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!

I don't really care.

Wouldnt cross my mind to take my shoes off automatically in someone elses house.

Anyone taking their shoes off automatically in my house would get looked at like they were insane and instructed to put them back on. Good friends/family know they can to get comfy and put their feet up. Anyone else id just think how rude they were tbh.

Infact I dunno actually if I could say anything, id probably just make a slight squeaking noise in horror at their actions 😂

What a stupid question.

Of course people take their shoes off if they are covered in mud or muck or snow.

But most of the time they aren't, and aren't some toxic health hazard either.

Monday to Friday, my shoes walk from my house to my car to my office back to my car and home again. I don't take them off immediately I get home (hard floors). I do take them off when I go upstairs (carpets).

The obsession with germs is unhinged (germs are everywhere, a reasonable relationship with dirt is healthy and builds immunity).

Mine wasn’t about germs it was a genuine question about mud and dirt.

I wonder if it’s lifestyle dependent as well as we walk a lot in the fields and out and about with kids so our shoes get mud on them. We also have carpets. I just couldn’t imagine wearing shoes inside, especially on furniture like is see some people.

either way, call it stupid or “unhinged” (bit dramatic!!) but it’s shoes off in my house.

🤢

if someone had a medical reason to keep shoes on them that’s different, but I would hope they’d bring some slippers or something.

Yes, it's lifestyle dependent, and one of the things that's so nuts about Mumsnet is how many people can't imagine that other people might have a different lifestyle to their own - and that's fine.

Whats green vomit face for about bunions?

try having toe fungus on 3 toes 🤣 no way am I carrying around a pair of slippers in case I end up at a shoes off for visitors house. Luckily I wear socks but equally lucky ive not been asked to take my shoes off since about 1992 i think when I went to an aunts house (who also had those plastic floor runners and kept the plastic covering on one of her sofas - not surprised she was shoes off too tbf 😂)

I can't stand other people's manky feet or socks on my floors and carpets (other people's socks freak me out at the best of times!). Even people with clean, pedicured feet sweat and I hate the thought that they're walking on my floors. Yuk. Just keep your shoes on, for the love of God.

@Butteredtoast55 completely agreed. I HATE feet, even my own and knowing what I know about the endocrine system and how many toxins exit the body via the feet no way do I want people exposing their feet in my house! I would just clean up after if any dirt came in. I was brought up quite tough by quite middle class parents and they were shoes on and considered it vulgar to ask people to remove shoes when they visited. And vain it may be but if I’m dressed up for a party shoes are part of it and removing them absolutely kills my outfit especially being a bit short and dumpy!

Or at least ask if the homeowner wants people to take shoes off 😩 ive actually come out in a nervous rash at the thought of people out there who just take them off without checking ☹️

Well, if you'd clear up after someone tracked mud into your house, surely you'd just clean up similarly after the invisible 'toxins' that emanate from visitors' feet?

Seems that poster would prefer a bit of mud in their home. Especially as its unlikely to be a lot given most people have door mats and to this day Ive not had to wade through a swamp to get to someone's door, so doubt people are tracking in loads of the stuff.

Ive never had to clean my floors yet because of mud from a visitor. And id rather deal with that than have to see a moist outline of a unshoed sweaty ass foot on my floor 🤢

What horrors is it that you imagine emanating from the sole of an unshod foot?

"a moist outline of a unshoed sweaty ass foot on my floor"

👆

☹️

Luckily lots of us can though - hence the questions! It’s interesting to hear different views and preferences.

No it’s not the same. I don’t like people getting their feet out in my house and that’s that. Hope that helps.

Shoes on downstairs, shoes off upstairs ✅

I don’t think people would rather that though?

Hopefully you’d tell them and they’d either say to keep shoes on or if you’re going to a shoes off house you’d take some socks or a plaster?!

I think most people go to homes that they already know and know the preferences of. It’s rare to be in a situation where you don’t already know. If you don’t know then as a guest you can ask at the door.

even when viewing houses there were shoes off and shoes on houses and estate agents would remind us depending on the property. We were very clear that for viewings of our house we wanted people to take theirs off.

Theres no right or wrong - just different preferences.

I married an Asian man and hadn't realised how important not wearing outside shoes inside was to him and his family....when his family visit they all bring a pair of slippers with them and change at the door! The first time I visited his parents i was issued with a pair of guest slippers at the door, now I take my own. My husband even has specific garden shoes which are worn in our garden only, at the back door which he only uses for lawn mowing and going to the bins etc. I don't really get that but I think his family do the same.

I grew up wearing shoes indoors but now I've been with my husband for a decade I genuinely think it's disgusting and ask everyone who visits to take them off- although I find the vast majority of people do it anyway and I always do it without asking when I go to theirs too! Pavements are absolutely filthy when you think about all the dog dirt, spit and who knows what else that's been on them! Why would you then want to wear the same shoes in your house. You do you OP, I completely get it!

My German friends have house shoes they wear indoors, not outdoor shoes - they favour Birkinstocks.

If someone came into my house wearing shoes I would immediately have to go NC with them, and I honestly might ring 101 to log it as a non-emergency incident.

We have garden shoes too, they're basically just tatty trainers that get grass stained for cutting the lawn, or flip flops for hanging washing (permanently situated at back door for convenience). Didn't realise this wasn't a common occurrence! 😂

Oh you are a card.

Yuk, that sounds like something they may need to get checked, or get breathable footwear ar the very least.

Well, choosing not to bring dog faeces and urine into your home, amongst other germs and bacteria, is objectively the better option.