Do shoes come off at the door?

DeeDee74

i hate people wearing shoes in my house.

my new carpet got ruined in one weekend due to other people i don't think other people care if thay don't have to replace it it's not a problem to them..:rolleyes:

funky_snow

Love the variety of opinion here...
Currently don't ask visitors to remove shoes unless obviously muddy/dirty. Don't really have a hallway to leave them as its a small flat and I don't have space/storage to keep a few sets of spare slippers.
Come from a European background so used to the idea that you remove shoes indoors - but my family always have spare slippers for guests to pop on their feet. I think its rude to ask someone to remove their footwear if you don't provide something for them to pop on - surely I can't be the only one with feet that get cold even in a warm room and get embarassed if they haven't recently been pedicured?
2 issues spring to mind for me - women often wear shoes without socks or tights so being barefoot in another persons house would feel wrong, and the other one - more usually associated with men is the whiffieness!!!
Can live with the 'dirt' of shoes by hoovering up. Not overly worried about the microscopic composition of dirt - because no environment is purely sterile and you probably find poo-related dirt everywhere. (I laugh when people obsess about washing hands after the loo and then open the door of public toilets with their hands, or handle any sort of money which I think I've read is a major source of bacteria and various residues!)

Horace

I find that having a doormat outside the door and another mat inside helps. People only take their shoes off in my flat if they are muddy. Mind you as soon as I get in I always take my shoes off and put my slippers on.

Princess_Jane

This a major pet hate of mine.

I ALWAYS ALWAYS take outdoor shoes off and change into flip flops or sock/slipper things (thick socks with grips on..you know what I mean) when I come in.

However my inlaws don't and when they stay we always have a battle of wills about it.

Final straw came when my MIL trod dog dirt through the house...then tried to rinse her shoe in the sink, but that's another issue.

Trying to rid my OH of this bad habit as he has a grubby job and often trails plaster dust in.

Shoes are for outside IMHO.

Smickan

Never have, though I walk around in bare feet - even in the garden.


Have been asked to iatr some friends houses though when growing up - didn't bother me unless I was wearing my stinky trainers without socks. :rotfl:

Newly_retired

In my childhood, and my children's childhood I don't remember anybody removing shoes unless they were very muddy. It must be the modern fashion for cream carpets that's done it - ? I have always preferred to remove my shoes and put slippers on. My feet get very cold if bare. I don't make any issue with visitors. They rarely remove theirs despite my pile of shoes by the front door but it doesn't bother me. I can't imagine going to someone's house for a meal and sitting barefoot instead of the smart pair of shoes I have chosen to go with my outfit.
My biggest problem is DH. He never removes his shoes, even after gardening. He keeps his in the bedroom, despite my protests and only wears slippers first thing in the morning. I cannot convince him that I would prefer he did not come up to the bedroom in outdoor shoes. But then I can't convince him to put the seat down in the loo either. He was brought up in a predominantly male household. Hope that is not the start of another thread.

DFrancis_3

In my house you can keep your shoes on. A friend makes guests take their shoes off because he is afraid that shoes will bring in diseases that will cause his two cats to become ill. No joke.

BlondeHeadOn

I'm disabled, and can't walk without shoes on as they hold my splint. I have been made to feel very self-concious about this in some peoples' houses, where they want guests to take off their shoes - I just can't, I will fall over! I actually find some people are quite rude when I say I can't take them off, which I find very offensive - it's not something I can help after all.

I can't remember this ever being an issue when I was younger, so it must be a more recent fad. Not one I like though, and I think it is not at all disabled-friendly.

We have light-coloured carpets, but it wouldn't ever occur to me to ask people to take their shoes off. We just clean the carpets regularly (a rug doctor works wonders), and don't stress about them otherwise.

remembered_nights

BlondeHeadOn wrote: »

We have light-coloured carpets, but it wouldn't ever occur to me to ask people to take their shoes off. We just clean the carpets regularly (a rug doctor works wonders), and don't stress about them otherwise.

Everyone in ours hates the carpet cleaner and then some It makes an awful noise and just takes soooo long - last time I used it I had headphones in to block the noise, and read a book with my spare hand! It does look lovely afterwards but I'd rather shoes-off than have to use the cleaner more often

Then again, we'd never be so rude as to take issue if someone couldn't take off their shoes for some reason :eek:

seven-day-weekend

I have friends who expect you to leave your shoes at the door.

To me it is just unwelcoming and unfriendly. As long as I wipe my feet, so what? Carpets are for walking on, are they not? Either that or don't have any ( I don't).

However, iIdo it because they expect it.