To think it's really rude to keep your shoes on when you visit someone's home

[Pavementworrier]

There's so much dog poo about now it's basically a trampling of dog poo

I do whatever the host is doing. If they have shoes off, I take mine off. Some say “oh don’t bother” so I keep them on. Some have theirs on so I keep mine on.

I wouldn't take them off if they had a pet as the floor would be quite grubby with hairs and maybe scotched dog arse remnants

I always ask if people want me to remove my shoes but I don’t ask others to remove their shoes in my house

I always ask 'should I leave my shoes here' when I enter someone's hallway. I think assuming you can waltz in with shoes on is rude.

My DH would struggle to get his shoes on and off due to an illness and increasing disability that goes along with it. He would hate to have to ask you to do it for him, and to put them back on him again as he was leaving.

So yes, it's a massive matter of dignity for some people.

It's hard to clean shoes completely. There can always be stuff hidden in the treads.

Shoes often have bits of metal on the bottom which aren't great for hard flooring, especially if they are a small area like stillettos.

You can also get small stones trapped in the treads that will scratch wood to hell if the person doesn't pick their feet up.

You only have to have kids or their friends tread mud or shit into your carpets once to realise that taking shoes off is a good idea. If you have some sort of aversion to other peoples socks on your floor you can get disposable guest slippers.

I think if my friends were turning up with soaking wet socks dripping with "toe cheese" as some people have suggested I would get better friends. Because if their body hygiene was that bad I certainly wouldn't want them sitting on my sofas.

Not this again 🙄

I'll wipe my feet, I'm not taking my shoes off. A d don't expect anyone else to, even when I'd had brand new carpet fitted the day before.

Shit, piss, phlegm, general dirt, mud. Would you feel comfortable walking in someone’s home with light cream rugs and not marking them?

Not that you’ll make it over the threshold 😆shoes off, or blue booties or don’t come in.

A lot of people don’t wear socks.

I always take my shoes off. I would never ask a guest to take off their shoes, I think that's rude.

Couldn’t this be solved by having a futon or seat by the door?

Or “is it ok to keep shoes on? I have trouble taking them off”. And rub them thoroughly on the doormat.

Most reasonable people can make exceptions. It’s people who don’t bother asking (bonus points if they come in dragging wet and mud everywhere) that are an issue, that’s what’s disrespectful and people dont like.

How are we wearing shoes without socks 🤔

It’s winter, are we just going around with blisters? Genuinely, I’ve not seen this

More popcorn needed. This topic never gets old.

It’s not cleaning ladies that mumsnetters need. It’s a butler who will screen unwanted callers, take the shoes off legitimate guests for them, provide a pair of slippers (presented on a cushion), and will shine the guests’ shoes meanwhile.

It would be very rude where I live but no one would do that anyway as everyone takes shoes off inside in my country (those with foot issues requiring support or protection will have indoor shoes) but elsewhere its less clear cut. What is polite to do anywhere is to ask your host if you should take shoes off or not.

I hate visiting “ shoes off houses” and i would never ask someone to remove their shoes in my house as i consider it rude.

Slippers that other people wear, too?

It's far ruder to assume it's ok to wear shoes in someone's house than it is to ask someone to remove their shoes indoors.

I'm confused by all the sweaty feet comments. Surely this isn't a common problem? I can't recall ever having sweaty feet and most people are wearing socks so their actual feet aren't even in contact with the floor.

Most of the time peoples feet are sweaty it's because they are wearing shoes or trainers anyway.

It's far ruder to assume it's ok to wear shoes in someone's house than it is to ask someone to remove their shoes indoors.

That’s a matter of opinion. I disagree.

I haaaaate people wearing shoes in my house but I also hate confrontation so I end up feeling really uncomfortable and doing a lot of cleaning when they leave. The worst ones for me are the visitors who I know don’t wear their shoes in their own home - so why do they don it in mine?? But now I feel like it’s been going on so long I can’t ask. The only exceptions to this is when we’re having a bbq or something and people are in and out of the house a lot, I’d let it slide then, knowing I’ll be cleaning after the event, anyway, but still would expect people to take their shoes off if going upstairs.

I also find it strange that at my child’s nursery they wear their shoes all day, indoors and out (they have wellies for when it’s wet) - surely could have indoor shoes and outdoor shoes? Took DC to a doctor in Austria earlier in the year and everyone takes their shoes off when entering. I think I live in the wrong country!

I keep trying to think of ways to get people to take their shoes off when they come in without asking - eg in lots of other countries it’s normal to offer guests slippers to wear whilst visiting. I don’t want to be passive aggressive though and know I should just be more direct about it!

when I visit other peoples houses I always take my shoes off, unless the people I’m visiting insist I don’t need to and are wearing theirs inside.

I have come across this - they are washable ones that you wear over your socks if you want to

I usually ask the first time I go to someone's house. If I go to a shoes off house, I make sure I am wearing slip ons which I can easily take on and off. I would feel very uncomfortable messing abut with laces or buckles in somebody's hallway. Personally, we generally have no shoes upstairs (carpet), but no hard and fast rule.

This is really interesting, as I live in Spain and its the opposite here, shoes off is considered extremely rude and its expected to dress fully in the morning and that includes shoes.
Indoor shoes are only worn after undressing for the night and never ever in tbe hours guests might turn up

In Austria in apartment blocks they have shoe racks in the hallways outside the Apartment door. Its a clear sign to remember to remove them! Makes sense with the snow, mud and grit.