Taking shoes off inside your home - are you offended?

[Anonymous]

The idea of shoes in the house disgusts me!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our family takes our shoes off when we get home. I am Asian (though I don't think that's relevant) - and have grown up this way and quite frankly, it grosses me out to think that the shoes you walk into public restrooms with would be inside your home. So we always take our shoes off once we are in the door.

Our close friends know the drill, and we don't need to ask. But when we have neighbors or friends we don't know as well stop by, I always feel weird asking them to take off their shoes.

If you don't normally do this, are you offended when you get asked to take off your shoes?
Is there a "polite" way to ask this of our guests?

Thanks for your thoughts!

Do you remove your shoes whe you go to someone's house where shoe removal is not done? Personally, I don't want someone walking around my home in barefeet and I do not want to walk around barefoot in someone else's house. I do, however, respect your wishes and bring my own throw-away slippers when I come to someone's house where this is their custom. Do you provide throw-away slippers because I would not want to wear slippers someone else has worn. This works both ways--provide clean, throw-away slippers for your guests if your custom is not to wear street shoes in your house.

[Anonymous]

It's a habit for me to remove my shoes as well. I grew up doing it, and my apartment has carpeted floors. But, I don't think I would be offended if someone asked me to remove my shoes.

Also, when walking into a home and seeing hosts without their shoes off and shoes by the door is an indication that it would be a good idea to take shoes off.

A friendly attractive sign may be a good idea.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The idea of shoes in the house disgusts me!!

Disgusts me as well!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The idea of shoes in the house disgusts me!!

Disgusts me as well!

What else disgusts you? People use public toilets every day do you also want them to wash their bottoms prior to using your toilet. The most germ-ridden article for women is the bottom of their handbag--do you give them lysol or clorox wipes so they can wipe off their germ-ridden purses. When in Rome and in the US it is not the custom to remove one's shoes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

What else disgusts you? People use public toilets every day do you also want them to wash their bottoms prior to using your toilet. The most germ-ridden article for women is the bottom of their handbag--do you give them lysol or clorox wipes so they can wipe off their germ-ridden purses. When in Rome and in the US it is not the custom to remove one's shoes.

In some parts of the US is it customary. And it IS cleaner:

http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Consumer/story?id=5177409&page=1

[Anonymous]

It's interesting that no matter what accurate medical advice is out there, certain people will insist on being poor hosts in favor of putting their own neurotic tendencies first. I think these are the same people who think it's OK to talk on the phone while being waited on by check out personnel who are so clearly beneath them. Proper etiquette is not about you, it's about the other person. After all, you would like it to be extended to you when the shoe is on the other foot, right?

[Anonymous]

We have friends who have a no-shoe policy and it's a little weird for several reasons.

1) Shoes are part of an outfit. If you're there, especially for a party, it's part of your complete "look"

2) Some people are self-conscious of their feet and would be very uncomfortable without shoes on. For instance, my husband hates how his feet look. He never even wears sandals. If he happened to be wearing shoes without socks and was asked to take them off he'd be EXTREMELY uncomfortable. He'd probably leave or at the very least never go back. Neurotic but true!

3) Some people need shoes on for support or safety. For example, my mother has knee problems and is a little shaky walking sometimes. She needs shoes for the support and also the traction. But she wouldn't want to cause a stir and would probably take her shoes off at a detriment to her safety.

Those are just a few reasons I can think of that I don't like a no-shoe policy. I do think it's ok to say something like "we usually take off shoes in the house, but if you'd rather not it's no big deal".

And we always take shoes off in our own home, though I would never ask others to do the same.

[Anonymous]

We have a toddler who eats food off the floor when she drops something, so we are a shoes-off household. I don't see this as being "poor hosts," as 16:55 suggests. Outside shoes are in all kinds of gross, germy stuff, from public toilets to grass where dogs pee to god knows what. Since trying to keep our kid from eating off the floor is a losing battle, I don't think "politeness" means we have to let people track in random dirt and germs.

[Anonymous]

we are a no shoes house, and yes we have a bulldog, and YES his paws and bum get wiped since as a general rule bulldogs can't reach certain areas anyway- so what is the big deal- if you visit a no shoes house- adhere to the damn rules or dont visit!
we lived in nyc for years and my general thought is- would you lay down on the subway floor or walk down the city streets barefoot- if not then why in the world would you walk all over your home with the yuck of the streets on your floors? to each his own- and leave us no shoe wearing homes alone- btw-i am not Asain- an american mutt of French, Mexican, Irish...so no throwing generalizations around about it being an ethnic thing!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our family takes our shoes off when we get home. I am Asian (though I don't think that's relevant) - and have grown up this way and quite frankly, it grosses me out to think that the shoes you walk into public restrooms with would be inside your home. So we always take our shoes off once we are in the door.

Our close friends know the drill, and we don't need to ask. But when we have neighbors or friends we don't know as well stop by, I always feel weird asking them to take off their shoes.

If you don't normally do this, are you offended when you get asked to take off your shoes?
Is there a "polite" way to ask this of our guests?

Thanks for your thoughts!

Do you remove your shoes whe you go to someone's house where shoe removal is not done? Personally, I don't want someone walking around my home in barefeet and I do not want to walk around barefoot in someone else's house. I do, however, respect your wishes and bring my own throw-away slippers when I come to someone's house where this is their custom. Do you provide throw-away slippers because I would not want to wear slippers someone else has worn. This works both ways--provide clean, throw-away slippers for your guests if your custom is not to wear street shoes in your house.

Throw away slippers. Now there's a planet killing idea.

No, I don't provide anything of the sort. I do however vacuum and mop floors before having people over.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Yes, I'm offended if I am wearing sandals or shoes with no socks and then I have to walk around someone's house barefoot. Esp. if my pedicure is getting old. Very embarrassing.

I think your "drill" should be more about your guests than about you.

Pardon me for resurrecting this but I would think it would be more noticeable to throw a fit about taking shoes off as opposed to getting noticed with an old pedicure.

Maybe PP is bitter because she's wondering why she doesn't get invited anywhere (hmm..)

I take shoes off in my house as well, it's a well ingrained habit. It's more comfortable to not have shoes on anyways. With guests, I usually politely ask and I haven't had any problems with it yet.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Yes, I'm offended if I am wearing sandals or shoes with no socks and then I have to walk around someone's house barefoot. Esp. if my pedicure is getting old. Very embarrassing.

I think your "drill" should be more about your guests than about you.

Pardon me for resurrecting this but I would think it would be more noticeable to throw a fit about taking shoes off as opposed to getting noticed with an old pedicure.

Maybe PP is bitter because she's wondering why she doesn't get invited anywhere (hmm..)

I take shoes off in my house as well, it's a well ingrained habit. It's more comfortable to not have shoes on anyways. With guests, I usually politely ask and I haven't had any problems with it yet.

Oops sorry the above looked funny...

[Anonymous]

I offer to remove my shoes no matter whose house I enter but think a sign instructing me to do so would be the height of tackiness. That's what you have a mouth for -- to politely tell your guests, "You can leave your shoes here." It's a private home, not Farragut North.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We have a toddler who eats food off the floor when she drops something, so we are a shoes-off household. I don't see this as being "poor hosts," as 16:55 suggests. Outside shoes are in all kinds of gross, germy stuff, from public toilets to grass where dogs pee to god knows what. Since trying to keep our kid from eating off the floor is a losing battle, I don't think "politeness" means we have to let people track in random dirt and germs.

We started a "no shoes" policy once our DD started crawling.

Sorry, PPs who think it should be all about the guests, but it's all about my daughter.