taking shoes off

I have been asked when viewing a house to buy and was quite offended especially as they weren't pale coloured carpets but very long pile. I have a friend who has a basket of guest slippers in all sizes and I'm happy to comply but I don't ask people to myself and if they start to take them off I usually say "Don't worry." as my carpets are old and not worth protecting!
As a diabetic I shouldn't walk around without shoes or slippers so I usually say so and make sure my shoes have been well wiped.
MIL used to make us take shoes off but no longer does - I'm not sure why.

I've never been sure about the right thing to do here either.
Personally - I don't expect guests to remove their shoes unless they want to - I'll walk through my own home in shoes - and then kick them off somewhere and pad about bare foot. I visited a japanese neighbour who very sternly asked me to remove my shoes. I think I'll always ask at the door in future and try to remember to tell guests that I don't mind if they keep shoes on.
However, the point about small children playing on the floor is a good one.

I would never ask people to remove their shoes but we recently moved into a top floor flat with hard floors. I know our neighbours hear us though we remove our own shoes and have a basket of new hotel slippers for people at the door...bit of a hint . One friend , when we discussed this told me in I uncertain terms we could not ever ask people to remove their shoes...even if our neighbours were complaint on about the noise. Big dilemma for us.

I can't wait to kick my shoes off and will do so at the earliest opportunity - don't need to be asked.

In Scandinavia they use galoshes to put over their party shoes when outside, leaving the shoes clean. In winter you would wear warm boots outside and carry nice clean party shoes in a bag to change into. I don't ask visitors to remove their shoes, but I appreciate when they do without being asked.

I think it's fine as long as you are warned in advance. Nothing more embarassing than taking winter boots off to reveal a pair of holey socks or a dodgy pedicure!

SueDoku, I agree with you absolutely. And how sad that your dd is not allowed to take her dog.
When we had a dog I wouldn't visit anyone who objected, or said she had to stay in the kitchen, nor would I invite anyone here who objected to our lovely dog.

I can't bear wearing ugly shoe or slippers and my shoes are part of my outfit. Once when I was invited to a housewarming where it stated guests must remove shoes to preserve the new wooden floor I went out and bought some pretty ballet flats. I also have a pair of 'indoor shoes' that never go outside. I have the flats in my handbag and the shoes in the car and will don them to please hosts with light carpets. I would never pad round in tights.

I don't mind, mostly family do, but no one asks. My GD is quite tyrannical about where shoes should go, they have a shoe rack in the hall and woe betide anyone who removes shoes and doesn't put them on the rack. How on earth did 4 year olds get so dictatorial?

I lived in Canada for quite a while and it was the norm there, so I automatically do it here - though people often tell me not to bother. As I am always barefoot in my own house people ask if I would like them to take off their shoes and I say no - unless they are going upstairs, as I have cream stair carpet (chosen by previous owners.

However, when my grandchildren were tiny my DIL always insisted on shoes being removed and I realised how important that was when all sorts would otherwise be walked in from the streets to where the little ones were crawling about close to the floor. That made quite an impression on me in terms of child care.

I'd never ask anyone to remove their shoes. It's the height of rudeness, as it implies that your carpet/flooring is more important than your guest's comfort. I've always worked on the principle that I live in a home - not a house - and no-one should feel uncomfortable at home.
Sadly, my DIL (who I generally get on with extremely well) has a strict no-shoes policy (& refuses to let my DD take her beloved dog when she visits, in case his claws scratch their polished wooden floor- but that's another thread...) so I always take my slippers there - but it silently annoys me every time.

Have recently been changing my shoes for cosy warm slippers (I suffer from cold feet and do now not visit friends who have pale carpets!) and am amazed at the amount of dirt from outside my friends (I never ask them to change shoes) bring in on their shoes. Easily swept away though - no problem.

All our grown up kids and their children take off their shoes routinely when they come to our house, though the state of our carpet really doesn't justify it!
We never trained our kids to do this, but perhaps in those days fitted carpets were less common.
The only problem with a large gathering is the huge pile of shoes in a tiny hall.

I've always removed my shoes when coming inside and expect others to do the same. I've never had to ask though, people see me without shoes and take theirs off. I always offe (washable) slippers and have quite a collection.
I do have pale carpets but that's not the reason I do it, I just think bringing outside dirt into the house is not very nice.

Don't know what happened sorry about the repeats.

I always thought it was a bit off until I got rid of my carpet and replaced it with wooden floor, when you can actually see what you are cleaning up on a daily basis it is quite an eye opener, also don't like the thought of what is being stepped in / on out in the street...dog poo...peoples spit...fox poo to name just a few.

We have a wooden floor ...problem solved no taking shoes off. If they bring mud in etc a quick wipe sorts it. Simples ?

When I was a child we always wore house shoes or perhaps slippers. We had to keep house shoes at school. There was always a lot of dog mess etc on the pavements in those days. I am 91 times have changed.

When I was a child we always wore house shoes or perhaps slippers. We had to keep house shoes at school. There was always a lot of dog mess etc on the pavements in those days. I am 91 times have changed.

When I was a child we always wore house shoes or perhaps slippers. We had to keep house shoes at school. There was always a lot of dog mess etc on the pavements in those days. I am 91 times have changed.

When I was a child we always wore house shoes or perhaps slippers. We had to keep house shoes at school. There was always a lot of dog mess etc on the pavements in those days. I am 91 times have changed.

When I was a child we always wore house shoes or perhaps slippers. We had to keep house shoes at school. There was always a lot of dog mess etc on the pavements in those days. I am 91 times have changed.

When I was a child we always wore house shoes or perhaps slippers. We had to keep house shoes at school. There was always a lot of dog mess etc on the pavements in those days. I am 91 times have changed.

When I was a child we always wore house shoes or perhaps slippers. We had to keep house shoes at school. There was always a lot of dog mess etc on the pavements in those days. I am 91 times have changed.

I thought it was appalling when we were asked ar a party to take off our shoes! I exposed bunions and my Dh had a hole in his sock! Why buy cream carpets that no-one can walk on? My DGC do take off shoes as theyve been taught to but DH hates the pile of shoes by the front door and I dont like to see people in slippers except in private - I think it's sloppy and bad for the feet.
The exceptions are if its snowy/muddy or if we come in from Gardening! But normally a wipe on the doormat is sufficient.