Page 17 | AIBU to think wearing shoes indoors is a bit odd?

YourGreyOtter · 01/10/2026 23:08

We are shoes off, but I don’t mind if visitors keep on.

Natsku · Yesterday 03:29

Cosimarocks · 01/10/2026 19:17

Absolutely! I’ve noticed that this automatic shoes off at the door thing has increased. I often potter about in slippers or bare feet at home, but only for comfort and usually when no visitors in the house.
I’ve started making sure I put on very obvious shoes now (nothing that can be mistaken for a slipper or ‘indoor’ shoe) before people arrive, just to try and avoid their trying to take their bloody shoes off! I don’t want anyone’s manky socks or feet on show please!!!
I get there might be a cultural element, and that is of course fine, but when it’s purely because they’re a germophobe or value their floors above their guests, I find it bloody rude to stand over me at the door while I wobble about trying to take my shoes off. And these people that say it makes their guests more comfortable… crap! Absolutely, it might be more comfortable to potter around your own home without shoes on, but that’s not the same for guests.

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If guests are more comfortable taking their shoes off (I feel very uncomfortable wearing shoes inside someone's house, makes me feel unwelcome, awkward, and literally uncomfortable because shoes are annoying) but you try to prevent that by giving clear hints that its a shoes on house, isn't that putting other things (your opinions about manky socks) above your guests' comfort?

Original poster

Livefreely · Yesterday 09:23

Teenagerantruns · 28/09/2026 23:55

I mean i normally take my shoes off when l come home. Would always ask in someone else's house, but unless you have a crawling baby nobody is licking the floor so what does it mater really?

Because I want clean feet and socks!

OP posts:

Cosimarocks · Yesterday 09:38

Natsku · Yesterday 03:29

If guests are more comfortable taking their shoes off (I feel very uncomfortable wearing shoes inside someone's house, makes me feel unwelcome, awkward, and literally uncomfortable because shoes are annoying) but you try to prevent that by giving clear hints that its a shoes on house, isn't that putting other things (your opinions about manky socks) above your guests' comfort?

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Not at all. It’s giving the message that this is a shoes on house. But I wouldn’t dream of forcing them to do anything.

BIossomtoes · Yesterday 10:20

Livefreely · Yesterday 09:23

Because I want clean feet and socks!

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If you want clean socks surely the answer is to keep your shoes on?

Megifer · Yesterday 12:28

Natsku · Yesterday 03:29

If guests are more comfortable taking their shoes off (I feel very uncomfortable wearing shoes inside someone's house, makes me feel unwelcome, awkward, and literally uncomfortable because shoes are annoying) but you try to prevent that by giving clear hints that its a shoes on house, isn't that putting other things (your opinions about manky socks) above your guests' comfort?

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This would be a strange situation for me personally. Family/friends i have no issue with them taking their shoes off if they want as normally theyd be putting their feet up on my sofas and settling in for a bit anyway.

If its an acquaintance, say someone from work meeting at mine to get a taxi to a party, or i dunno, a health visitor or whoever, id not expect them to be over familiar and take their shoes off. If they started to theyd be stopped with a cheery "no please keep them on its fine". Id find it really odd if they then started arguing that they're more comfortable taking them off.

Natsku · Yesterday 23:32

Megifer · Yesterday 12:28

This would be a strange situation for me personally. Family/friends i have no issue with them taking their shoes off if they want as normally theyd be putting their feet up on my sofas and settling in for a bit anyway.

If its an acquaintance, say someone from work meeting at mine to get a taxi to a party, or i dunno, a health visitor or whoever, id not expect them to be over familiar and take their shoes off. If they started to theyd be stopped with a cheery "no please keep them on its fine". Id find it really odd if they then started arguing that they're more comfortable taking them off.

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If someone said 'no please keep them on its fine' I'd think they'd want me to keep them on so I'd have to keep them on no matter how uncomfortable it makes me, Seems to me the only way to be about guests comfort first and foremost is to say straight off 'please take your shoes off or keep them on as you feel most comfortable doing, I do not mind either way'. If you don't do that then its not about guests comfort, its about your own desires, which I don't mind admitting is for shoes off.

FunkyFringe · Today 00:23

Livefreely · 27/09/2026 15:55

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!

What a weird question. I have NEVER taken my shoes off when visiting other homes, and I do a lot of visiting. My friends NEVER take their shoes off when popping over here. It’s not a done thing around here and to be honest, I had never heard of it before joining Mumsnet.

Wellies and dirty boots, of course they’re removed.

maxslice · Today 04:34

I don’t believe in hints. Whatever your house rules, politely, kindly make them clear.