taking shoes off

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.

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 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.

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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

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??

Quite the opposite actually, I find it very odd in a formal Hyacinth type of way that some people leave shoes on in houses.

Purple I had indoor shoes at school too, the infants were allowed normal slippers and older kids had plimsoles. I think that's a good idea actualy, kids school shoes can be very rigid, it's not healthy that they have to sit in them all day indoors, a softer soled slipper would be better for their feet. Would be an extra expense though so probably not feasable unless they doubled up their PE plimsoles as indoor shoes

Yes, we had indoor and outdoor shoes at school but this was in a social environment with grown-ups (supposedly! ) Its bad enough having to take your shoes off and defy the law of gravity at airport security, but I can see the point of that ..... but if you're so paranoid about your home, don't invite anyone round. Could this be more about showing off your ' show home' than actually being hospitable?

Sorry, notanan, I didn't make myself clear, I meant I have only ever come across one house where anyone, including the occupiers, routinely takes their shoes off as they enter the house.

I have no strong views on it, it is just a custom I have rarely come across, although I confess, like willsmadnan, I cannot see the point of having floor coverings that have to be protected from being trodden on because they show the dirt.

I remember walking behind my DD once, when we were coming home from school, and I saw her step in some phlegm on the pavement. It stuck to the bottom of her shoe. I was so glad we had a shoes off in the house rule. Yuk!

No, unless they are muddy. I was asked to remove my shoes (soft sketchers) when I helped a friend move into her brand new house. I did so, but very quickly regretted it as the floors were a mix of hardwood and ceramic tiles. It was mid winter and I ended up barefoot and very numb! When the main movers turned up later with the bigger boxes she didn't ask them to remove their shoes, she probably knew they wouldn't! My feet were sore for days after and it has put me off for helping anyone else! Some countries insist on removing shoes on entry for religious reasons, hygiene would be the only thing I could think of, especially with a crawling infant around. I would say that you have to be prepared if you don't know the host that they might ask everyone to de-shoe themselves!

I always take my shoes off in someone's house unless I'm wearing docs then I ask if they want me to take them off as they take ages to get off. I'm quite happy to ho barefoot at any time. in never wear tights or socks from March to November anyway.

Very bad manners to ask a guest to remove their shoes imo.
I have never been asked to remove my shoes and I just wouldn't.

Most people are considerate and wouldn't walk all over someone's light coloured carpets without first, having wiped their shoes properly or removing them all together.

Since when have carpets become so precious ?????.

Gemmag I agree! As to hygiene and babies crawling I think it is now accepted wisdom that they are healthier with a bit of dirt than in an over hygienic house. In any case they surely play outside sometimes? I think having dogs in the house is much more of a health risk (sorry, dog lovers!). And I repeat, I was told be a chiropodist that it is bad for the feet to wear slippers for any length of time. Also I live in the country and cant think of a single house where people take their shoes off, owners or guests, unless theres snow or mud involved, and of course one wipes one's feet on a mat!
If I visit someone with a light cream carpet i do ask if I should remove shoes though. If people ask me when they visit I always say no need!

I have slippers for guests as my brother lives in Vienna and no one wears outdoor shoes in the house. My neighbours are Moslem and although they never ask me to take off my shoes I always do out of respect. My grandkids always remove their shoes as they put their feet up on the sofa. I personally think it's dirty to wear outdoor shoes on your clean floors and carpets.

When we lived in the north west one of the women at work was saying how annoyed she had been at guests invited to her home taking their shoes off. She thought it was really presumptuous of them to "make themselves at home" in that way. It seems that everybody has different views as to what are good and bad manners.

I would normally take my shoes off unless the hosts were absolutely emphatic that it wasn't necessary. Our Asian friends and relatives would expect us to remove our shoes and would also feel uncomfortable not taking their shoes off in our house. I would not ask people to take their shoes off but they are welcome to if they want to.

All of my children expect people to take off their shoes in their houses. It doesn't seem to apply to here though! Still, husband's muddy wellies and dog's very muddy everything means that no one takes the cleanliness of my floors seriously! I've given up trying ?

Well what an amazing thread. This is one of the things I love about Gransnet, the peeking into the way others lead their lives, even in seemingly humdrum ways. We seem to fall into two camps, or it is three? Those who remove, those who don't and those who assume everyone else has a cream carpet. ? Or even carpets at all.

Come to ours and its across poo strewn fields and a river to ford in summer, all on foot. A long detour in winter but still the poo and manure. At least not a Trump to be heard of on here thankfully. Ha ha.

We haven't got any carpets or even mats, so people walk in and out as they are. Except husband and I wear wellies etc to go in the chicken run,and take them off when coming back in. Otherwise....

Ah yes the hen poo. I forgot about that. Sticks to places you didn't know existed!!!

DD's hens have the run of the place before they are shut up at night.


by place, I don't mean house!