairs toilet so there is rarely any reason for guests to need to go upstairs.

99% of the time though, people see the shoes by the door when they enter and take theirs off without complaint or question. I'd do whatever my hosts preferred in someone else's house.

@Crankley 'what they do is pretty irrelevant to me in the UK'

You don't think perhaps that you could learn something of value from another culture?

I wouldn't dream of asking a guest to remove their shoes! If someone provided me with shoe covers it would be my first and last visit to their home!

Don't people know any Canadians, Japanese people and North Africans? A lot of the world is shoes off!

In the nicest possible way who cares what they do in those places. When I’m there I shall respect their culture. If someone finds it weird that I don’t ask them to remove their shoes when they enter my house then it’s a lovely reminder that what uou do is not universal... and the world is a wonderful diverse place. I’m sure any Canadians, or Japanese visitors to the U.K. will be intelligent enough to work it out.