taking shoes off

Just remembered that our school uniform list in 1960 included indoor and outdoor shoes, so it's not such a new thing.
Have discovered that IKEA do shoe trays for about £2:50. They hold four pairs of adult shoes and provide a tidy store by the front door.
Agree with you mumofmadboys, is a surprisingly contentious issue

I don't like being barefoot in case I come across a spider that needs to be stamped on!

I must admit, I would have found it odd if at the parties we've had everyone took their shoes off.

How very Hyacinth! Are people so flippin' precious about their carpets that they make their guests feel like they are entering some sort of temple?? Life's too short to faff about a bit of Axminster... ever heard of carpet cleaner? If I was asked to take my shoes off in someone's house you wouldn't see me for dust. I'm beginning to wonder about GN.

Who would have thought a post on shoes on/ off indoors would attract 180 posts????

Monica I've also only been to one house where you are explicitly asked to remove shoes (they provide hotel style slippers), I don't think asking is necessary anyway even if you prefer people to take their shoes off because it's the norm/done thing to remove your shoes at the door, if I visit anyone elses house I do and their other guests where are also there do, and the vast majority of people who visit us do, even though I never ask or indicate that they should.

I do think wearing shoes indoors is odd, it serves no purpose normally

Lively debate over something so inconsequential!

We have new very pale carpets and as a courtesy our family always remove their shoes , so we can keep it clean for who ever buys our house. Our little ones have always removed their shoes , that way they don't climb on the furniture with outdoor shoes on.

Our estate agent always removes his shoes without asking but we don't ask casual visitors ( or potential buyers) to remove their shoes. We're not that anal .

All our family like to be barefoot indoors when possible or in their socks , our house is warm and clean so seems most reasonable to me.

I find your comments interesting notanan, because I have had to think hard and long about whether I know any household where visitors are expected to take their shoes off when they come into the house and the answer is that I could only think of one - and I am not absolutely sure about them as it is possible that they only do it for comfort.

And I think its a shame and unnatural that they've been conditioned that way, and I also don't think it's very normal or common these days most people do only wear shoes outdoors now IMO

I said that some people find it uncomfortable to pad around with no shoes on in someone else's house, and I think their views should be respected.

I haven't accused you of anything, notanan.

That's as may be, but shouldn't your guests' comfort be more important than how you feel?

Here we go again Ana, I did say that I don't ask guests to take their shoes off, but you go ahead and make things up about me anyway! I never make anyone take their shoes off but if you want to believe I do just because I disagree with you about shoes indoors being normal, fine!

90% take shoes off without being asked, I'ld say only around 10% of guests leave them on and I don't ask them to do otherwise, however I do find people leaving them on quite a formal and unfriendly thing to do, it's a bit like leaving your coat on and declining to sit down - gives the message that they can't wait to leave

Quite right Ana!

I find that quite sad/unnatural

That's as may be, but shouldn't your guests' comfort be more important than how you feel?

I know someone who is very embarrassed by having to take his shoes off in public. He has a very deformed foot and while just about able to wear normal shoes with inserts, it is very noticable just in socks.

But some people don't feel comfortable with no shoes on, especially in other people's houses!

I find that quite sad/unnatural. I know that the likes of Clarkes convinced a generation that feet NEED "support", when in fact the opposite is true for healthy development of feet/bones, but shoes really should only be worn when they're needed to protect from elements/hazards normally

But some people don't feel comfortable with no shoes on, especially in other people's houses!

Also agree with the PP who said it's better for your feet. I think its weird and unnatural and probably bad for your muscular-skeletal system to wear shoes when you don't need to because you're in a house! (I know there's exceptions like diabetes etc, but for normal feet it's good for them to be bare or in socks as much as possible)

I have to remember to say "please-there's no need to take your shoes off"

That would make me wonder if they wanted the visit to be over soon and didn't want me to feel comfortable, bit like saying "don't bother to take your coat off you'll be leaving in a minute"

My GP took his shoes off without asking, so does the plumber. Probably because they can see our outdoor shoes lined up next to the door on a rug kept for the purpose! I don't think it's an uncommon practice. You wouldn't put your shoes on the sofa so why on the carpet?

pollyputhtekettleon, does a strict 'no shoe' rule apply to everyone? What about a doctor and surely plumbers or electricians wear safety shoes so are probably not allowed to remove them due to H&S regs?

I think if your house is warm enough to walk with bare feet on solid floors, then the heating is turned up too high. Think of the planet.

Got..not hot!

I am surprised so many people survive after visiting my apparently dirty house because of all the faeces,gum and spittle waiting to infect them from my floors. Anyone hot the statistics or illness/death from dirt on residential floors??

In a cold climate and an old house we do take off our outdoor shoes, but those of us with cold feet put indoor shoes on instead (plus two pairs of thick socks). My mother grew up in an even colder house and her mother always told the children to put their shoes on as soon as they got out of bed. They didn't have the luxury of slippers, let alone all over house heating.

This (warmth), plus light coloured carpets, is really what the taking shoes off fashion is all about. Going barefoot probably is better for feet when they can be kept warm enough. My kids all went barefoot most of the time, until they started to feel the cold as adults.

absent, I've never had a problem with claustrophobic toes but then I've always insisted on footwear with plenty of toe wriggle room. Most women's fashion footwear is therefore, and always has been, decidedly unsuitable and avoided.

I live in a country where it is traditional to remove your shoes before you enter someone's house, as well as a variety of other buildings. As I have always suffered from self-diagnosed claustrophobia of the toes, I love it.

Think it's safer to keep shoes on in our house - rural living and dogs. ?

One of my aunts who is terribly house proud not only asks you to remove your shoes but you also have to place them with the soles facing upwards? That is extreme!