Taking Your Shoes off at the Door

[taiwan_girl]

Super common in Asia, and I cannot imagine not taking my shoes off before entering a house.

https://www.cnn.com/2023/12/07/health/remove-shoes-germs-wellness/index.html

Is there significant evidence going shoeless stops the spread of germs in a home?

“Absolutely,” said Gabriel Filippelli, chancellor’s professor for the department of Earth sciences at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis and executive director of Indiana University’s Environmental Resilience Institute.

“We can track in all sorts of bacteria, but certainly some of the ones we’re most concerned about are E. coli that cause severe abdominal cramps, bloody diarrhea and vomiting,” he said. “There’s been studies that swab the bottom of shoes and something like 99% of the shoes test positive for fecal material.”

[George K]

Interesting custom. I've always been yes/no on this. I'll ask the homeowner if I should take my shoes off.

Living in a house with a parrot, two cats and grandkids a couple of times a week, it seems pointless.

But...I have hardwood floors, so cleaning is easy.

[jon-nyc]

I did not grow up in a house that did this yet by my mid twenties it seemed like second nature. It would seem weird not to do it.

[Renauda]

Always remove my shoes when I enter someone else’s home. It is considered very impolite not to remove your street footwear, unless the owner tells you otherwise.

[Jolly]

Nope, unless my boots are muddy.

[Renauda]

Then you can stand at the door and entertain the dog at my house.

[Copper]

I have been to a few homes with the restriction on shoes, but only a few. Maybe 2-3 %. Growing up in Boston, I’m sure the number was zero.

[Jolly]

@Renauda said in Taking Your Shoes off at the Door:

Then you can stand at the door and entertain the dog at my house.

Don't worry. If my shoes aren't clean enough for your temple, the rest of me ain't, either.

[Renauda]

@Jolly

Am sure your absence won’t be lamented let alone even noticed.

[Doctor Phibes]

We noticed the difference in etiquette when we moved to Canada - pretty much everybody took their shoes off. I'd never done it in the UK. Presumably it's because of the delightful winters.

[Renauda]

@Doctor-Phibes

Not uncommon to bring your own carpet slippers to wear inside when visiting someone’s home. In winter we offer guests washable knitted wool slippers to wear around the house.

[Jolly]

@Renauda said in Taking Your Shoes off at the Door:

@Jolly

Am sure your absence won’t be lamented let alone even noticed.

Yes, manners and hospitality suffer greatly north of the Mason-Dixon.

[jon-nyc]

Jolly - would you ask about shoes or boots inside when visiting other people’s houses or is that just not a thing down there.

[Horace]

I've acclimated to taking off footwear now. Due to the asian influence. The slippers at the door for visitors are comical though, with my feet. I just go with socks.

[Renauda]

@Jolly said in Taking Your Shoes off at the Door:

@Renauda said in Taking Your Shoes off at the Door:

@Jolly

Am sure your absence won’t be lamented let alone even noticed.

Yes, manners and hospitality suffer greatly north of the Mason-Dixon.

I can’t speak to manners and hospitality in northern US states but north of the 49th parallel taking your shoes off by the door you enter as a guest in someone else’s home shows good manners that are rewarded with an abundance of hospitality.

[xenon]

I’m Indian. Walking into someone’s house with your shoes on is unfathomable.

When I visited India for the first time , I learned there was much more further Indian foot etiquette I was unaware of.

But beyond all the rules, I could never feel truly comfortable wearing shoes indoors. It’d be kinda like walking around in a suit.

[jon-nyc]

@Horace said in Taking Your Shoes off at the Door:

I've acclimated to taking off footwear now. Due to the asian influence. The slippers at the door for visitors are comical though, with my feet. I just go with socks.

I’m guessing that’s code for “otherwise my wife would make me sleep in the car.”

[Jolly]

@jon-nyc said in Taking Your Shoes off at the Door:

Jolly - would you ask about shoes or boots inside when visiting other people’s houses or is that just not a thing down there.

Would never cross my mind. People who would do so in their homes with visitors would be thought to be snobs or eccentric.

The flip side of the coin is that one does not walk into somebody's home with muddy boots or filthy shoes.

[Renauda]

@Jolly

People who would do so in their homes with visitors would be thought to be snobs or eccentric.

I consider it an honour to be regarded of as either a snob or an eccentric, albeit a mildly sneering one.