Taking off shoes when going into the house?

[garric]

Recently I was visiting someone and I was suggested by a coworker to take off my shoes as to be polite, as everyone else was doing so. This kind of irked me since I was wearing combat boots and it took me a couple of minutes to unlace them so I could take them off.

This got me thinking, is it polite to ask your guests to take off their shoes?

I'd say no, for the problems they create. Hosts should welcome their guests no matter what they are. Also, there is the problem of walking around a person's house in your socks or bare feet, which is also awkward.

 

[Perfection]

It's common courtesy, especially if they have carpeting.

 

[CaptainF]

I always do so, unless they say I don't need to.

Primarily because I wouldn't want to get doggy poo or gum on their nice carpet.

 

[vbraun]

I certinaly don't want combat boots on my floor. I think the whole reason for this is so you don't dirty up someone's floor. They have no clue where your shoes have been and chances are you don't clean your shoes very often.

And..

Why are you wearing combat boots to someone's house? Expecting some action?

 

[Masquerouge]

It does not strike me as odd or not polite to ask guests to remove their shoes. And I don't find walking in socks ore bare feet awkward.
"oh no, they're gonna see my toes!"

 

[Godwynn]

Depends if they have carpet or tile flooring.

 

[skadistic]

If you where to wear your dirty shoes in MY house and complain about MY rules in MY house you will be escorted out. I have nice rugs in MY house and since it was MY hard earned $$$ that paid for MY rugs in MY house its up to ME as to weather or not you wear shoes in MY house that I paid for with MY $$ and is covered in MY rugs.

Get the point? Its rude to not be polite as a quest and follow the house rules.

 

[Sophie 378]

It depends on your shoes, their floors, their expectations/habits and your expectations/habits. For example, someone refusing to remove dirty slip-ons when visiting a house with a new, white carpet, where the hosts have always gone barefoot, I think that would be fairer to remove the shoes.

EDIT However, in public shoes are generally expected, so it can be slightly embarrassing to remove them if you're not expecting it. It can also be inconvinient. Say if you had socks with holes, or athelete's foot, or shoes that take a while to remove.

 

[tomsnowman123]

I always take off my shoes, don't want to get somebody's floor dirty or wet. It's common coutesy to me.

 

[Perfection]

I know the real truth:

Spoiler If you can handle it :

Garric just don't want to be embarrased by the copious amounts of holes in his socks.

 

[nihilistic]

Depending on whether your hosts have their shoes on.

 

[Evil Tyrant]

I hardly ever take my shoes off. But my family does know people with really nice white carpeting that must be a pain to clean, and it is a rule in their house to take off your shoes before walking on it. So we take our shoes off. As for politeness, it is their home, guests should obey the rules of their host, or go elsewhere.

 

[El_Machinae]

Most places I know don't have shoes inside. Some houses are designed to wear shoes inside, but they are certainly a minority.

If you're truely inconvenienced, you may ask to keep your shoes on, but have to be very sensitive to the owner's non-verbal signals.

 

[North King]

Yes, absolutely. Have you ever seen what goes on the average city street?

 

[Mr. Dictator]

ummm......combat boots should be taken off inside.

they tend to get dirtier than most shoes. but if i have on something like my chucks i usually ask the person and if they're fine with it i keep em on. but i check the bottoms first.

 

[blackheart]

Why were you wearing combat boots to begin with?

 

[garric]

EDIT However, in public shoes are generally expected, so it can be slightly embarrassing to remove them if you're not expecting it. It can also be inconvinient. Say if you had socks with holes, or athelete's foot, or shoes that take a while to remove.

Exactly;

Not that I have holes in my socks or athletes foot, but it's a real pain for me to unlace my shoes, it can be awkward for people watching me and/or waiting for me to go. Not to mention people who have smelly feet or holes in their socks, etc.

 

[Perfection]

Exactly;

Not that I have holes in my socks or athletes foot, but it's a real pain for me to unlace my shoes, it can be awkward for people watching me and/or waiting for me to go. Not to mention people who have smelly feet or holes in their socks, etc.

Make sure you take care of your feet! Your feet are what move you around all day, so treat them well!

I just wear sandals all the time so my feet never stink.

 

[nivi]

I always take off my shoes when i enter a home, walking with shoes in a house is just weird to me.

 

[Leatherneck]

I live in the country and have a farm, so yes shoes off ... that is unless you need to fertilize the floors ... I only have stone or hardwood floors not carpet for me.