AIBU to think wearing shoes indoors is a bit odd?

[Livefreely]

For thinking it’s weird to wear shoes inside the house?! Had a couple over last week for lunch and they never took shoes off- even if it’s not bad weather the bottom of shoes are filthy!! So would they go round their house all day in shoes? So weird to me!!
now I’m cleaning my floors as they are so dirty!

Look every culture is different. What can I say? In Japan it’s rude to tip for example, whereas you’d be chased down the street in the US if you didn’t.

People are mainly explaining how it is related to the class system. It is rude to ask people to take their shoes off. However, most people do offer. All my friends do (as do I at their house) and we all scream at each other ‘no keep them on!’ As that is how we were brought up. (And we don’t have cream carpets).

However, if I go to take my shoes off and someone doesn’t shout ‘no keep them on’ at me then they come off. So everyone is happy.

But nobody should be telling anyone to take their shoes off.

I offer to take my shoes off when visiting someone's house because I don't want to dirty it.
A quick wipe of the soles on a mat isn't going to completely clean most shoes, and a more thorough shoe clean is just impractical when you're repeatedly entering and exiting a house in a short span.

What sort of lives do people live where their shoes don't get dirty?
Can only imagine it's people whose shoes only ever touch the inside of their car and then the professionally-cleaned floor of well-maintained public spaces... If there's a class issue then it's office workers not understanding that lots of other people have messy, industrial jobs (incl. working outdoors in all weather). This is my experience. It's a matter of practicality.

I have to do my own housework. I would never dream of making people have to take their shoes off in my house. Personally, I’d rather they didn’t, but if they want to then fine.

The difference is that I was brought up to put the comfort of my guests above housework or the cleanliness of any carpets.

Nothing worse than entering a home and finding that you’re not really welcome.

If you're happy for people to trail through your home in muddy boots then crack on, as the comfort of the guests is paramount afterall.

I hate the class system stereotypes to be quite honest. Your way is the way we do things too, but I refuse to sit here and say if somebody doesn't do that I'd be happy about it. I'd find it rude. If people have muddy boots I would tell them to remove them, and make no apologies for that it's disgusting.

Prams/sticks/wheelchairs etc usually have been on those same floors. Some people have foot issues which mean they need to wear shoes nearly all the time, even walking across the house. Some people have cultural reasons for taking them off. I just try to go with what my host or guest wants, no big deal for me. Unless people have smelly feet, and as soon as they take their shoes off, I feel sick!

Agree.

I once went to a BBQ at a no shoes house. 40 something people, BBQ and mingling outside, salads and drinks set out in the kitchen. It was absolute chaos. Not only did they clearly think more of their floors than their guests, but their horror of shoes was clearly more important than the smooth running of their party or indeed the inevitable food and drinks set spillages by the shoe pile as people tried to pull their shoes on again whilst balancing plates and glasses. But, hey, at least they stuck firm to their no shoes indoors stance.

But how many people rock up to your house in muddy boots? Of course if they are covered in mud and been traipsing through the fields I’m
sure they’ll offer to take them off.

We are talking about day to
day visits with people who will wipe their shoes and most likely offer to take them off. Just don’t ask them! And when they offer allow them.

It’s quite simple.

If I was really strict about it I would tell people ahead of time so they can bring slippers or socks or not come if they were uncomfortable .

Good lord. I imagine to flow from the inside to the outside of the party was very tricky. Bad hosts all round.

It’s also dangerous at parties due to potential glass breakages, spillages etc.

I wear shoes inside because otherwise I'd be taking them on and off all the time. I'm constantly in and out of the house, popping into the garden for something, nipping out to the car, then back in because I forgot my phone etc. Sometimes I wear slippers but then I go outside in my slippers so it's no different 😂. It's all good for the immune system isn't it?!

Along with toilet brushes, hasn’t this been done to death on MN?
What’s the obsession?! I just don’t get it?
Goady boredom maybe 🤷🏼‍♀️🥴😵‍💫

YABU. There is no reason to wear shoes indoors.

I can give you one. I want to.

Well, obviously, if you’ve just come back from a muddy walk, you’d probably change out of your wellies.

But you seem to be under the misapprehension that everyone’s shoes are covered in mud. Most shoes aren’t. Perhaps the difference between those that don’t mind shoes on in the house and those that are strictly shoes off, is that those who don’t allow shoes indoors only own one pair of shoes? I have shoes for different occasions and activities and so would not wear mud covered shoes into someone else’s house…

It doesn't matter whether they are dirty or not, They are for outdoors and should not be worn in the home. Normal people wear slippers indoors.

"normal people" as opposed to.. what?
What do you think the rest of us are? Aliens? Zombies? 😂

You know many normal people wear outdoor sliders and crocs even in hospitals, "slippers" are not a normal thing, just a preference

Your definition of ‘normal people’ seems a tad off.

😂😂

We could start a Mumsnet “normal people” list.

Normal people don’t have loo brushes.
Normal people never poop in anyone else’s toilets.
Normal people never let workmen shit in their toilets, because normal workmen use McDonalds.
Normal people don’t let their filthy cats out.
Normal people don’t buy Nestle products.
Normal people are preppers, just in case.
Normal people always have their ducks in a row, just in case.
Normal people hate men (including men, because all normal people are feminists, including men).
Normal people earn over six figures (so shoes off would be a moot point, as they’d have cleaners).
Normal people wrap their children in cotton wool, so nothing bad ever happens to them, certainly not germs from people’s shoes.
Normal people know that the channel tunnel is under the sea bed.
Normal people think about climate change all the time.
And it’s a global standard that anyone who is not a normal person is not fit to be a Mumsnetter. They is… cream puff nuts. (That last reference is from Roald Dahl’s The BFG.)

We have crocs like shoes by every door for this. Again, I grew up with this though so it's just such a habit. Like locking all external door behind me (and yes, I did forget DH was still in car or on a toilet once or twice)
Accurate depiction of him below

What did normal people do before Crocs were invented? They’re relatively new, I don’t remember seeing them before the year 2000.

Am I onto something? Is this thread sponsored by Crocs, or whoever their parent company is?

I find it weird that some people would rather have me rubbing my stubborn veruca all over their floors than wear relatively clean sandals. 🤷‍♀️

(I tried gaffer tape but it slides off, and Bazuka never seems to completely shift it)

I don't know how others but we had really old trainers with heel folded down.
Or adidos (yes, adidos) plastic slippers😂