Do you take your shoes off?

One of the most irritating things to me is when someone enters your house and doesn't take their shoes off. To me, it's thoughtless and an insult. My parents who taught me to always take my shoes off when entering someone's house always come into my house and NEVER take their shoes off. It's so insulting. It's like, my place is dirty and not worth trying to keep clean.

What do you all think?

I watch my hosts and see what they do... if they are shoeless, or remove their shoes as they walk in, I do the same, and I normally do anyway, but if they don't then I keep them on.

I knew people who had you take your shoes off when you entered, but my family never did. (but then again, I was raised by untidy packrats, so maybe it was just self-preservation? )

I realize it's a lifestyle choice, and now if I'm entering a home I've never visited before, I ask. Perhaps you could create a sign for your entryway? A neighbor of mine has a tole-painted sign that says simply: "Life is full of choices: remove your shoes or mop the floor!!"

I don't remove them or ask people to. But what i will tell them to do is to make sure they wipe their feet on the foot mat as they come in, especially if it's raining.

I have hardwood floors throughout downstairs, and if they don't wipe their feet then theres dirty foot prints on the hardwood floor. Easily washed i know, but it looks awful

Now, I think there are times people go overboard... I.E. my parents dropped me and my brother off at my sister's and brother-in-law's house once. They were going out with a couple of friends and just wanted to come in for a second, and then leave, but he had tennis shoes one, and didn't want to remove his shoes... well he started walking in, and bro-in-law told him to remove his shoes, and my dad said, "Well, I'll just be here a minute... it should be okay, right?" He looked him straight in the face and told my dad, "Well, then you're not coming in!" Needless to say, my parents stormed out fuming!

P.S. That's not mentioning the countless times he forgot to take his shoes off in our house, and dragged car oil in (Still there!)

But, I do think it's curtious to take your shoes off.

I always take mine off, even in my own house. First of all, because I agree with you, I think it's very rude not to, but also because wearing shoes in the house just feels so weird to me - I guess because I was raised to take my shoes off in the house, so I've just never done it? My ex's mother used to insist that I wear my shoes in her house (because she thought my feet would get cold, she was nuts in general ) and I was sooooo uncomfortable doing that (mentally, not physically). Shoes are just not for in the house as far as I'm concerned.

It actually never occurs to me!
I guess we were raised to leave shoes on, I don't remember!

But in my house my shoes come off as soon as I'm in, because I hate having shoes on!!

Originally Posted by CJandBilly

But, I do think it's curtious to take your shoes off.

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Ok well heres one for you?.

What if their feet stink?! I'd sooner have them keep their shoes on than have their sweaty, stinky feet on my floor, then walk with my bare feet later knowing their sweaty feets been there

when i get home my shoes come off instantly because they swell up and its too warm to wear them.
in this appartment i dont really care? I didnt replace the floors or carpets so they are dirty and burnt anyway.
ben just ruined the pink carpet because he had break fluid on his shoes and it got in the carpet, His mum was angry because she payed 100 euros for it.. but when she gave it to us it was already dirty anyway?

My mother is the opposite she always wears shoes in the house because she feels unconfortable with out.

My aunty would get angry at us if we werent wearing shoes or slippers because she hates seeing foot prints on the tiles..

Originally Posted by stormy

It actually never occurs to me!

I guess we were raised to leave shoes on, I don't remember!

But in my house my shoes come off as soon as I'm in, because I hate having shoes on!!

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i dont take mine off, unless i get asked to, and i dont ask people to take their's off either if they come to my house

I have to admit mine come off the minute i get home and my slippers go on because i've been in my shoes all day so i'm ready to take them off.

Originally Posted by stormy

It actually never occurs to me!

I guess we were raised to leave shoes on, I don't remember!

But in my house my shoes come off as soon as I'm in, because I hate having shoes on!!

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I've actually never met anyone who has asked me to remove my shoes. I take mine off in my house b/c it's more comfy but in another's home, it's UNcomfortable to me.

BUT, if my shoes arfe muddy etc., I do take them off before entering.

Originally Posted by rosiemac

I have to admit mine come off the minute i get home and my slippers go on because i've been in my shoes all day so i'm ready to take them off.

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me to, i hate wearing my shoes at home, slippers on straight away

I love my slippers Carrie!, so much so if i could go to work in them i would!

Always take my shoes off. And all my friends do too. When I lived in the States for a couple of years, people thought I was odd, and would make a big fuss, oh, you don't have to take off your shoes. But it was the way I was brought up, and everyone else I knew did the same thing. I think that it was cultural, although those sort of habits are changing these days.

I have a friend who keeps a huge basket of slippers by the door - the terry cloth slip on kind. He has concerts at his house, and all of the concert goers (he may have up to 50 people there) skuff around the house in matching slippers. That is mildly eccentric, but I think its fun.

When we lived in Alaska we took our shoes off always when entering our home or other homes. But here in Oregon, we keep our shoes on. The animals can't remove their paws and we have muddy pawprints everywhere all the time except in the middle of summer, so we keep our shoes on as well - plus it keeps our toes safe from kitty kamikazee toe attacks! I don't look at it as rude if people leave their shoes on. It is simply how you were raised and what you consider to be proper.

Is this regional or something ? I've never heard of such a thing except for Japan! Yes, taking off muddy shoes before entering someone's home I can understand (especially on carpet,) and in your own home you take them off to be more comfortable, but otherwise...?

Cindy

Originally Posted by rosiemac

I love my slippers Carrie!, so much so if i could go to work in them i would!

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me to susan, mine are so comfy, i wouldnt take them off if i had the choice

In my house i always have my shoes off. now sometimes i do walk across the kitchen floor first (the dogs pretty much stay in the kitchen so the floors always messy anyways) I do like people to take their shoes off but as long as they wipe their feet on one of my three door matts before coming in, hehe.

That being said at someone elses house i usually watch them or ask.