Removing ones shoes before entering one's or another's home

c4cat

Some thing I picked up from living in the Far East Asia for a good part of my life. I was brought up to never walk into any home with ones outdoor footwear on; Its common practice to always remove outdoor footwear at the door. In my home in Ireland my family and I have carried on this practice and when I visit anybody elses home I still always remove my shoes before entering. Personally I think its just common sense not to bring in the sh!te from the outside world into ones home on their outdoor footwear and spread it all over the carpets. Here in Europe it seems its just not the done thing to remove ones shoes before entering ones or anothers home. Can anyone justify from a hygenic point of view why people expect to wonder into any home, ones own or another's home wearing outdoor footwear?

Jam-Fly

It takes too much time. Us Irish are a busy group and we can't we wasting time taking on and off our shoes.

KTRIC

I'm from Ireland and I've never been asked to remove my shoes in anyones home.

Where I live at the moment in Germany its common practice and considered polite to ask your host if they want you to remove your shoes.

Cookie_Monster

c4cat wrote: »

Can anyone justify from a hygenic point of view why people expect to wonder into any home, ones own or another's home wearing outdoor footwear?

Can you justiy why they shouldn't?

phasers

I'd prefer a bit of muck in the house than the smell of sweaty manky feet tbh

Fajitas!

I always do it going into my own home. I think I picked it up in Canada.

Pighead

Load of pants. Pigheads shoes are always immaculate. If Pighead were to take off his shoes whose to say that he wouldn't stand on a piece of dog or cat poo thus ruining his socks.

Courtesy is a two way street. If these people are so worried about Pigheads shoes they should cover the floor with cling film.

_blank_

A friend's mother makes people do this.

We call her Hyacinth

brummytom

I've been asked to in a few mates house, so we don't dirty the carpet or whatever (which is fair enough, we had to trek down country roads to get to one's house, the road was covered in snails so my trainers had snail juice on the bottom).

But yeah, if I'm asked, I do.
If I'm not asked, I don't because I don't wanna stink out their house

ejmaztec

In Ireland one's footwear would be stolen, and one would have to walk home barefoot, like they did in the old days.

c4cat

Cookie_Monster wrote: »

Can you justiy why they shouldn't?

Well the bit of dog sh!te you did not know was still on your shoes that you just trailed through the house

bluto63

I'd see it as rude to be asked to remove my shoes. You're just assuming I have **** all over my shoes

c4cat

bluto63 wrote: »

I'd see it as rude to be asked to remove my shoes. You're just assuming I have **** all over my shoes

To be honest you would def have some sort of dirt on your shoes

Ghost Train

One shouldn't have to think about such things

Traditionally in Asia you eat closer to the floor maybe, so from a hygenic point of view not much of an issue for us eating further up from the floor?

3hn2givr7mx1sc

Only if I'm asked, which has been once.
I usually just give them a wipe the mat outside the door if thereis one, and if there isn't fcuk 'em.

maddogcollins

It depends..Ill take mine off at home if it has been raining or i have been somewhere mucky..Ill leave them on otherwise.. Going to someone elses home i normally leave them on, again unless it has been raining or CARPET.. Ill always offer to take my shoes off if someone has carpet..timber floor or lino can wash off easily..

bluto63

c4cat wrote: »

To be honest you would def have some sort of dirt on your shoes

Buy a mat for your door. Most people wipe their feet before entering a home

c4cat

phasers wrote: »

I'd prefer a bit of muck in the house than the smell of sweaty manky feet tbh

Don't your friends wash their feet and change their socks every day then? In Asia thats what people do to avoid that problem

brummytom

To be honest I don't see what people's problem is.

The first thing I do when I come home is take off my shoes (nothing to do with dirt, most the rooms have wooden or tiled floors); it just makes me more comfortable.

If anything, being asked to take my shoes off is just like being told to make myself at home, feels more relaxed, less formal.... that doesnt make any sense does it?

c4cat

bluto63 wrote: »

Buy a mat for your door. Most people wipe their feet before entering a home

You think thats ok to wipe your feet on a dirty old mat thats been sitting there for months

bluto63

c4cat wrote: »

You think thats ok to wipe your feet on a dirty old mat thats been sitting there for months

As long as you don't bring any physical dirt into the house, then yes, I think that's fine. And if it really bothers you that much, wash your mat!

phasers

c4cat wrote: »

Don't your friends wash their feet and change their socks every day then? In Asia thats what people do to avoid that problem

I don't know, we don't discuss stuff like that

Lollipops23

i'd be really offended if someone asked me to remove my shoes!!people who ask are usually so ridiculously houseproud their home doesn't looked lived in.

RedXIV

Lollipops23 wrote: »

i'd be really offended if someone asked me to remove my shoes!!people who ask are usually so ridiculously houseproud their home doesn't looked lived in.

I think this could be closer to the truth than many will want to admit. I know plenty of people who wish their home to be absolutely spotless and flawless in appearance. But that wouldn't be "home" for me. I'd wear my shoes in and out of my house because it's convenient, not out of disrespect for the house. I think if you get worried about little things like this, you may not be able to relax fully?

I think it is common sense less dirt in = less cleaning, and after being battered in a few peoples homes in Europe for forgetting.
I wouldn't be offended.

I don't do it myself though because I'm filthy and sure your immune likes a challenge now and then.

ejmaztec

c4cat wrote: »

You think thats ok to wipe your feet on a dirty old ma thats been sitting there for months

Some people treat their oh like a doormat.:eek:

c4cat

bluto63 wrote: »

As long as you don't bring any physical dirt into the house, then yes, I think that's fine. And if it really bothers you that much, wash your mat!

So I would have to wash my mat after each person used it. cos after the first person used it the next person would be picking up the dirt left by the first person who could have wiped the dog sh!te from the soles of his shoes onto the mat in the first place. I am sorry but from an hygenic point of view your method does not compute

xOxSinéadxOx

Well to put it simply, if somebody walked into my house and took off their shoes at the door I'd be like wtf? and if I was going into somebody's house and they asked me to take off my shoes I'd be like wtf?

mad_physist

When you enter a house in Austria, you take off your shoes FULLSTOP Even a plumber or satelite repair man will remove his shoes when called to fix something. Actually its considered very impolite to leave ones shoes on!

WillieCocker

The only time i would ask someone to remove their footwear before entering my home would be when they are wearing Nike Air Max.
Can't be condoning any of that behaviour.

Ghost Train

does seem a bit controlling being asked to remove your shoes

should you feel you have to remove all your clothes is your host requests it :pac:

Dancor

In Soviet Russia shoes romove you.

mad_physist

mad_physist wrote: »

When you enter a house in Austria, you take off your shoes FULLSTOP Even a plumber or satelite repair man will remove his shoes when called to fix something. Actually its considered very impolite to leave ones shoes on!

And european men don't sprinkle or leave the toilet seat up.

bluto63

c4cat wrote: »

So I would have to wash my mat after each person used it. cos after the first person used it the next person would be picking up the dirt left by the first person who could have wiped the dog sh!te from the soles of his shoes onto the mat in the first place. I am sorry but from an hygenic point of view your method does not compute

Why are you lettin these people who run around in dog **** in your house?

-=Shamrock=-

c4cat wrote: »

Some thing I picked up from living in the Far East Asia for a good part of my life. I was brought up to never walk into any home with ones outdoor footwear on; Its common practice to always remove outdoor footwear at the door. In my home in Ireland my family and I have carried on this practice and when I visit anybody elses home I still always remove my shoes before entering. Personally I think its just common sense not to bring in the sh!te from the outside world into ones home on their outdoor footwear and spread it all over the carpets. Here in Europe it seems its just not the done thing to remove ones shoes before entering ones or anothers home. Can anyone justify from a hygenic point of view why people expect to wonder into any home, ones own or another's home wearing outdoor footwear?

In Holland people remove their shoes. Guests would however not be expected to remove their shoes.

c4cat

RedXIV wrote: »

I think this could be closer to the truth than many will want to admit. I know plenty of people who wish their home to be absolutely spotless and flawless in appearance. But that wouldn't be "home" for me. I'd wear my shoes in and out of my house because it's convenient, not out of disrespect for the house. I think if you get worried about little things like this, you may not be able to relax fully?

I do not think its a matter of being house proud, I have visited homes in Thailand which were no more then shacks with a tin roof, but the floors were spotless. For me its a matter of hygine. here in Ireland so many people spit, gob and piss on the pavements plus the dogs doing their dump too it does not make sense to me to walk into your house with outdoor foot wear on bringing in spit, gob and piss

c4cat

bluto63 wrote: »

Why are you lettin these people who run around in dog **** in your house?

I am not letting those people in, do you?

phasers

c4cat wrote: »

I do not think its a matter of being house proud, I have visited homes in Thailand which were no more then shacks with a tin roof, but the floors were spotless. For me its a matter of hygine. here in Ireland so many people spit, gob and piss on the pavements plus the dogs doing their dump too it does not make sense to me to walk into your house with outdoor foot wear on bringing in spit, gob and piss

Yes but we don't eat on the floor. If someone wanted to dance on my dining room table though I'd ask them to take their shoes off

c4cat

Ghost Train wrote: »

does seem a bit controlling being asked to remove your shoes

should you feel you have to remove all your clothes is your host requests it :pac:

Well if my host was a sugarbabe look alike, I would comply as resistance would be futile

RedXIV

c4cat wrote: »

I do not think its a matter of being house proud, I have visited homes in Thailand which were no more then shacks with a tin roof, but the floors were spotless. For me its a matter of hygine. here in Ireland so many people spit, gob and piss on the pavements plus the dogs doing their dump too it does not make sense to me to walk into your house with outdoor foot wear on bringing in spit, gob and piss

I'd point out that the only place that would be affected would be the floor of your house? and while wearing outdoor shoes, you will certainly not be overly affected by these things. You're floor is not just contaminated by things brought in by your feet. what about if you've pets? should they never be allowed in the house? Young children, who are inherently messy, should they be forbidden in case they mess up the floor? Your home should make you feel comfortable, and if you feel better taking your shoes off, then thats what you should do. But its not necessary to be done and nobody is obliged to do it. And frankly, in ireland, alot of places will think you're odd for requesting others to do so

c4cat

Moonbaby wrote: »

And european men don't sprinkle or leave the toilet seat up.

Now thats another topic altogether

c4cat

RedXIV wrote: »

I'd point out that the only place that would be affected would be the floor of your house? and while wearing outdoor shoes, you will certainly not be overly affected by these things. You're floor is not just contaminated by things brought in by your feet. what about if you've pets? should they never be allowed in the house? Young children, who are inherently messy, should they be forbidden in case they mess up the floor? Your home should make you feel comfortable, and if you feel better taking your shoes off, then thats what you should do. But its not necessary to be done and nobody is obliged to do it. And frankly, in ireland, alot of places will think you're odd for requesting others to do so

Well then I am odd, but my kids don't crawl in sh!te brought in from outside and think its chocolate

almostnever

I have friends like that. You can't wear shoes:
-in a room with a carpet.
-on wooden floors,you'll scrape them.
-on tiled surfaces(for some unknown reason.)
It's kind of funny because even if I'm not wearing pjs and am dressed,my parents will say "go get dressed" if I'm not wearing shoes.

RedXIV

c4cat wrote: »

Well then I am odd, but my kids don't crawl in sh!te brought in from outside and think its chocolate

if you think you're kids aren't bringing dirt into the house just by making them remove their shoes if they are out playing, you're a tad naive lass

SuperGrover

Me Irish, wife Asian.

We take off our shoes going into the gaff. Some visitors also do this 'cos they spot it or know the story.
Some don't but we would never ask them to. That's just rude.

Seems like a decent enough compromise to me.

walshb

I never came across it, but have heard of it here. Anyway, if a mat is provide, which it should be, I would always use it

c4cat

RedXIV wrote: »

if you think you're kids aren't bringing dirt into the house just by making them remove their shoes if they are out playing, you're a tad naive lass

My kids remove their shoes and go and wash their hands and change their clothes if they are dirty in that order when they come home. To me thats normal to you thats odd

Neamhshuntasach

almostnever wrote: »

I have friends like that. You can't wear shoes:
-in a room with a carpet.
-on wooden floors,you'll scrape them.
-on tiled surfaces(for some unknown reason.)
It's kind of funny because even if I'm not wearing pjs and am dressed,my parents will say "go get dressed" if I'm not wearing shoes.

I think you covered all floor surfaces there horse. Unless lino is still knocking around.

Long Onion

Take off one shoe, leave the other on.

ejmaztec

On the whole, people in the UK and Ireland are quite happy wallowing in our own sh1t, which is frowned upon by our more cultured European neighbours.

The closest I got to removing my shoes was when I was bought a pair of Doctor Who slippers from Aldi. I'm not going to wear them and look a dick when I have to answer the door.:eek:

RedXIV

c4cat wrote: »

My kids remove their shoes and go and wash their hands and change their clothes if they are dirty in that order when they come home. To me thats normal to you thats odd

you're right, to me that is a little odd. Can I ask you, do you think you're home is free from dirt then? do you believe you've eradicated all possibilities of dirt entering your home?