Do you take off your shoes when you go indoors?

[stfoskey12]

This is basically my question: do you take off your shoes inside? Both at your own house and when visiting friends and family. For me, I always take off my shoes when I get home, as it feels more comfortable. When I'm visiting friends, we usually take off our shoes as well, and even at house parties I will leave my shoes inside by the door. However, when I'm visiting grandparents, I will typically leave my shoes on. Yet, when I was a kid, I would take my shoes off inside at their place. Similarly, when visiting with family friends, I will typically keep my shoes on. For reference, I currently live in Oklahoma and grew up in North Carolina.

I have heard that some cultures are stricter than others about when and where people wear shoes indoors, so I am curious what you do in your area.

 

[Gorbles]

Always considered the thing to do (to take them off). If only because two minutes outside in the UK and you'd be leaving mud tracks indoors like Bigfoot.

 

[PPQ_Purple]

Even if your feet are not that big?

 

[Gorbles]

Mud splatters.

 

[danjuno]

It's a matter of comfort, so if it's your own home or a friend's, sure. Otherwise you just wipe your shoes on the doormat, since that's what they're for.

 

[Gori the Grey]

Yes.

 

[Narz]

Yeah, England is muddy like 4/5 of the year so wearing outdoor shoes inside is pretty gross so it's pretty much necessary, but I've been doing it for most of my adult life. It's nice to keep your home sacred.

 

[lymond]

Yes, I take off my shoes always in muh crib. Hardwood floors. I wear comfy Adidas slipons inside. As for someone else’s pad it depends a great deal on their rules, how long I am staying, and what we are doing.

Also, I wash my hands thoroughly every time I come back home. (I am not OCD). Haven’t had a cold in about 15 years.

 

[Kyriakos]

I don't think it's correct for Greece. At least if they mean guests taking their shoes off (why would you keep your shoes on if you are in your own house? )

 

[Ajidica]

Unless I am quick dashing in for something or the floors are unfinished/super dirty, shoes go off. Anything else is barbaric!

 

[sophie]

yes and I'm gonna make you take yours off too if you come over

 

[The_J]

In my home, I always take them off. Don't want to drag in any dirt.
If I go to someone else, I just ask what they prefer.

For the map above, no clue if that is correct .

 

[Kyriakos]

In my home, I always take them off. Don't want to drag in any dirt.
If I go to someone else, I just ask what they prefer.

For the map above, no clue if that is correct .

You have never been to anyone else's house in Germany or the Netherlands?

 

[dusters]

According to Japanese customs, it's strictly flippers indoors or similar.

 

[The_J]

You have never been to anyone else's house in Germany or the Netherlands?

Often I'm faster with asking, and like 90% of my friends are from different places, and I really can't find a pattern lol.

 

[Kyriakos]

Often I'm faster with asking, and like 90% of my friends are from different places, and I really can't find a pattern lol.

For here, at least for our generation, the guest wouldn't typically take their shoes off - that is reserved for people who live in the house or are a couple etc

 

[Gorbles]

I'll be honest, if I'm in a different country for the first time I usually ask once, but so far I've taken them off every time.

Maybe the Greek islands are weird compared to the mainland. And I've been both to the Ionian and the Aegean

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

At home, if they're dirty. Away, if they require me to.

Usually, who cares? I got 3 cats.

 

[amadeus]

According to Japanese customs, it's strictly flippers indoors or similar.

Some businesses even have places to take shoes off. Here’s a fun fact: the first department store in Japan to allow you to keep your shoes on while shopping was Matsuzayaka in 1924.

Celebrating 100 years of shopping with your shoes on.

 

[Valka D'Ur]

According to Japanese customs, it's strictly flippers indoors or similar.

Flippers? Those are what some people wear when they go swimming and snorkeling.

For here, at least for our generation, the guest wouldn't typically take their shoes off - that is reserved for people who live in the house or are a couple etc

So residents and married/committed relationship guests take their shoes off, but unmarried/single guests leave their shoes on.


Here it's usually whatever the house rules are. I take my own shoes off and wear slippers around the apartment. If I leave the apartment, I put shoes on. Everyone else can leave their shoes on as long as they wipe their feet on the mat inside the door. Otherwise they'll get their socks full of cat hair.

I used to have a friend who insisted on going barefoot in my house (when I lived in a house). I finally told her to keep her shoes on, since that was when I did a lot of needlepoint and other sewing and it wasn't unlikely that I'd dropped a few pins and needles on the floor. I didn't want her stepping on them.