Do you take your shoes off

[chri'stina 190]

So nobody wears socks?

I'm almost always wearing socks at home. But I'd rather not wear socks sometimes. I have to keep them on mostly because of my ankle problems.

[Fandango 1,439]

do you not know that the oils in someone's feet have more chance of mucking up your carpet than a pair of shoes?

I seriously doubt that.

Don't. It's true. You have over 2000 pores in your foot. I'm not saying someone will ruin carpet the first time they walk on it, but prolonged walking on carpet will have an oil transfer over time.

[Cristy 4]

do you not know that the oils in someone's feet have more chance of mucking up your carpet than a pair of shoes?

I seriously doubt that.

Don't. It's true. You have over 2000 pores in your foot. I'm not saying someone will ruin carpet the first time they walk on it, but prolonged walking on carpet will have an oil transfer over time.

We never wore shoes on carpets. Socks or bare feet. My parents rug lasted forever. Casey and his family always wear shoes, his carpet is a mess. We just ripped it out to get laminate floors. I would rather have a foot than a dirty shoe on my carpet.

[Elizabethnhenry 0]

I am the USC and no shoes in the house! I was not born here so maybe that explains it. When I first came to the US and watched TV I was so grossed out by people in their shoes and putting their feet on the couch and then people with shoes in the bedroom!!! OH MY GOSH!!!! NASTY!!!!

Anywho, my mom said that was just TV. But as I made American friends I saw that they wore shoes in the house and went upstairs with shoes. Not all Americans I know, but most. My Japanese and Korean friends have no shoes in the house rules as well.

do you not know that the oils in someone's feet have more chance of mucking up your carpet than a pair of shoes?

I seriously doubt that.

Don't. It's true. You have over 2000 pores in your foot. I'm not saying someone will ruin carpet the first time they walk on it, but prolonged walking on carpet will have an oil transfer over time.

I don't mind oils mucking it up - I slather coconut oil all over my legs when I get out the shower, so that's a given. What I mind on my carpet or floors are germs and dog poo from outside (recently happened when an electrician came to my house. Even though I have hardwood floors downstairs, I was so pissed...and grossed out!)

So nobody wears socks?

I'm almost always wearing socks at home. But I'd rather not wear socks sometimes. I have to keep them on mostly because of my ankle problems.

Henry and I have lots of house slippers. They are really cheap in Chinatown in NY.

[Arazia 0]

In my own home, I almost always take my shoes off when I come in unless I'm about to go out again somewhere else or plan on doing work in the basement or the garage. I don't expect other people to take their shoes off, but they can if they like and there's a tiled area in the front of the house to do so.

When in other people's homes, I usually follow whatever the person who invited me does. If they take their shoes off, so do I. If they don't, then I don't automatically. There are some people who don't want guests to take their shoes off, and others who -demand- it. So it's easier on a case by case basis.

[Sister Fracas 5]

In my home, I barely get in the door and my shoes are off, but that's all about comfort. At someone else's home, I'd keep my shoes on mainly because I don't know if they'd want them taken off, unless they were a mess or if they request that I take them off...which I have no problem with. I've had friends request it because of cultural upbringing AND light carpets. Hey, it's their home, they can request whatever they want and as a guest I should respect that. I'd hope if they had a problem WITH me having my shoes on, they'd just ask for them to be removed. Whatever they want me to do...fine by me. As far as someone coming to my home and taking their shoes off...it's fine with me. By the time someone walks through my aprtment lobby, in the elevator, and through the hall to my apartment, their shoes will probably be dry if they were wet. If someone has that dirty of feet that I'm worried about them messing up my carpet...they probably aren't going to be invited to my home anyway.

[AnaAndDaniel 0]

shoes stay on. floors get dirty. do what you have to do to clean em. simple concept.

of course you are heavily tracking mud/snow/whatever then it is natural to take off upon entering the house. most ppl nowadays walk on sidewalks etc. not sure why ppl buy "white-ish" carpet if they get all freaked out about it getting dirty.

besides, who wants to see my holy socks anyways.

Daniel

:energetic:

[KarenCee 3]

I wasn't accustomed to taking my shoes off, but my husband is. When we are at his parent's or grandparent's homes we take them off. Here at home we take them off. It's comfortable without shoes, for one thing. Another, you can keep the dirt and crud at a minimum by doing this. For me, an asthmatic, the more crud and dirt left outside is better.

For us, it's not a cultural or any other kind of thing...just personal preference. If I come to your home and you prefer we keep our shoes on, then we would do so. At our house, I won't tell you to take your shoes off but I would hope you would have respect for my asthamtic condition to do it.

[Texanadian 10]

Bizarre topic.

Look at the cultures who are the most clean oriented. The Japanese and the East Indians. No shoes. One of my east indian friends has had carpet for 15 years that still looks brand spanking new. They'd probably beat you up if you tried to walk in their home with shoes on.

The only time I ever see people tell you not to take off your shoes is if they have multiple large dogs (crummy carpet) or are in the process of some sort of home renovation (painting, new carpeting etc)

My guess on the US culture of not taking off shoes is probably due to the weather. In Canada when it's winter, I wear slippers. Spring fall just socks. Summer bare feet. In the southern US it's humid, so people are probably more tempted to hide their sweaty feet by wearing shoes all the time. I've noticed that people who wear shoes all the time seem to have more foot fungus problems than people who don't (and have that extra time to air out and dry)

To me, shoes are dirty. They always have been. You can walk around your house in socks all day and your socks will be clean. You can walk outside and down the street to the maibox and back. If you wore shoes, you take them off when you get home and "ta da" your socks are still clean. If you'd walked to the mailbox in your socks, they would be dark black. Am I the only one seeing the mathematical equation here?

I have hardwood and carpet at home. I want the hardwood to NOT be scratched up from people wearing shoes on it. Also don't want to have to try and get the grit that's been pressed in by shoes in the carpet out.

TAKE YOUR SHOES OFF!

At home showings, they usually have those cotten booties that go over your shoes or else you take them off.

[~*Maria*~ 1]

If my shoes were caked in mud then of course i would take my shoes off other than that my feet get cold very quickly and if i didnt have slippers then no i wouldnt take em off

I wasn't accustomed to taking my shoes off, but my husband is. When we are at his parent's or grandparent's homes we take them off. Here at home we take them off. It's comfortable without shoes, for one thing. Another, you can keep the dirt and crud at a minimum by doing this. For me, an asthmatic, the more crud and dirt left outside is better.

For us, it's not a cultural or any other kind of thing...just personal preference. If I come to your home and you prefer we keep our shoes on, then we would do so. At our house, I won't tell you to take your shoes off but I would hope you would have respect for my asthamtic condition to do it.

I too have asthma and ive yet to find a common link between keepin my shoes on and havin an asthma attack, i'm ten times more likely to have one if my windows arent open whether it be spring/summer/autumn and winter..more so winter..my windows are open 365 days of the year, only thing ive noticed that triggers it is fog (for ppl in U.S and canada thats mist lol). I like my rooms aired 24/7 anyways, but when its foggy outside i tend to stay put indoors, fog is the main trigger that sets an attack off for me.

If i went into someone else's home then yes i would definately take off my shoes, its common curtousity after all, if my shoes are clean especially when am in my own house then i tend to keep them on coz no doubt at some point i'll need to put them back on again

[Marc and Olga 0]

My exgirlfriend was the first person I ever knew that took her shoes off in the house! I thought this odd being raise in the US Midwest, I never knew anyone that thought or wanted shoes off inside. BTW, she was from the UK originally.

When my ex explained it though it made perfect sense!

In Russia, almost every place you go, shoes off! Ok, not the restaurants or nightclub but when we were shopping for a wedding dress for her...the entry area, shoes were fine, the entry to the changing/fitting area had a rug for you to remove your shoes!

In the house, shoes off! She even bought me some slippers to wear during my visit!

I know at this time, I am having a hard time keeping up on the cleaning! When Olga arrives we will be requiring shoes off, I have the rugs to place near the door already!

[KarenCee 3]

If my shoes were caked in mud then of course i would take my shoes off other than that my feet get cold very quickly and if i didnt have slippers then no i wouldnt take em off

I wasn't accustomed to taking my shoes off, but my husband is. When we are at his parent's or grandparent's homes we take them off. Here at home we take them off. It's comfortable without shoes, for one thing. Another, you can keep the dirt and crud at a minimum by doing this. For me, an asthmatic, the more crud and dirt left outside is better.

For us, it's not a cultural or any other kind of thing...just personal preference. If I come to your home and you prefer we keep our shoes on, then we would do so. At our house, I won't tell you to take your shoes off but I would hope you would have respect for my asthamtic condition to do it.

I too have asthma and ive yet to find a common link between keepin my shoes on and havin an asthma attack, i'm ten times more likely to have one if my windows arent open whether it be spring/summer/autumn and winter..more so winter..my windows are open 365 days of the year, only thing ive noticed that triggers it is fog (for ppl in U.S and canada thats mist lol). I like my rooms aired 24/7 anyways, but when its foggy outside i tend to stay put indoors, fog is the main trigger that sets an attack off for me.

If i went into someone else's home then yes i would definately take off my shoes, its common curtousity after all, if my shoes are clean especially when am in my own house then i tend to keep them on coz no doubt at some point i'll need to put them back on again

Then maybe I should let you talk to the two specialists I've seen. This is only part of the information I've received from them regarding my asthma. Plus, you have to realize that not everyone's asthma is the same as someone else's. Mine just landed me in the hospital for a frickin week! For me, it IS an issue.

[Kez/JWolf 6]

I have struggled with asthma all my life and I have never heard of having to take off my shoes to prevent an attack..... if it works for you then that is good.... I would not dream of taking my shoes off in anyones home unless the asked me to on arrival....

In my home I would only ask someone to remove their shoes if they were very dirty with mud or snow... A good mat at the door is all that is needed and of course Vacum cleaners were invented to help keep things clean...

I can gaurentee that if you keep your windows open 24/7 there is more dirt coming in through them than would be on the avarage persons shoes...

Kezzie

[Cristy 4]

My kids have asthma, we all have allergies. We just ripped out all the rungs here. The filth underneath from people walking in with shoes was unbelievable. There was so much dirt and dust it is no wonder we were having breathing problems.

Since they have been out the kids have been breathing way easier.

[hockeygal 0]

this is too funny!

So everytime I go to the US and ask if I should take my shoes off, people are thinking I am some crazy comfort freak? Shoe removal at the door is considered a polite offer here in Canada. Everyone I know goes to take their shoess off, unless the host says "no don't bother" and then you can do what you want.

Like I posted in the Canada thread though, if I am invited to a party or a dinner and I dress up and they want me to take my shoes off, I get annoyed. How stupid is it to be in stockings and no shoes?

And don't get me started on the women who remove their shoes at weddings and things like that...

I hate that. And they leave little sweaty footprints on the dancefloor too.