Shoes on or off in the house? What about guests? (work, new house)

[CallMeLaura]

What's the custom in your house and among your friends/family? Do you take your shoes off before entering the house or leave them on? Ask or require guests and visitors to do the same?

[Pintea]

We don't always take our shoes off. I would NEVER ask our guests to take their shoes off, I consider that to be impolite. I hope I don't offend anyone by saying this.

[Debsi]

I wear shoes almost all the time, podiatrist's orders. I have plantar fasciitis.
He says barefoot is bad, VERY bad. I wish I had asked him if he meant for everybody or just P.F. people.

I do have a certain pair I just wear inside my house though.

[khfar]

We never wear shoes in the house. We used to, but I got tired of my floors getting dirty so quickly. So a few years ago, we went to the "no shoes" rule.

If my kids have friends over, I ask that they take their shoes off at the door. But if we are having guests, I would never ask. Some people automatically just take them off, I've noticed.

[lpepping]

I am half korean so yes we take our shoes off. Visitors tend to notice that and follow suit.

[USA_Mom]

Well we used to have a no shoe rule; however, my mom has severe plantar fasciitis and when we had all tile for the wet areas I was starting to get symptoms. So now I have "house shoes" that don't go outside. Kids generally take their shoes off, not just my kids, but other people's kids so I think it must be a rule at their house too. I don't ask adult guests to take them off though.

[blueskies49]

I don't have a no-shoes rule but wish I had. It's too late now. Our carpet is a mess, I hate it. I've asked my hubby to at least remove his work boots at the door but he only remembers if they are very obviously dirty. My stepkids, too. My daughter had that rule when she and her husband moved into their brand new house about 4 years ago but they've since abandoned the idea. I think it's a great idea, personally. Makes for a cleaner living area.

[Macrina]

I went to visit my friends who had recently moved into a new home. Well it was not new, but was new-to-them.

They were very firm about my removing my shoes, which I did, and we had a very pleasant day & evening. I tried very hard to not feel insulted but really, I was. Didn't ruin the whole visit, but I kept having the niggling feeling that somehow my visit was an intrusion. Or something.

Of course I still love my friends, but a little something was altered in our relationship, or perhaps in my perception of them.

Just my experience.

[lpepping]

Yea it really is about your perception and/or traditions. If someone doesn't take their shoes off in most asian houses then its an insult.

[nativeDallasite]

Originally Posted by CallMeLaura

What's the custom in your house and among your friends/family? Do you take your shoes off before entering the house or leave them on? Ask or require guests and visitors to do the same?

I don't wear shoes in my house and I prefer guests to take theirs off but I don't go mental if they don't. They might have smelly feet and be embarrassed about it, for example.