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!

You sound right up my street and think like me and it’s grim the sort of crap that’s on the pavement

Given the state of the world, the word 'horrified' is a bit much

I am EE, DH is Arab. No one ever tried to wear shoes in ours. Not sure if it's that ot they don't wear shoes at home too (I can't think of anyone doing so tbh ftom people I know closely). We have washable slippers.

I do have to admit I quite enjoy the passion of either side in UK as the on/off is kind of evenly split from what I heard. It's fun to watch 😂

Us movies where people go to bedroom and lie on bed while wearing shoes are basically a horror movies for me😂

As far I’m concerned YABU. Weird and rude to make guests walk round in stockinged feet.

😂 stockings. Are you friends with the knee high boots indoors poster?

I shout at the screen and call them filthy fuckers 😂

Which is why shoes shouldn't be worn indoors on clean floors.

The yearly taking off shoes again …
Wearing shoes inside the house is nasty . Just my opinion

A thread about this very topic is one of the first I remember engaging with on AIBU around 13/14 years ago! Absolute classic.

I grew up in a no shoes house and prefer people not to wear them indoors. My DC and DH take them off but visitors don’t always and I wouldn’t ask. We have wood flooring downstairs anyway so it isn’t a massive deal. It is a bit weird to me too, I just couldn’t relax with my shoes on.

Yanbu. I'm a white Brit and I can't bear shoes inside. Traipsing in spit and grim from outdoors? Eew.

I am a full-time wheelchair user and we have a dog.

I can’t get out of my wheelchair and the dog can’t take her feet off.

It would be pointless.

I would never ask someone to take their shoes off when visiting me.

What's OTT about sharing a viewpoint after someone specifically requested one? Can't we disagree with each other without the name calling or shaming??

Of course germs and bacteria harm! Have you never seen a sick child? And what about hidden, long-term effects that present later in life (my knowledge is just based on House MD episodes 😂).. anyway, do you share towels as well? Or do you get your guests fresh ones? Do you wash your hands before preparing their food? If so: why?

I feel like this is one of those where people prefer not to think about what they're traipsing into their homes. If you can't see it then it isn't there. But it is there. You do you but people shouldn't criticise those of us who have decided not to live in muck!!

Yeah, fair. For example, in some countries and cultures, some people as standard, make direct contact with their hands to clean their bums after a poo. Everyone is doing fine there too. I just prefer how I do things, but I do agree it's important to respect differences in culture and/or preferences of others. Each to their own!

I'd really like to have a shoes off house (though I have a dog so I'm not sure how practical that is).

DH and I wear slippers in the house 90% of the time - and shoes downstairs sometimes. But I woudn't make guests take off their shoes - though I appreciate it when they do. It's partly from spending a few years in Japan - when I came back wearing shoes inside felt weird.

It's nice when someone warns you they are a shoes off house.

Not sure it's a class thing.

Nah, this is ridiculous and I suspect you know it but seem to have a huge chip on your shoulder. I’m firmly in the shoes off camp, and all our guests soon realise and adapt accordingly with no drama as normal people do. None of them have refused to return so I can only assume they are fine with it. But I would have zero shame asking someone and have done with tradesmen, estate agents etc in the past. In most of the world it’s completely normal to have shoes off inside, only in the UK have I seen people get so funny about it. If your feet are so gross that even socks are an issue then you have bigger problems to sort.

I have recurring problems with plantar fasciitis and Achilles tendonitis, for which I have specialist orthopaedic insoles and supports.

I'd go home rather than risk exacerbating either condition by going barefoot, and ending up having to wear a fucking great plastic boot 24/7.

Nobody is meaning people with ailments, I'm guessing the houses you go to would be aware. For example my dm has health issues, so she doesn't get asked.

Exactly, your feet shouldn't stink to the point they are worse than outdoor shoes that have walked across all sorts. If they do, than that needs to be taken care of.

But doormats only remove the dirt,they don't get rid of any bacteria.

That's a little contradictory though isn't it. If your guest's comfort really is paramount, than that would trump dirty shoes.

Dogs have pooed and weed on the pavement though?

Totally. It is like bedbugs, or people sneezing, you cannot see the germs, but they are there.

Oh, I agree. This is a sociological observation, not a judgement.

When the DC used to have playdates, I expected the children to take off their shoes and they always did without prompting, but they usually had their feet all over the sofas and beds. I find grown-ups don't do that. Like others on the thread, we have pets and they can't take their paws off, after burying their poo.

Some friends take shoes off, auto, others don't. If we have people to supper or for a party, I don't expect them.to take their shoes off. But then again, are old and if we go to our closest friends or they come to us, they bring and we take our slippers. It's comfort and, familiarity.

Looking back to when the DC were little and went on a lot of playdates, there were one or two homes where I woukd not have wanted to take my shoes off. The grubbiest usually belonged to doctors!

No, they’re soft leather.