shoes in hallway

Overthinking Ordinary Things : Do you make visitors to your home remove their shoes?

The world is roughly divided into two types of people: those who require all visitors to their home to take their shoes off before being allowed to enter, a bit like Gandalf shouting, “YOU SHALL NOT PASS!” at the Balrog, and, well, normal people. Who would not dream of making such demands of guests.

I’ll let you guess which side I’m on in this one, shall I?

(CLUE: I have never in my life been mistaken for Gandalf. Never.)

shoes in hallway

From this, you will have (correctly) deduced that I’m very much on the side of the people who allow guests to remain fully clothed when they come to visit. I know this admission will have shocked and scandalised some of you, though, so let me just quickly list a few points in my defence here, before we go any further:

01.

I don’t wear shoes in my own home: not because I’m particularly worried about germs or whatever, but simply because it would be a bit like wearing your coat indoors, and I might be a bit weird about some things, but I’m not THAT weird, seriously.

02.

I DO remove my shoes when entering other people’s homes, if that’s their preference. Your house, your rules, and all that, and if you want me to go barefoot in it, I will not argue with you.

03.

I will really, really hate having to do this, though: partly because it just feels a bit awkward to me to be wandering around someone else’s house in my bare feet/stocking soles (Especially if it’s a party or something, and I’m otherwise dressed up for it…), but mostly because I’m incredibly self-conscious about my feet. They’re just… they’re not nice, let’s put it that way.

And yes, I know I could wear socks to cover them up, or whatever, but not all outfits work with socks, and if it’s the height of summer I’m probably not going to be wearing them… which leaves me squirming with embarrassment and trying to keep my feet awkwardly tucked underneath me, so people don’t have to be grossed out by them.

04.

Because of this, I never ask visitors to my house to remove their shoes either. I mean, they’re welcome to, if that’s their preference, but I don’t insist on it: I want people to feel comfortable, after all, and that’s more important to me than keeping the floor spotless, so shoes on, shoes off… it’s all the same to me, really.

I’m happy to report that so far no one has died because of this lapse in my house-keeping standards, and, because we don’t live in a field, or have packs of dogs roaming the neighbourhood, no one has ever managed to trail mud and/or dog poop across the floor, either.

(I mention this purely because every time I hear someone make an argument for removing shoes, it always seems to revolve around the assumption that if you don’t take your shoes off and then sterilize them the second you’re through the door, there will be no way to avoid tracking poop throughout your house, but, no, that’s never happened.

I guess there’s a possibility that microscopic particles of poop, which are too small to be visible to the naked eye, have been trodden into my floors without my knowledge, but we had a dog for 14 years, and, as there was no way to get him to remove his paws when he came in from outdoors, I’m pretty sure my floors have seen it ALL when it comes to minuscule particles of stuff. Thankfully, though, floors can be cleaned: which brings me neatly to my next point…)

05.

Because we have wood floors, which get cleaned most days anyway, it wouldn’t really be a huge deal even if someone DID track a bit of dirt in the house. I’d just clean it up once they’d gone, and that would be that. I totally get that I might feel differently about this if we had pristine white carpets or something, though, although I would also hope that, as the visitors to our house are generally self-aware enough to know when they’ve walked through mud, or are covered in dog poop, they’d come to the ‘shoes off’ conclusion themselves in those circumstances, without me having to ask.

06.

Yes, I am aware that in Japan/Canada/many other countries, removing shoes is very much a cultural norm, and no one gives it a second thought. As I said, I have no argument with the people who like shoes to be removed, and will always obey the rules of the home owner: I just feel happier when there aren’t any.

But enough about me: what about YOU? Are you a shoes on or shoes off house? What are your rules?

OTHER AWKWARD ISSUES:

Is it ever OK to ‘pop in’ on someone unannounced?

Do you still give people a tour of your home, years after you moved into it?

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COMMENTS
  • Leigh

    REPLY

    They are guests and can do as they please, but it does wind me up if they take them off and then abandon them somewhere that’s not for shoes! You wanna get comfy? Cool, put your shoes away….this mainly applies to people who live here though…and the fact I’m pretty clumsy ????

    January 13, 2020
  • Myra

    REPLY

    People often talk off their shoes when coming into my house, but I say don’t bother, the carpets are hardly pristine. With a dog running in and out of the garden quite a bit of mud is dragged in with it, and by my football loving grandson who plays with the dog. I don’t care. I will remove my shoes in other people’s houses if they ask me. No worries

    January 13, 2020
  • I didn’t encounter removing shoes until I moved to Minnesota. I will take shoes off for snow and rain, but after that it doesn’t matter to me. My husband is nuts about it. The worst, which you mentioned, is when you dress up and have to walk around in nylons. I now bring a separate pair of shoes when that happens. My philosophy has always been people are guests in my home. I do what they feel comfortable with.

    January 13, 2020
    • Valentiba

      REPLY

      On the Continent we always take our shoes of when we visit without being asked to do so .Exception are parties then you keep shoes on when visiting .Its to do with hygiene and not wanting to scrub/wash/floors after dirty shoe marks all over your floors .Worse if you have carpets on your floors , can you imagen the dirt and germs ?

      November 25, 2021
  • Arndis

    REPLY

    I always take mine off but have never paid much attention to weather people wear them or not at home. We have a dark grey carpet that gets hoovered most days anyway.

    January 13, 2020
  • Alice

    REPLY

    Bizarrely I never took my shoes off around the house I grew up in – but now I am a “shoe off” person. Perhaps I learned it when it started being me who had to go the cleaning?

    I never insist people take their shoes off but people usually offer. And I always take mine off.

    January 13, 2020
  • ArcticTringel

    REPLY

    Shoes are absolutely off in my house. It’s the cultural norm in my country, but even if it wasn’t, I can’t stand people bringing mud and snow on my house where my baby crawls and I don’t have the time to wash the floors all the time. Also I live in a country of very heavy winter boots.

    I feel you on the party side, though. I have inside party shoes for that, they fit in my handbag or my jacket pockets. In the summers in more casual circumstances, I have extra pair of socks in my handbag, that I put on, when I take my sandals off.

    But this is easy for me, because that’s how we do things. We are people who don’t take taxis to parties and didn’t own a car, and there are lots of us in our social circles, so changing your winter boots to party shoes on the party venue is expected.

    January 13, 2020
  • Brenda

    REPLY

    Canadian here! Its not the norm to keep shoes on when entering people’s houses so… but because of that, I do pack a pair of socks to throw on in the summer if I am going to someones house so I don’t have to wander around barefoot (or subject them to my ugly feet). There’s just too much dirt and muck around to do otherwise. Interestingly, it is the same in Hawaii as well. They require shoes off!

    January 13, 2020
  • Ginger

    REPLY

    I don’t have a rule. People can take their shoes off if they wish but I’m hardly going to to insist that they do either. They are guests in my house and I want them to be comfortable. I’m not going to make them do something they were not already planning to do. Besides, houses get messy when people come over. If I want the floors to stay pristine, I better not be serving any food or drink, either.

    Thankfully I have not yet been to someone’s house where I’ve been forced to take my shoes off. My toes get cold very easily, and unless it’s summer AND they don’t air-condition very much (a rare combination), I’m going to be pretty uncomfortable.

    January 13, 2020
      • Ginger

        REPLY

        I’ve wondered the same about Raynaud’s! Sometimes my fingernails turn a pretty blue-lavender, yikes. I’m in Texas so chillblains have never happened (yet) but, um, I won’t tell you what I keep the heat at in winter and I’m still wandering around in 2-3 layers on my feet at all times. Going barefoot at someone else’s house would be pure misery!

        January 13, 2020
  • Jana

    REPLY

    Here in southern California we are good with whatever our hostess wants. Our Korean friends always take their shoes off. I don’t unless everyone else is. We have concrete floors that are stained to look like marble. They stay warm if we should get cold weather and cool in our endless summer and they are enormously practical. Just a wet mop takes care of things.
    However we’re moving to the Cascade mountains in Northern California where it rains and snows all winter and there’s much more garden. There it’s boots off in the mud room and slippers around the house!

    January 13, 2020
  • Haha, so glad someone is addressing this DEEPLY controversial subject. I am kind of like you, I take off my shoes at home, but don’t force guests to do the same. However, since we keep all our shoes lined up close to the door, the guests do see them upon their arrival, and about 95% of the guests assume it’s a no-shoe household.
    The other 5% is mostly my mum or some Spanish friends of mine, since in Spain no one would DREAM of asking a guest to partly undress.

    Thoroughly enjoyed the read!
    xxx
    Isabel
    https://isabelstories.com/

    January 13, 2020
  • jodie filogomo

    REPLY

    I wonder if part of it is how we grew up? I always grew up wearing my shoes inside the house oh, well at least most of the time. Sure sometimes I go around in my slippers and socks but I’ve never thought about taking shoes off. I have had some friends who requested it but I also think if you do that you should provide some slippers for the guests because floors are cold and feet get cold.
    Xoxo
    Jodie
    http://www.jtouchofstyle.com

    January 13, 2020
  • D

    REPLY

    I always keep my shoes on and prefer if people coming over keep theirs on too. I’m actually paranoid about toe germs, cooties or foot fungus being tracked in to my home! I’d rather have outdoor “clean dirt” than someone’s funky foot gunk!????????????????????

    January 13, 2020
  • Hana Mond

    REPLY

    I am clearly team “Keep your shoes on”!
    I am German, and here, too, it’s common to take the shoes off in many households (even if the people have cats and dogs, which I really don’t get).

    I was not usual in my parents’ home and so it is not in mine now. Carpets are noch very modern currently, so the floor is cold and slippery in socks. Some people have guest slippers, but I find wearing shoes that every guest wears kind of gross.
    And really – what is the matter with a little dust on my shoes? I don’t walk through mud oder dog poop on the streets (if I do, I WILL take my shoes off), I clean my shoes on the doormat, and a little dust will also come in if you open your window.
    I also keep my house shoes on when I bring the litter out at home – that also will bring a little dirt in, but so what? Floors can be cleaned and nobody eats from the floor … so let it be a little bit dirty in the time between cleanings!

    January 13, 2020
  • Nicola

    REPLY

    So, here’s the thing. I would love to have everyone remove their shoes when they come to my house, but at the same time, I have such a strong hatred for feet that I can’t cope with those either ???? I have floated the idea of ‘guest slippers’ which people laugh at as if I’m joking …?

    January 13, 2020
      • haha, we actually have guest slippers! Only if a guest wants to wear them. They usually wear them over their socks though..but we also throw the guest slippers in the wash every so often!

        January 14, 2020
  • Jenna

    REPLY

    So, here’s the thing, I’ve had quite a few bad experiences when I’ve had to take my shoes off at people’s homes. I loathe taking my shoes off for these reasons:

    I spent time in another country when I was in college (where removing your shoes was the cultural norm), I ended up catching a very painful type of foot wart that required a long round of medications and other medical procedures to have them removed (I’ll avoid the details). The doctor specifically told me to never go barefoot again in a home or public place.

    I’ve also been in a “Sex and the City” situation where someone took my shoes at a party (they weren’t Manolo’s). I was out of town for a wedding and lost the shoes I was planning on wearing to the ceremony-and it was the night before the wedding.

    I have been at homes (on more than one occasion) where the dog had an accident inside and been very close to stepping in it. Once, a parent was even working on potty-training their toddler and another guest walked through the kid’s pee in the living room.

    For all these reasons, I tend now to bring hard-soled slippers in my bag when I go to people’s homes and wear my “less nice” shoes so I don’t ever have another pair get swiped.

    January 13, 2020
  • May

    REPLY

    Unless it’s the dead of winter and run the risk of freezing my toes off, I don’t wear shoes at home. When I have visitors, I let them do whatever they wish. When I go to someone’s home and I’m close enough with them I remove my shoes.
    I just really love the barefoot life

    January 14, 2020
  • Here in Germany everyone takes their shoes off when they go into someone’s house! It took me awhile to get used to coming from Ireland but now I prefer it that way.

    January 14, 2020
  • Melissa

    REPLY

    In our house, I don’t ask people to remove their shoes, but my husband does…. If someone comes in and says, ‘shall I take my shoes off?’ I’ll respond with ‘nah, it’s fine’ and my H will say ‘if you don’t mind’. To be completely fair to H…. he does most of the vacuuming (although maybe that means Eufy needs an opinion too). Anyway, guests have been left very confused in the past as we simultaneously give different answers. I’m with you – I don’t want people to feel awkward. My main issue with removing my shoes is my feet turn into icebergs… and how well do you need to know someone before you can turn up clutching your sheepskin slippers…?

    January 14, 2020
  • ReaderRita

    REPLY

    The barefoot thing creeps me out. You wear flip flops at public pools and in gym shower stalls- what makes us think that just because it’s not soaking wet that people can’t pass on athlete’s foot or some other type of fungus by walking on your floor? UGH. I’d rather a bit of outside dirt than a disease.

    Plus, how embarrassing would that be for a guest who might have a foot disease when a host is asking them to remove their shoes? That would be so awful for them!

    January 14, 2020
      • Hannah

        REPLY

        We only ever have people around who we know really well and they know we prefer to have shoes off. Just like we know who prefers shoes on or shoes off (although I can only think of one person with a shoes on household), as we are close we have no issues taking socks or slippers over to someone’s house and they do the same. My sister, siblings in laws etc have all been known to borrow a pair of clean socks if they’ve got cold feet or would rather wear socks than bare feet. Rarely go to peoples houses that I dont know well and would feel embarrassed about slippers in front of…is that the norm? I would feel more awkward spending time at someone’s house I didn’t know well than having my sister expect me to take shoes off when shes just bought a brand new carpet!

        January 14, 2020
  • Emerald

    REPLY

    Yes, I definitely prefer it if people do. I always get straight into my slippers or flip-flops and my partner has his inside shoes. House socks are provided for guests who are staying a day or so – and yes, I buy a new pair for each guest and they’re not expected to share.

    January 14, 2020
  • Nita Schmid

    REPLY

    I think a lot of it has to do with the climate you’re in, as well as culture. Like, in the Caribbean, I would usually remove my shoes if I’m by friends or family (exception being if it’s some kind of house party or more formal get-together, in which case everybody takes their shoes off). At home I’d go barefoot, and friends would usually take their shoes off too. Now that I’m in Germany they also have the shoes-off rule inside the house, but they would usually wear house shoes. Once I get home, I would usually either go in my socks or wear my house shoes (like, warm fuzzy slipper-type things). I think most people take their shoes off here too, actually, but maybe not, because it’s cold and who wants to be walking around with cold feet? i guess it really depends on the circumstance and preference… I also know some people who’ve bought a set of house shoes in some different sizes and have them there for guests to wear. That could be a nice in-between!

    January 16, 2020
  • Corinne

    REPLY

    I’m stupidly short, like midget territory, and most houses are built for real people so I’m generally wondering around home in some kind of heeled boots in order to reach things like the sink or cooker properly!

    January 16, 2020
  • I also hate my feet and always carry some socks in my handbag if I’m visiting a person home in the summer so I can switch my shoes for socks if I have to. My friends notice that I’m always wearing socks (even if it’s 100 + degrees!) that I’m always being gifted socks 😀 If I’m alone, barefoot all day.

    As for my home, no rules! Shoes, no shoes, I really couldn’t care less. (Though my husband would prefer if my one sister kept her shoes on, she has stinky feet, lols)

    January 18, 2020
  • sandra

    REPLY

    I’m a Canadian, lived in Canada all my life. Where did you get the idea that Canadians force guests to remove their shoes at the door? That concept is as weird to me as it is to you, and for all the same reasons you stated.

    January 20, 2020
  • Jessica

    REPLY

    The worst is when you’re wearing skinny jeans without socks, and you’re asked to take off your shoes. Whenever I go barefoot in skinny jeans, my feet look gigantic while my pants look suffocatingly tight. It’s just so incongruous. I once went to a Christmas party wearing a blazer, tucked button-down, and skinny jeans. I made the mistake of wearing flats without socks. I ended up awkwardly padding around in my bare feet on the cold hardwood floor, while dressed in a blazer and skinnies. To make matters worse, I was the only person at the party not wearing socks. I felt so exposed. Another time, I had to go barefoot at a coworker’s house. They had a puppy who kept trying to lick my feet! It was cute, but embarrassing. So I spent the whole time kneeling in a chair, which was extremely uncomfortable in my jeans.

    July 15, 2022
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