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.

I thought it was common courtesy to remove your shoes in someone else's house

Completely impractical if you have tradespeople in your home, expecting them to take off shoes. Same with someone who has mobility issues! Come on, be realistic.

We don't wear shoes in the house. But I don't ask people to take them off. I think that's a bit ott. I take my shoes of in others houses and have a pair of slippers at my mum and sister's houses.

I literally do not know a single person who keeps their shoes on in the house. Every visitor I have ever had automatically takes them off at the front door without me asking. The only people I ever hear of keeping shoes on is on MN.

It's pretty much the default with everyone I know. I grew up with it being a custom but when I was younger I remember going to people's houses where shoes were worn inside. Now I can't think of anyone I know who does this. I assumed it was because most people I know have children so want to keep the floors cleaner but maybe it is just more accepted and the norm now.

@user7891011

I thought it was common courtesy to remove your shoes in someone else's house

It's not. It's courteous to offer though. I don't want you to remove your shoes in my house, mud aside.

Everyone removes their shoes in my house. I’ve got shoe covers for workmen etc, as they usually refuse. As soon as we get in, we remove our shoes and wash our hands.

Why would anyone choose to take germs, dog pee and whatever else they’ve picked up on their shoes into their home and spread it about. Baffling.

@bushhbb - it is rude to tell people who have arrived wearing shoes to take them off unless you have given them advance warning.

I do not want to wear something from your skeevy basket of IKEA slippers. If I know in advance that you are going to make me take my shoes off, I will dress accordingly.

Fwiw, we don't wear shoes in the house. But like I say, I don't ask guests to take their shoes off because I want guests to feel welcome.

My mil never takes her shoes off and I've never had the balls to say anything

It’s so simple to say “please can you take your shoes off” when someone arrives.

I’ve got an engineer coming tomorrow. He’ll most likely say no and I’ll reply “I’ve got shoe covers for you then” and he’ll either wear his own new shoe covers or those from my box of shoe covers. How is that rude? I don’t want his dirt on my floor.

Shoes on here, downstairs is either tiled or wooden floors. Upstairs is all carpets so off going up there. My DIL is a shoes off person so I always take my shoes off in their house.

I have very few visitors, but dont ask for shoes to be taken off.
Elderly relatives often have bad feet- and would probably feel quite embarrassed/exposed to have their bunions/misshapen feet on display.
All my family members take shoes off when they come in, but I am not overly fussed about that- unless ey walk on areas with carpets.

"If you have manners you don't tell guests to remove shoes. Very rude."

This.

If the guest has manners they ask if they should remove their shoes.

We take shoes off indoors, but would never ask guests to. Most tend to anyway when they see us take ours off. My mum is the only person who regularly doesn’t take her shoes off in our house but as she does a lot for us (and I love her) I let it slide. I don’t want to make her feel uncomfortable.
Actually we were a shoes on household as kids. Not sure why we’ve evolved to shoes off now. Probably because we have three young kids and a cream carpet!

It never occurs to me to ask if the host wants me to take my shoes off. But then, I never go to houses where they take their shoes off inside.

Wow am quite surprised to see majority are on shoes off.
My mil who isn't elderly, takes her shoes off, she actually wears slip on shoes, regardless of the weather. However upon leaving when she puts her footwear back on, she Will walk back in to a few of the rooms, literally for no reason at all!!
My anxiety levels go sooooo high!! The second she leaves am scrubbing the carpet

FangsForTheMemory
@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 have learned many things of value from other cultures during my life but I don't give a fuck if they wear or don't wear shoes in their homes.

HTH

More germs in your home is healthier for children growing up in their own house. By trying to eradicate all germs from shoes worn outside you are doing a massive disservice to them IMO. I have a massive dog who is hairy and slobbery so the DC get exposed to lots of germs. They're hardly I'll. Children shouldn't be wrapped up in cotton wool.

We never wear shoes inside and I have no problems asking our guests to take their shoes off, very politely of course. Normally ‘would you mind just slipping your shoes off?’. It’s not really an issue and I don’t see how it’s particularly rude . DP brother asked us why he had to take off his shoes when he last came over for dinner, which I was a bit annoyed at. They were filthy trainers as well. It takes about 3 seconds and when you’re in someone else’s home for dinner, it’s a minor request IMO.

Whenever I go to anyone’s house, I always ask whether it’s shoes off or just take them off anyway (for example, my best friend has never asked me to take my shoes off but I just do anyway as she has cream carpets).

The way I see it is - if you walk around in your house with shoes on, goodness knows what you’ve trodden on outside. All the dog poo particles, dog and human wee probably, vomit etc all gets trodden in your carpet (I live in London so maybe I see a lot more of that on the pavements!). The thought of it makes me feel a bit ill

I take my shoes off and put slippers on, I am not bothered about guests taking their shoes off unless really dirty. Workmen I ask to remove or cover

We have all hard floors downstairs, so don't insist guests take their shoes off although I do prefer it if they do. Shoes need removing to go upstairs though. I tend to take my shoes off when I go to other people's homes, and in the summer I'll have a pair of socks stashed in my handbag if wearing sandals so that I don't have to sit around bare footed.

I rarely wear shoes at home. For comfort

I wouldn’t dream of asking a guest to remove their shoes, unless obvious walking boots / wellies and muddy.

If asked, my reply would be ‘however you feel comfortable’

Only polite way IMO.