Shoes on or Shoes off?
 

On the radio this morning, some Floridians were talking as if it were common to ask personal guests (not repairmen or pest control guys) to remove their shoes at the door when they visit, out of consideration for their light carpeting. They said they might make an exception for formal occasions. Wow!

I know it is part of some Asian cultures, and I would expect it there. And I do prefer repairmen to wear those bootie things.

But for me personally, I wasn't brought up with this as the norm. I guess I would feel I was being rude to ask that, as if my carpet were more important than the guest's comfort. I know my feet get cold easily and a gathering would be much less enjoyable with cold feet.

How about you?

This seems rude to me too. Friends I have who typically take their shoes off when they come inside their homes have always insisted we don't have to. If I think about it, I do, but half the time I don't think about it because we didn't grow up doing it and haven't done it throughout our married life.

If someone asks me to I will, but i would never ask another to do that. they might get dog hairs on their socks from my tile floors!!:ohdear::ohdear:

Interesting subject! I recenty was invited into a neighbor's house to look at something, and he took off his shoes when he entered the house in front of me from the garage. I hesitated, then asked if he wanted me to remove my shoes. He said it wasn't necessary, so I didn't. I have very soar feet and need any cushioning from my shoes that I can get, but don't usually share this. I always feel uncomfortable in this situation. I generally make a more concerted effort when wiping my feet before entering someone else's home.

Some people may just like to walk barefoot inside, and may not do so to attempt to keep the carpet cleaner.

One last thought. I have heard that the oils in your skin can be more harmful to the carpet than the dirt on the bottom of your shoes.

I take my shoes off when I get home but only because I like to be barefoot. I'd never ask a guest to do that and, frankly, would find it quirky if they did, unless there was poop or mud on them.

Removing shoes when entering someone's home is a common custom in Canada, probably because they are usually covered in snow.

I take my shoes off whenever I can. Even sandals are too much on my feet IMO. But I would never ask that a guest take their shoes off.

I did have a friend in California who did ask everyone to take off their shoes. She had a basket of socks for her guests to put on should they so desire.

Haha, Redwitch, I grew up barefoot and love getting unshod too. and there's usually a pair of muddy shoes on the front step from a dog walk, which makes guests think they should remove their shoes too, which embarrasses me.
My 2 cents:
If the dog could take her shoes off, that would be great.
If you have parties in the driveway, how can you feel rude asking people to take off their shoes to come in?

No shoes
 

We have always been a no shoes policy household. People aren't in any way offended when we ask them to remove their shoes. All of our friends atomically take their shoes off when they come into the house. I even provide socks for those who would prefer to have socks on while inside if they have worn sandals. Even repairmen are asked to either wear booties or take their shoes off. Most of them are very nice about it. I look at it this way, after being outside I've probably walked in some of the following...... spit, urine, feces, road kill, dirt, and who knows what else. I've walked in public restrooms, stores and restaurants. There's no way that what's on those floors is coming into my home to get on my carpets and floors. It's really gross when you think about what lingers on the soles of your shoes.

Booties anyone?
 

I really do not want some of my friends shoes off anytime indoors PUweeeee. Sweaty socks are so much better on the floor than shoes?

Maybe hand these out at the door:

Booties

At kitchen entry we make them wear hair nets, makes for some great pictures, yes we are a bit :loco:

Before concrete and asphalt driveways, sidewalks and streets, (in the
Old days) it was customary to remove shoes for obvious reasons. I do not ask guests to my home to remove their shoes. Their socks/feet could carry more germs and issues than their shoes.

If its an issue for you, provide your guests with easy slip on booties to put over their shoes.
I have read where barefoot is "bad" and worse than wearing your shoes on your floors & carpet. Best half is barefoot just about all the time in the house. I will hush!

I always take my shoes off upon entering a home unless it is whole house ceramic tile.
If I am to be a guest at a gathering where I know I will be there awhile, I will bring a pair of socks- usually funny ones.

I do not ask guests to remove their shoes, (unless they have high heels on as we have floors that high heels will damage) but I appreciate it if they do.
Note: Guys wearing sandals should keep them on- just wipe your feet.

I also keep new, fun footie socks (in a tucked away basket) and always offer them to my female guests if they remove their shoes…. they usually get a kick out of picking out a pair and I make them a gift.
:wave:

I cannot walk without a pair of shoes on, so.....no shoes off for me.

I guess you have no animals. I think since I let my animals in with their feet on, I can let people in with their shoes.

Me too.

Whatever that makes you MOST comfortable when you come to my house.

I don't want nasty bare feet on my floors. Keep your shoes on.

If you have a big party and all your guests take off their shoes, your floors better be clean because each pair of socks will act as a dust mop. :22yikes:

Warning: No socks on laminate flooring, especially when running with scissors.

Maybe I could give these out at the door. It would save me some work!

That's a great idea! You could call it a floor-cleaning party.:icon_wink:

I once had an adorable shih-tzu who would bite onto my dust mop and flatten herself and wanted me to swoosh her around the floor. I call that a cooperative effort!

My motherin law has a no shoes policy. I find it annoying. I thought floors were meant to be walked on, with or without shoes. Geesh, what if I hadn't had a pedicure recently?

I agree, I have to have shoes on my feet, my legs & back would kill me without shoes. If I am invited to a home and asked to remove my shoes I would have to leave after a few minutes. I would not be able to stand, ever with socks, I have to have support for my tootsies!

If a person had muddy shoes, I would ask them to remove them.

I would never ask a guest to remove their shoes as they should feel welcome when entering a home.

I personally try to do it myself, as I just like the practice, but would not require someone else to do it.

A lot of "goldens" have plantar fasciitis or other issues, which require arch support at all times. Some peeps just can't go barefoot!

You ain't right.

but that's o.k. That is the reason most of us love you'uns.

I am really enjoying your humorous posts, VPL.

Spent some years in Hawaii as a child...it was customary to leave our shoes at the front door. We retained that custom upon returning to the states...always removed our shoes in the house, and wore house shoes or slippers. Personally, I'd rather be barefoot. I see all sides to this issue, and I feel everyone is entitled to do what they want in their own home, and while I never come right out and ask a guest to remove their shoes, most follow my example.

I went into the Hagia Sophia in Turkey where we all had to take off our shoes and don plasticized booties before we entered. The stench was enough to cause a goat to expire! From the hundreds of thousands of bare feet on carpet , even though 'bathed' in a fountain before entry . PHEEEWWW!

I agree. We always take our shoes off, but I would never think of asking my guests to do the same.

My wife is Asian by the way and she doesn't requests that guests take their shoes off.

I guess that will be me. We will have to change the shoes off normal for this house.

I twisted my ankle early this fall and it wasn't getting better so I finally went to the Dr. and he says I have to wear shoes with orthodics to give a good arch and a firm shoe from now on.
We rarely wear shoes unless it's really cold and the no sandals or loafers rule he laid down is going to require me to really change as I got out of the habit of serious shoes when living in Hawaii. I sometimes have to remind hubby not to take his shoes off if the host doesn't because he does it without thinking as all houses in Hawaii are no shoes. A lot have cubbies or baskets next to the doors for peoples shoes.

That was cute. Also, what if someone had athlete's foot or toenail fungus?
Can't win.

However, up north here (similar to the Canadians) everyone does take their shoes off at the door , in the foyer, etc. Common sense in a snowy climate with all kinds of sand and salt* on the roads and driveways and steps leading to the front door.

Salt / calcium chloride, etc. in the winter months.

Not to mention MUD SEASON in the springtime. This past year there were three mud seasons......thaw, freeze, thaw, etc., etc. Lots of dirt roads up here. Kids play outdoors and track it all in. They automatically remove their shoes at the front door, in the foyer.

We have carpeting throughout and tile in the kitchen and bathrooms.
People just enjoy walking around in their socks or barefoot. We would never force them to do so........they just do it "out of habit" as it's what they do in their own homes.

Even our carpenters take their shoes off; our plumbers, etc.
It's the way their mothers taught them.

Different strokes for different folks.

I am one of those who needs constant arch support. But Trudy... try sandals made by Naot or Mephisto. Most have good arch support plus a cork footbed that over a bit of time conforms to the contour of your foot. They are pricey, but they work for inside the house and shopping, etc. (Not for pickleball or taking a walk, of course!)

I'm sure there are other brands as well, but these two are my favorites.

I know this thread is about shoe etiquette, but I just have to say that my two favorite sandals are Naot and MephistoMobils. And I do wear them for taking a walk. Most of the insoles are removeable, so if you have your own orthotics, you can use them.

Thanks for the info I will check it out as I have to go buy shoes this week to conform to the new law set down by the doctor.
I have worn echos in recent years that have an arch but doc said I needed heel counter rigidity at least for the next six months so I guess a fairly rigid walking shoe at least for now.

I still am going to have trouble getting use to wearing shoes in the house. My mother in-law must be turning in her grave she was convinced that shoes worn in the house brought bad luck. "Never wear your shoes in the house, because it brings the devil in your house (Hawaiian superstition)"

Good luck to you, Trudy. I don't go barefoot in the house, but wearing anything other than my Mephisto flip flops feels like torture. I hope you will soon get used to it. Having a medical excuse to make a change like that may help with the mental end of it!

We never ask guests to remove their shoes. Some do it without prompting and some don't. I don't like removing my shoes when I visit someone else's house so I guess that is why I don't ask others to do it.

We see it more and more. It is definately not rude however. We are in mid atlantic. The trend seems to be catching on. We remove our shoes in Florida.