i hate wearing shoes, no matter what. i definitely don't wear shoes in the house. but my boyfriend does! it's killing me, because i think the soles of his shoes are what dirties the floors fastest (ok, maybe it's the two dogs that track in the most filth, but those flip flops are nasty!).

i'm japanese and wearing shoes in the house is an absolute no-no. besides, it makes a lot of sense in the long run anyway and i appreciate being free of shoes once i get home.

it may be a climate thing in some ways, but i am canadian and we always take off our shoes at the door. i definitely noticed that all of my american friends tend to wear shoes in the house.

I'd like to be able to go shoe-less (no tracking grime into the apt.), but I need the constant arch support so I can walk pain free. If someone required that I remove my shoes before I could enter I'd have to turn around and leave; the pain just wouldn't be worth it.

Absolutely. Not only is it more comfortable, but our vacuum is crap so we try to make it work as little as possible.

We take off our shoes when we get home--it just feels SO much better! The only problem is when we want to go on our back deck or roof deck...I end up with blackened feet! Is there a common solution for this? Deck shoes stashed someplace?

Also relevant to the discussion: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k8VniWaa5qg

I take mine off at the door. I have hard wood floors so it's out of respect for my neighbors. Plus, who wants to wear shoes all day long??

Not taking your shoes off at the door, from my experiences, seems to be an american thing. I don't know any canadians that would not do this.

I wear shoes inside, but can definitely see the advantage of not doing so. One particular instance: I highly recommend instituting a no shoes policy if you are moving and having to show your house/apt to realtors and strangers. I had one guy track dog crap through our entire apartment before I realized what had happened. Cleaning every rug I owned was not on my packing to-do list. I still get irate just thinking about it.

I generally kick them off, but only make a point to do so if my feet are sore, if I want to curl up on the couch, or if they're particularly wet or dirty.

As far as germs go, I'm not terribly concerned. I'd kind of prefer that everyone wash their hands when they come inside. Sure, your shoes might get some germs on them, but 90% of what your shoes touch inside is probably just the floor -- unless you go around licking the floor or rubbing your hands on it, I think removing shoes to avoid germs is mostly psychological.

Shoes off at the foyer, just like much of the world. I don't care how many guests I have over. Shoes off for everyone.

I also refuse to sit on my bed with my street clothes on.

Am I a germ freak? No, just adamantly anti-filth in my home.

I have a friend who trained her dog to lift her paws before entering the house, so she could wipe off the street grime off of its paws.

Jeez - people in our neighborhood would steal our shoes if we left them outside the door. I wish I had a mudroom.

I take off my shoes at home 75% of the time, but I don't leave them at the door per say . . . more like all over the place, which drives my husband nuts. When I do take off my shoes, I usually wear thong sandals or socks around the house.

I don't leave my shoes at the front door because it looks like clutter and because I don't want to encourage other people to take off their shoes in my home. Besides, I have two heavy duty doormats on the way inside my home.

I take off shoes while inside, but I lean towards wearing socks, house slippers, or anything that is light, cottony, and lets me stretch out my toes. Carpets can get dingy from walking around barefoot on them. The fibers pick up the oils from the skin on the bottom of your feet.

I have a no shoe policy and it is strictly followed by all guests. Inside is clean, everyone can relax and the feet can enjoy freedom!

I always take my shoes off. I am lucky that my house as a total overabundance of closets. Right inside my front door is a closet outfitted with shelves - my fiancee and I both keep our shoes in there. Keeps them out of sight (we keep an air neutralizer in there so that the smell doesn't knock you out when you open the closet door). Shoeless, totally better.

Sure I wear them into the apartment...
...after all - they've had a lobby, an elevator, a corridor and a concrete-floored entry hall to shed the worst-offending grit & street-grime.

But it's into the bedroom, onto the cedar shoe-trees and into the shoe cabinets for them - and the feet go into fresh white ankle socks and slippers.

We don't remove our shoes to enter our home, nor do we request that our guests do. My whole life, I've never known anyone (personally) who had a "shoes off" policy in their home.

Here in Southern California there isn't a lot of mud to track in so maybe that's why. Plus, we don't have any carpet in our home and neither do most of our friends and neighbors. Easy-to-clean floors are a must if people wear shoes in your house. Also good doormats outside.

I am an American living in Norway, we take our shoes off at the door. I though that this was odd when I first moved here.. but now I find it is much easier cleaning (and most people have wood floors.. so any dirt that comes in moves around).

I have found that no matter the size of the party, shoes are off at the door.. they tend to pile up.. and no one cares. On occasion girls in pantyhose/stockings will wear there heels in the house.. but I generally see them ask the host if it is ok first.

We have a shoe cabinet right inside our front door and a basket of cheap ikea slippers for visitors. It keeps the place much cleaner and keeps the carpet looking new.

--and like someone else, we have our dog trained to wait for us to wipe her paws before she leaves the hallway.

We live in the Canadian prairies, so its partly a seasonal thing, but generally 'no,' we don't wear shoes in the house. In fall/winter/spring our shoes are constantly wet, and in summer they're dusty. It keeps the house cleaner if we don't, and there's something relaxing about coming home and kicking off my shoes...

An exception is when we have parties. We encourage people to wear their shoes in (provided they aren't covered in snow), knowing that its more convenient for large amounts of guests, and that we'll have to clean the floors the next day anyways.

The only negative of my house was the lack of any semblance of a foyer, front or back. Nevertheless, we take our shoes off at the door and leave them on a small rug or put them away. I don't require it of guests, but I have hardwood floors and will never have carpet again.

I agree with another poster- I lived in Flint, and taking your shoes off and leaving them in the hallway like this picture would result in stolen shoes. I feel like an ass asking guests to remove shoes at our house, but my fiance doesn't, so I let him be the bad guy. Growing up, though, leaving your shoes on in the house was just as common as taking them off. We lived in an old farmhouse with wooden floors. I even remember eating dinner with shoes on! Its very odd, in retrospect. I've also been to peoples houses that ask for me to take my shoes off, but then my feet get filthier from their floors than the bottom of my shoes could ever be.

Alaskans take their shoes and boots off at the door.

When entering the house, the shoes are the first to go, but I don't ask guests to shed theirs. I'm just not happy with shoes on, which probably explains why I have such wide feet.

I'd love to cross-reference the responses to this post to the one where people screamed about the concept of NOT letting your dog up on your furniture!

I always abide by the no shoe rule in my home. My husband and my son automatically take their shoes off too. I have a wood cubby by the front door to put the shoes onto. My close friends and relatives know to do this also. Although when I throw a big party about twice a year I don't put that rule into effect. I too learned this from my mom.

If I left my shoes off outside the door I would find them in the morning with the laces tied together and strung over the power lines with the other 4 pair of shoes there.

I kick off my shoes in my hallway as soon as I get in the door. I do need to get some kind of cute bin to stick them in as I usually have several pairs floating around in there.

I always take mine off (hate shoes!) and I always ask my guests to take them off too. But I wouldn't leave my shoes in a public space any more than I'd leave a purse out there. In the 80s I lived in a building where the apartments had no foyers. The solution for everyone on my floor (but me) was to leave their shoes and boots outside. Wouldn't you know it, one night someone made off with all of them. One of the few times in my life when I seemed more sensible than other people.

Shoes off for sure! Flip flops, heels, sneakers, whatever it is. It drives me nuts when people come over and I try to hint at them to take their shoes off and they don't get it....It makes me feel like a control freak but it's my house and I have to clean after it. Our puppy gets his paws wiped after walking outside. If people knew what's on city sidewalks, they would not want to track that into their house...and onto the bottom of their feet, which they climb into bed with. Gross.

I live with roommates so I kick my shoes off in my own room instead of leaving them in our "public" area

I hate wearing shoes. I take them off the second I get home, and leave them right inside the door. If I lived in a house I'd fence in a porch and keep all my shoes in cabinets. But I live in an apartment, so whatever shoes I wore that day and my house flip flops are right inside the door. I clean the shoes and put them away so as to avoid clutter.

I find the no shoe rule interesting in homes were dogs live inside.

Another Canadian here. Yeah, everyone takes their shoes off. Wearing them in the house would seem crazy to me.

always.

i mean i always take them off.
should have hit Preview Comment.

No shoes in my house and that is how I was brought up, but I still struggle to ask my guests to take their shoes off. As somebody said before, I really don't understand why some guests don't get it. Besides the issue of dust and other messy things, taking the shoes of at the door is a sign of respect in my culture

I have lived in the Northwest for 37 years now and we have always taken our shoes off. I can not think of a single family I know who doesn't take their shoes off. I don't ask my guests to, they do it automatically. And I agree that a pile of shoes at the front door looks cluttered, so we put ours away in our rooms as soon as we enter (minus my husband - I do it for him - for my sanity!).

I also find this a funny topic when so many people think animals on furniture is fine.

I'm Chinese and live in Southern California - we always take our shoes off when we come into the house. There's a tiled space when you enter the front door and it's the only indoor part of the house you wear outside shoes. We keep slippers in the entranceway closet for guests slippers outside the back door if you plan on walking in the backyard. The only indoor shoes I've ever worn were Birkenstock sandals that I never ever wore outside.

It makes sense to me because shoes bring in all sorts of nasty stuff from outside. Some of it could be sticky things that don't fall off until they rub on your carpet, or until the carpet fibers dig them out of the treads on the underside of your shoes. I also liked to lie on, sleep on, read on, do homework on, etc. on the carpeted ground in my bedroom. Wearing outside shoes on my carpet would have been akin to me rolling around on the sidewalk. Sidewalks accumulate spit, vomit, dog poop, gum, and who knows what else - why would I want to bring any of that into my living space? :(

I, too, live in the NW and wear my shoes in the house. I think I can count on one hand the number of friends I have that require me to take off my shoes. I usually am out of my shoes quickly, just cuz I like to be barefoot. But certainly don't mind wearing them in the house, or if anyone else wears them in my house either.

We keep our shoes inside the door. I know that it keeps our house cleaner because I hear the dirt being vacuumed up.

patrick (the other one),our dog allows himself up on our furniture when we're gone.

We started taking our shoes off this winter to keep the salt, water, and grit out of the apartment. We leave them on the landing of the stairwell. No need to strip our wood finish! We've just kept doing it and don't specifically ask it of people coming over, but many do it anyway as they pass our shoes in the hall. I do love not having to sweep the floors as often!

I'm a Canadian living with a Norwegian and shoes are always off inside. Way comfier, cleaner, what's not to love?

For those concerned about shoes getting stolen, the shoes don't come off outside the house here. They come off in the entryway.

I have a bit of a foot phobia so I leave my shoes on in the house. I also have slippers so I wear those as an option. I just can't stand the sight of feet and I generally feel more comfy with shoes on. I'm not wearing heels or anything so sneakers are comfortable.

Obviously I really, really hate going to someone's house if they require I take off my shoes. I avoid people's houses like that.

no! floors and carpets are for people (shoes!), plus i hate going to parties and having to take of my shoes = they are part of my outfit! :)

ps. i dont walk around the house in shoes (unless i'm about to leave the house or just came back) but i dont want my guests to take off the shoes (unless they want to), and i dont want to be asked to take off mine when i go to visit someone's house. but i will if they ask :)

I'm a shoes off at the door person. It's just what you do here in Hawaii. One of the socially accepted norms really. It's considered rude to not remove your shoes at the door. Plus, we're usually wearing slippahs anyways!

for those who worry that if they go shoeless their feet won't get enough support ... keep a pair of clogs or similar shoes which you just wear inside. Definitely good for standing while cooking or doing other chores.

@aaakid, at first glance I misread your comment as "patrick (the other one) allows himself up on our furniture when we're gone."

It was a great image while it lasted.

"Not taking your shoes off at the door, from my experiences, seems to be an american thing. I don't know any canadians that would not do this."

As a Canadian, I'm inclined to agree.

I'm a city girl at heart, so as the shoes are part of my outfit, I don't take them off at parties or get togethers. Plus, I wear heels every day so my busted, smelly feet are not something everyone needs to see. However, outside of a large group setting, people here always take off their shoes before entering someone's home. It's weird not to. In regards to my own home, I of course take off my shoes. As I mentioned, I wear heels every day... sometimes after a late night, they're off before I even get out of the taxi.

Oh, and as for the hallway thing. I leave my shoes at my door on the INSIDE of my apartment, not on the outside. That's just weird. In a home with two doors and a space in between, that makes sense, but otherwise it doesn't. I think I once saw shoes outside of an apartment door with friends and we were all like "Wtf, who lost their shoes?" I didn't even think that someone would leave them there intentionally. Bizarre.

I've only known a few people in my life that have a "no shoes" rule and I've lived all over the place. Personally, I don't see the need for it and don't particularly want a big ugly pile of shoes at the door; I put my shoes away. I can't walk around barefoot for long without joint pain, so I always replace my dress shoes with running shoes when I get home. To each her own, but I would never ask a guest to take their shoes off; it strikes me as rude.

I'm in FL and we do wear shoes inside, but they're flip-flops. Standing on tile to cook is hard on my feet and back, and we're constantly out on the deck and back inside.

Plus, we have dogs, and they walk in and out. My carpets aren't particularly dirty, though. Dyson!

I live in Austin Texas and have always removed my shoes as soon as I come through the door. But, I do not consider myself the norm.

I am an Indian. Specially Bengali. We grew up taking off our shoes at the door and then washing out feet off the dust and dirt of the city before you settle in.
So we continue to do so. It just makes complete sense. I do not get it when people walk around in their dirty shoes all over the carpet.

In continuation to above post, I really liked visiting in Germany someone's house. They has several cheap, but cute flip flops available for guests to wear in case they do not like to walk around without shoes.

Both my husband and I refuse to wear shoes inside. I'm from the NE; he's from the South. We have a mudroom right after the front door where we leave our most frequently worn shoes. The others are in our closet. We either walk around barefoot or when I'm standing in the kitchen for a while, I wear slippers since the floor can be cold. I can't imagine wearing shoes around my house all the time!

Also, my uncle has a "no shoe" rule in his house. He requires all guests to remove their shoes and leave them in the mudroom before stepping into the rest of the house. We don't do that, but noticed that many people instinctively take their shoes off when visiting anyway.

We live by the beach, and we have a brick walkway that's mortared with sand so we sort of have to take our shoes off when we come inside.

I've noticed that this keeps our white carpets much fresher for much longer in between cleanings and I think it's nicer to go barefoot inside anyway. The only time I wear shoes in the house is when it's so cold I have to wear slippers.

I don't think I'd ever ask my guests to remove their shoes, though. I think that's rude and makes guests uncomfortable.

I live in NJ where shoes indoors seem to be the norm, but mine come off before I even take my keys out of the door.
My husband, on the other hand (and even after 5 years of pleading) insists on wearing his filthy work boots into the bedroom before peeling them off.
I'd really prefer guests to remove their shoes in the foyer, but no one ever does.

I admit to not taking them off outside the door since I'm not the one who cleans the hallways in my building and I wouldn't want to be in my barefeet there. The shoes come off just inside the door where I have a nice sized area rug that I can clean occasionally. Shoes never get worn past that point - guests already know to remove their shoes and for those who don't I just simply ask. I've never had anyone complain that it was such a hardship to take off their shoes and get comfy :).

I am a Hindu and we do not wear shoes in the house at all. I ask my friends to do so as well.

For those who find it rude to ask guests not to wear shoes, why not just ask them to bring a set of clean shoes for wearing indoors? It's more rude of a guest not to abide by the rules of your home anyways...are they going to clean it for you?

Having friends who ask me to remove my shoes has made me take better care of my feet. If the toes are going to be showing, they're going to be painted. Though I will say that if you're going to make people remove their shoes, make sure that your bathroom floor is spotless. I don't want hair and toothpaste all over my feet.

I grew up in Hong Kong. There, everybody takes their shoes off at the door, and people usually have storage in their entryways for shoes. There aren't many built-in closets in HK, and I've never seem them anywhere other than a bedroom. Also, everyone wears slippers, and almost everyone (unless they live in a really, really small place or don't have company often) keeps a stash of them for guests to wear as well.

I'm now living in Vancouver, and nobody wears their shoes in the house either. Not very many people wear slippers inside (maybe because a lot of the apartments/houses here have carpeting?).

I can't imagine not taking off my shoes when I come home, I just feel uncomfortable tracking dirt all over the place. No, I'm not generally a neat freak, and no, I don't own any pets that I let romp on my furniture. I don't think it's rude to politely ask that guests take off their shoes at your door, since you are extending your hospitality to them and inviting them into your house. If a guest refused (without explaining—I mean, if they politely said that they cannot bear walking without shoes (like one of the first few commenters) then I would accommodate their needs), I'd probably think them quite rude and maybe not invite them back again.

@mckate, I keep a pair of slip-on shoes at the back door for when I go outside. May not be the classiest look around, but my feet stay clean.

It's always shoes off at the door for me, though I've brought "indoor" shoes to parties (and changed once I got there) a few times if I intended to wear heels etc.

When I don't take my shoes off, I actually feel really weird, like I'm breaking a very serious rule and/or insulting my host (even if the rest of the guests still have their shoes on).

My shoes get kicked off at the front door. That is how I was raised and it's what most of my friends and family do too. I only know a few people that wear shoes indoors 'on purpose' and it is usually at a social gathering.

If I'm running out the door (with my shoes on) and realize I've forgotten something (usually my water bottle), I do some sort of awkward tippy toe hop back into the house with my shoes on to get it. I've been trained to think shoes in the house is wrong.

At parties, there is always a massive pile of shoes at the front door. The only exception would be summer parties where the host may waive the unspoken no shoe rule.

Very interesting post - fun to see all different sides. Makes me curious how much climate factors in here.

I always do that - I thought everyone did. I guess it is a national/regional/cultural thing! What's the use of wearing shoes inside, anyway? And do you just put on your shoes when you get dressed in the morning, if you don't intend to go out? Crazy!

We have a bench just inside the front door, with shoe bins beneath. Shoes come off, and into bins. Guests are also asked to leave their shoes at the door. We wear slippers inside the house (and have spares for guests), and have sandals/thongs at the back door for the deck and garden.

I always take my shoes off at other people's houses, unless they make a point of saying not to worry, but even then I usually do. It's just too rude and arrogant to assume they want your filthy shoes on their floors.

I am an Australian/Canadian who has spent my entire adult life in Asia. I have just purchased an Italian walnut shoe storage for outside my apartment but I would never and have never dealt with shoes inside. I lived in Japan for a decade and I couldn't have coped with people wearing shoes indoors. In fact Japanese won't even visit a house/home where people don't take off their shoes. My current apartment in Taiwan has bamboo shoes, which cannot cope with shoes. I see people with shoes on and I feel a little nauseous. I would never and could never, no matter where I lived, permit anyone to wear their shoes indoors. It is just plain dirty.

I wonder if climate is related, too. Am I the only Michigander that grew up with an optional shoe on/off rule?

In my house, I don't have a strict rule, but I try not to walk around in shoes. (My kids, on the other hand, are always walking around in shoes, but know not to wear them in the bedrooms.) In the winter, however, with snow on the ground, all shoes come off.

In other people's homes, I *always* ask before I walk in with my shoes. Some people like them off; other people couldn't care less. But, I *hate* when I'm told to remove shoes at a party. I'll do it, because it's not my home, but (as someone said above) my shoes are part of my outfit! And I'm a girl who likes her heels. I remember one particular occasion when I was asked to remove my shoes. A few minutes later, I saw a woman walking around in heels. I asked her how she got away with it, and she told me that she simply refused to remove them! I don't think I'd go that far, but she looked great, while I looked like I was standing in a friggin' hole.

I love how passionate people get on the shoes issue. I didn't grow up with a "no shoes" policy, but after the kids moved out, my mother became a no-shoe person. (She provided slippers at the bootrack).

My first apartment had a brilliant entry way that made shoe removal easy and natural. My current place is less easy: the kitchen is a shoe room, but the dining room is where the shoes come off. It is much, much easier to clean the floor- partly because I notice as soon as I start feeling any grit on the floor- time to clean!

If I ever build my dream house, it will include an entryway with a shoes off area.

shoes are ok if the floor is wood or marble/ceramic tiles. would think twice if the floor is carpeted, in which case shoes must be left at the door (inside and not outside).

oh and yes, no shoes on my shag rug :)

this is almost mandatory rule in sweden. everyone does it. i love it.

barefoot or in slippers here in lithuania. guests are free to do what they like, but slippers are always offered:)

i am japanese-irish, so shoes off always! all our friends do it willingly, it's never been a problem. we have a little cubby behind our 50s diner booth where everyone can kick off their shoes. we also keep flip flops at every door (we have 3) for running outside. i don't know if it's cultural or sanitary (or both), but i wouldn't have it any other way!

It seems like its such a hard thing to ask someone to take their shoes off time and time again when they are so accustomed to wearing shoes in the house. They find it very cumbersome, and visible express this. I've had guests/friends take their shoes off by the couch. And leave their shoes beside them. Just seems to me that they do not understand the whole concept of taking shoes off at the door. How do you go about explaining this to someone without feeling like you are lecturing them about it?

When I grew up, I was taught the complete opposite: that it was rude to remove your shoes because it shows that you are calling the shots in someone else's home, that you've decided -- on your own -- that you can be informal around us. Only our closest friends were invited to "get more comfortable; take your shoes off." Guests had to stay fully dressed to show respect. Taking off your shoes in our house was akin to grabbing a beer out of the fridge and turning the TV on to your favorite channel.

If their shoes were dirty, they usually asked to be given a towel or to be taken to a place where they could clean their shoes. If they didn't realize their shoes were dirty, we said nothing and then cleaned the floors when they left; we acted respectfully by never saying anything to them about whatever they tracked in. What guest wants to be embarrassed by the host telling them they're dirty?

Now that I have my own house, I just let guests do whatever they want. If I'm inviting a lot of people or people I don't know super-well, I put on my shoes for guests so that I look fully dressed in front of them. If close friends are coming, I have my shoes off so that I telegraph the informality of the occasion to them. But the pattern is usually that everyone has shoes on until we settle in for the night: it gets late or people are on their second or third cocktail or some "new people" have finally left or we decide to watch a movie.

We have pine trees outside, so many that it's hard to keep pine needles off our stoop, and anyone who comes in without taking their shoes off tracks a whole lotta plant matter in the living room, as well as crumbly pieces of gravel from our awful driveway. But I don't say a thing; I invited them, so I have to deal with whatever dirt they bring. If they decide to take their shoes off but I still have mine on, I discreetly take mine off too when their backs are turned. Same thing when I'm in someone else's house: I just do what the host does.

As for the dirt being tracked in, I'm actually more worried about the dirt we make ourselves in the house: my husband's prolific and careless cooking usually means that our kitchen floor is never perfectly clean. If we're having a dinner party and people take their shoes off prior to tromping into the kitchen to see what he's up to, I feel paranoid about them getting pieces of minced onion or basil on their feet before I can get the chance to clean it when no one's looking. It's much more relaxing in that context if they keep their shoes on, at least until the main course is out.

from hong kong, now in vancouver. shoes off for me and my circle.
the shoes on/off question is so interesting: people have strong feelings about it. and i think i've seen similar posts on a.t. about this in the last year. and every time, tonnes of people respond!

There is no good reason to wear shoes indoors. I am not American (I'm Canadian), and that probably has something to do with my viewpoint.

Your feet smell? You need to wash them anyway...

Your feet hurt and need support? Have indoor shoes.

Shoes at the front door is cluttered-looking? Dirt from your shoes on your floors looks worse, not to mention that cleaning more often is a pain. And let's get real here, we are all capable of finding suitable storage for shoes to avoid the look of clutter. Be creative.

Shoes are part of your outfit? Take the stick out of your bum! No one cares if your outfit it is complete, especially if you are in your own home. Relax, and enjoy the company of others and/or the comfort of being home.

In short, wearing outdoor shoes indoors is a disgusting and unnecessary habit regardless of the type of flooring you have.

shoes off! always.

I have always asked people to take their shoes off... Now that I have kids I just get so pissed when people ignore me... Especially because everything on the floor goes right into baby's mouth! Gross!

I'm from Hawaii originally, where one can usually find a lot of shoes outside homes; it is not considered appropriate to leave them on, inside. Now that I live in San Francisco, my husband and I take our shoes off inside, but we have to put them away -- or leave them on the floor; if I leave them outside, they annoy the people upstairs, and may even be stolen. I do have a Hawaiian "Mahalo for Removing Your Shoes" sign in the living room, for when we get it together enough to have guests over... Don't know what I'll do with all those visitor shoes, though.

Okay, is there not one person commenting who ever goes barefoot? What then? Do you keep a box of sanitation wipes at your doors too? Really, people are getting awful worked up about shoes indoors. I personally have a "mostly" shoes off policy because of weather and geography, but don't get radical about it all. Even bare feet can harbor germs, viruses (warts), etc,. Oh, and if we have a large party or gathering, we go crazy and let people keep their shoes on (gasp).

Eemmiillyy says:

"Shoes are part of your outfit? Take the stick out of your bum! No one cares if your outfit it is complete, especially if you are in your own home."

Yes, if I'm in my own home, alone with my family, my shoes are off. But if I'm out for the evening, at a party or dinner in someone's else's home (or my own home, for that matter), I expect to wear my shoes. If I'm told to remove them, I will always respect the wishes of the host or hostess. But it's sort of like being asked to remove your shoes at a restaurant. It's one thing if you're having a quiet get-together with close friends, watching a movie and eating pizza. It's quite another thing if you're dressed for what you assume is going to be a more "formal"occasion. If you want your home to be a cozy little hygienic sanctuary where you can eat off of the floors, then don't invite guests. I'm with shawnamuffin on this.

I didn't realize people wore their shoes in the house under normal circumstances. I've never even heard of that.

Alabama here. My household is strictly no shoes for my husband and I. We are fortunate that our current apartment has a foyer with a coat closet, plus I installed a few shelves at the bottom for shoes. Close friends and family usually take their shoes off, however we don't ask visitors to remove shoes (even though I would like to sometimes).

As for the dog issue, we have an inside dog (toy poodle) who is allowed on two pieces of furniture: the leather couch and his "bed"/pillow. We have a paw wiping towel in the foyer that we use whenever he goes out.

Wow. I grew up in the South - in Raleigh, NC, and I am actually shocked at how many of the commenters seem to think it is obvious that a person should remove their shoes inside the house!

Growing up, I had a lot of friends and family, whose houses I would visit frequently, and only encountered *one* person until I was in my late *twenties* who ever asked me to take my shoes off at the door, and actually, taking off one's shoes at the door, or at all, was often considered very rude. No one wanted to see or smell your feet, and I don't remember anyone ever taking off their shoes at parties, unless it was a slumber party. That way you can run in and out of the house at will, without having to keep removing your shoes.

The only person whose home was shoe-free was my friend whose parents were born in Korea. *Everyone else* wore their shoes in the house. And it was not gross. People in the South realize they will be wearing their shoes inside, so they keep their shoes more clean, and there are usually at least two doormats at a person's house, and also often a boot scraper outside the door, for you to scrub off the bottoms of your shoes when you come in the door.

I also lived in London, UK, and in Sevilla, Spain, and shoes inside were normal for the most part. I started making a lot of friends from the Midwest, when they all started moving down to Raleigh, a few years ago, and they all have the shoes off rule, which really got on my nerves at first, for the same reasons mentioned above by the other few people who dislike this rule.

I was also invited to a party where I was asked to remove my shoes, but my feet were stinky inside my heels that I had worn to walk to the party, and I had to run to the bathroom to wash my feet in the sink, and there was only a hand towel to dry my feet with, so I used toilet paper. Also, my shoes are usually a main part of my outfits, and they alter the fit of my clothes, if they are heels or not, and being from a place where people don't take off their shoes, I feel suddenly undressed and un-festive with them off.

And at these parties, if they are cocktail parties, and we are all wearing dresses and neckties, I find it ridiculous looking to run around with no shoes on. Plus I always end up getting bits of food and hair stuck to the bottoms of my feet. I hardly ever wear socks, and my feet don't normally stink, but I don't like to run around barefoot in a lot of people's houses.

I actually am sort of in transition, because my partner is from Iowa, and so we usually take our shoes off at home, or with close friends, but we would never ask anyone to take their shoes off unless they have been tromping through mud, and then we would actually offer for them to clean the mud off with our hose, rather than having to take off their shoes - their choice.

I really think it is a cultural and climate thing, and people from Canada and the Midwest (coming from Scandanavia), and Asia seem to be the most into removing their shoes.

My mother still gets offended when my partner and I remove our shoes as soon as we get to her house for dinner with her boyfriend. And I still get irritated when I am at my partner's parents' house in Iowa, and I just have to run back into the house to grab one item I forgot, but I have to unlace my boots. If they just kept their stoop and walkway clean, and had one of those scrubby grass material mats to wipe my feet off outside the door, then I wouldn't track anything in.

Basically, I think that people have cultural differences in what they expect, and to different people, it is respectful either to take off your shoes, or to keep them on. In the South, the norm is to keep them on, and it is a sign of respect to keep them on.

All of this said, I am not a person who really cares either way, although as a Southerner who has seen her world invaded by Midwesterners with all their Strange New Rules, I sometimes feel like they are ruining my party outfits, or putting their sticky little feet all over my clean floors.

Another note: in Raleigh, people almost always travel by car, and you keep your car clean, so if you are just walking up someone's concrete driveway from your car, what dirt are you really bringing in?

You come home you take your jacket off, hat off and shoes off. It is totally natural. Freedom to the feet, let them be free. Even in school, in Scandinavia, kids took their shoes off. They were nicely organized under the jackets and hats. You wore slippers when you were young and later just your socks. Nice and clean. In middle school and high school you wore your shoes to the class room.

I don't get the wearing shoes in the house thing. I've seen photos online of people wearing shoes in the BED!

I just don't get it. Shoes are not that comfortable at all. Maybe mr Rogers was just a nut.

I grew up in California and have never wore shoes in the house. Now I live in the NW and when I rented my third floor apartment my landlord actually asked that I not wear hard soled or high heeled shoes at night as it causes too much noise on the hardwood floors. Not a problem as my shoes come off in the foyer when I get home. I go barefoot inside 80% of the year and wear slippers when it's really cold or snowing outside. (The hardwood tends to get a little cold then.)

Shoes off and put under or at the end of the bed along with the other pairs in rotation. In the house I wear flip flops or bare feet in summer, in winter heavy socks...I never made a rule about this, just found myself doing it, and when I go to pals' houses too. Its cleaner and much more comfortable. Now I even find myself taking my shoes off at work ( I teach college seminars I can get away with it!)

Our carpets are 30 years old and in very good condition. I'm sure it's because we don't wear shoes indoors. I've seen what's on the sidewalks and I don't want that in my house!

In the Netherlands a lot of families still do this (especially in countryside towns). I usually kick of my shoes too when I get home, but I slide into flip flops or crocks so that I can still easily pop into the backyard.

Again to those who want to wear shoes because you seem afraid your outfit will be ruined, why not bring a pair of clean shoes (the ones for your outfit) to the party and only put them on once you get inside? Then the regular footwear you wore can be left at the door. This would please most that ask you to remove your shoes - it's the best of both worlds.

shawnamuffin - So you invite people to your house that aren't your friends or relatives - you invite random strangers that should be on an formal base with you to a party or gathering? If it's your friend's new girlfriend/boyfriend/whatever, you should want them to feel informal and comfortable around you - not the opposite. Then you're the one making a wrong first impression.

Trish1980 - I hate to break this to you, but if you have a consistent problem with your feet stinking you are either wearing the wrong kind of footwear or need to see a doctor about it. You shouldn't burden someone else with having to clean their floor both before and after the party just because you refuse to take off your shoes.

I tend to take my shoes off but it's not a rule unless they are wet or muddy. We live with the doors (front and back) open and we and the dog wandering in and out from the garden. I figure it's a lost cause. I do always take mine off before going upstairs though. I don't ask visitors to take theirs off, in fact I think I'd rather they kept them on!

We do live in an ex-rental property though, so I suspect a lot of 'rules' will change once we renovate and replace all the floors!

I take off my shoes 90% of the time. I feel most comfortable without shoes on. My husband on the other hand does not.

If I go to someone's house, I generally ask the host if I should take my shoes off. To assume it's okay to walk in with my shoes on or take off my shoes is rude and presumptuous.

Of course, if I'm already familiar with a particular home's rule, I don't bother asking.

As I said above, I require everyone to take their shoes off when they come over. Some have suggested that certains guests would find this offensive. These are probably the same people who might find certain local customs offensive when they travel.

We keep the bulk of our shoes on a rack in the coat closet. We also have a shoe rack by the front door for a dozen or so pairs of our "everyday" shoes (along with a couple of stools). We clear that shoe rack off for guests's shoes when we entertain. I always offer our guests fresh slippers or socks. Ikea slippers are great for this, because they're machine washable.

It's interesting to read where people are from as they express their views on this topic. I've lived in San Francisco my entire life, minus a few years in other cities and abroad. I also travel overseas several weeks per year. Here in SF, it's mixed bag. Some households require the removal of shoes, others do not. I think it's because SF is a melting pot of a city, not just of people from other countries, but people from other American cities. The majority of adults in SF have moved here sometime during their adulthood, bringing along the *shoes-in-the-home-policy* of their home region.

This thread does say a lot about people. Very, very interesting.........

Honestly, I had no idea that people felt so strongly about this subject! As I said above, we have no strict policy, but I think that "shoes off" does help to preserve the floors. That, and I'm more comfortable barefoot. So I do tend to take off my shoes when I walk in the door.

I also have an upstairs, which I think makes a difference. I don't like shoes (or food, or the dog) upstairs because that's where we sleep. It's a cleaner, more private environment. The downstairs, however, I look at as a more public space. I don't want my guests to feel like they're in "my bedroom." I'd feel strange handing out slippers, just as I'd feel strange wearing slippers in someone else's home. Doesn't mean I wouldn't do it (and I certainly wouldn't complain about it!), but I wouldn't feel comfortable.

I'd feel differently if it were the home of a close friend, or a very informal occasion. But I'm picturing going to a dinner party and wearing slippers. I'd do it, but it would go against my grain. NOT because it's ruining my outfit, but because I'd feel like I was intruding on someone's private territory. It's just too "familiar," like we're all in our pajamas. Frankly, I'd rather eat in a restaurant.

I know that for some people, it's a cultural thing. And I respect that! But for most of you, it's just a sanitary thing. That's fine too, but please don't make it like "Canada" or "The South" is a culture. You just feel weird about having outside dirt in your house.

I live in California, but was raised in the Midwest (just for geographical reference). We never wear shoes in our house. We take them off just inside the door when we enter.

99.9% of the time, guests ask if they should take off their shoes. But if they don't, and they walk in with shoes on, we just let it go.

Interesting discussion. I hope I never ever have to visit some of you people!! (You're glad, too!) Wow!

I grew up in suburban and then rural Michigan, shoes ON was the normal policy, especially as guests. You wiped your shoes, but only removed them if you knew you'd stepped in something nasty.

In my previous house here in New Hampshire, we wore our shoes in, often kicked them off upstairs in the bedroom where the clothes are kept, but never worried too much about it. (We have indoor cats and we had two house rabbits that had free reign.)

Our new house has hardwood, and we made the decision to minimize shoe wearing in order to maintain the flooring. Friends are never ASKED to take off their shoes, but since we are in our socks or barefoot, they often just follow suit. I keep my gardening shoes in the (attached) garage for when I plan to wander into messy areas, and I keep some plastic "Crocs" by the front door to kick on to check the mailbox or whatever.

I have issues with my feet. I wear prescription orthotics in my work shoes, and I have had one toe amputated. My feet are two different sizes. There are surgical scars. There are deformations. Probably needless to say, I'm not a pedicure person, and I don't collect shoes like lots of women -- I have two active pairs right now, and a few old ones for those few occasions where I might like to "dress up". So I am not especially thrilled to become an object of conversation at homes where shoes OFF is mandatory. I'd take them off, but I would not be happy and I would not go back. I think the idea of wearing shared slippers is kind of gross -- I'd rather go barefoot than wear something that "personal" and risk athlete's foot or other things. (Somehow barefoot on dry flooring isn't as off-putting. Showers and other wet floors, yes.) I can't wear flip-flops for the reasons above, but I wouldn't want to do that either. (Feet sweat and anything in constant contact with them should be your own.)

Formal events in homes should permit footwear. If yours is a shoes-off home, you owe it to your guests to recognize that it's intrinsically informal, and not contradict that with formal cocktail parties or anything dressy.

If you invite people over, you should mention ahead of time that it's a no-shoes event, and that they should come prepared (with clean socks, slippers, house shoes, or whatever they prefer). Much less awkward than surprising them at the door.

But I have to say, some of you sound amazingly germophobic, and maybe you should consider the level of reality you are dealing with -- nobody I have ever heard of got sick or died from dirty floors. It's possible to CLEAN them, you know. (When I clean floors, food crumbs and pet fur have always been the most prevalent "dirt" and none of that came from outside... Just sayin'.)

Oh and, Chrisgal? There are foot conditions that cause exceptionally odorous feet that are difficult to manage medically. Maybe a little compassion would be nice. It's not always something different shoes or a doctor's help can solve.

I HATE wearing shoes. Besides that, my husband and roommate managed to turn the carpet in our last apartment gray after only a few months because they thought it was too much of a hassle to take off their shoes before they got on the carpet. I don't know anybody who would be offended at the request (medical situations excepted, obviously it's not THAT big of a deal). I honestly wish more people would ask me to take my shoes off when I visit them. I might forget in someone else's house and I feel like here in America many people feel it would be an imposition to ask. I think it should be common courtesy, though.

SherryBinNH and Trish1980 - Neither of you noticed the idea of bring a pair of cleaned shoes to the occasion. I don't allow shoes indoors and I have yet to meet someone who is so uptight around here that they won't take off their shoes (seems like most want to). I would waive the rule if I saw that the guest had been thoughtful enough to bring shoes just for indoors - doesn't have to be slippers. When I have company over, I am inviting them into my home - my home means my rules. It is the same that I don't allow anyone to smoke inside - even my mother goes outside for smoking.

Has anyone ever seen the TV show Mad Men? It's about an ad agency in the 1960s. One of the characters is an eccentric older guy who makes everyone take off their shoes before they enter his office. It's one of his little quirks. No one complains or makes a fuss, but I'm sure they all think the guy is a little kooky.

Anyway, that's sort of how I feel about the "no shoes" policy. It's quirky. I live in Chicago, so it's a given that the majority of people have a "no shoes" policy in the winter. No one wants wet floors. But the rest of the year? Yes, I do it in my own house (because I don't want to ruin my floors), but when someone asks me to take off my shoes in their house? On a perfectly dry day? I'm sorry, but I do think it's weird. How do you know I want to walk around your house with no shoes? Are there crumbs on your floor? Dog hairs? Cat hairs? Baby drool? Does someone in your home have athletes' foot? While you're grossed out by my feet, I'm grossed out by your floors! Especially your bathroom floors!!!

In fact, when I'm entertaining, I always wear my shoes. I think it shows that my home is open to guests. I want my guests to relax, to not feel like they're entering a private sanctuary. I want them to feel comfortable, not like I'm going to follow them around with a broom and dustpan. Not only that, I don't want anyone to feel like they just woke me from a nap. I don't feel completely dressed without my shoes!

this post has been done before

Many people say they can not take their shoes off because their feet smell. Why? If you wash and wear clean socks everyday, such a problem should not exist.

I see we are divided on this subject. I remain firm on the side of 'No Shoes Inside'.

When you arrive at my home, take your shoes off, put them on the left and pick up a pair of sandals of your choice from the basket on your right,
put them on and then walk in.

No martinis for shoe people!

Okay, I just read a few messages about medical issues, my heart goes out to you. Difficult stuff to deal with.

We will just serve martinis in the garden.
Problem solved.

Love the various viewpoints on this topic, but why can't something like this be discussed without everyone being so self-righteous and judgy about it?

SherryBinNH, I have a friend who also lost part of his foot, and without his specially fitted shoes he can't walk. So I'm with you -- I never demand that people remove their shoes. It's unreasonable to demand that someone bring a clean pair, too. Orthotic shoes are very expensive, and a person may have only one pair.

Another reason No Shoes should not be strictly enforced: people with diabetes have to protect their feet. Minor injuries can become infected and lead to gangrene.

Since I do not have any health problems affecting my feet, I will gladly remove my shoes at someone else's home. But please, No Shoes People, make it easy for guests to comply. Give them somewhere to store their shoes, and give them a place to sit down while they remove their shoes or put them back on.

Rayma - If there was someone who had a serious condition (like part of a foot missing), I'd probably make exceptions - I'd probably ask the person to wipe their shoes very well before entering since the general rule has been no shoes. But someone doesn't want to take off their shoes because it ruins their outfit? That is where I'd ask the person either not to return (if I didn't know them well) or to be a big girl and deal since anyone who comes to my home knows I say no shoes (this would be for a person I know).

I wonder what the No Shoes people do when someone arrives in a wheelchair, on crutches, or with a walker.

"I pick my friends, and my friends aren't the sort who allow guests to be embarrassed for the sake of their floors. After all, what's the point of having guests over if you don't allow for some burden on yourself?"

Exactly, trish. All this "my house, my rules" stuff is not hospitality.

I'm sick of this thread - so many self entitled people who think they should just be allowed to do whatever at other people's homes. I was raised much better than that and would slapped silly if I had told any host that I wanted to keep my shoes on when I was younger. The person was generous enough of themselves to invite you over - don't freaking go if you can't follow their rules. It's like going to my fiance's dad's house and pitching a fit because he refuses to let us stay in the same bedroom - I won't stay over again, but I wasn't going to start something right there over it. We're all adults and should be acting mature enough to realize not every single person has time in their day to clean up after you.

There are always exceptions made if someone is injured or has a problem with their feet (like missing it or part of it) everywhere. I have had a broken foot once and hell I hated wearing shoes during that time - so if someone had asked me to take them off, they would have been my new best friend in sorts. I personally think if someone refuses to take off their shoes (especially if they are dirty) and creates a mess on someone else's floor they should either a) clean it themselves or b) offer to pay for it be cleaned professionally. In that situation, you were the one who had been whiny and immature - so you should reap the consequence, not the generous host who could have not invited your sorry self.

This discussion is absolutely wild to me.

I recently had a conversation with a Canadian recently imported to the US, who was horrified about the shoe thing. I grew up in Michigan where people often remove snow boots in the foyer, because... they're covered in snow. But no one ever *asked* me to remove my shoes, and when snow was not involved I was never aware of any convention that suggested most people would, or should, leave shoes at the door.

I now live in an apartment with light-colored carpeting and generally remove my own shoes in the foyer, but my own sense of hospitality and politeness would be seriously violated by demanding that my guests conform to my custom. When I invite someone to my home, I want them to be comfortable -- that means I serve them what *they* like, not what *I* like, we do things we *both* like, and if I spot the rug later, what's the big deal?

no shoes! imagine the crap your shoes pick up! you walk through a public bathroom with god knows what on the floor, dog poop, vomit, spit, chemicals, all of the lovely substances that grace our city streets.. only to track that crap through your home? into your bed and bath? no thank you! our shoes never see the inside of our home- they're off and in their cabinet the moment we walk in. we remove our socks and spray our feet and cuffs with rubbing alcohol in a spray bottle. we, like marce, have a basket of cheap ikea slippers at the door if a guest is uncomfortable with barefeet. we are not afraid to ask our friends to spray their feet or wear the slippers. we have a seriously immunocompromised (and beloved) pet, and we don't want him getting into any of the nasties the world has to offer. we promptly hang our belongings out of reach, wash our hands, and change into our "home" clothes. we don't so much as sit in our outdoor clothes. and yes, i know how this all sounds, but this is how we roll and anyone who is invited over is warned of this procedure. if they can't do it, we meet them somewhere else. my home. my kitty. my real friends know this.