Is it good etiquette to remove your shoes?
by 3 people |
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When you enter a house, do you remove your shoes?
But, on the other hand, your bare feet may harbour germs or fungus, or just plain smell awful! Do you feel embarrassed if you have to inflict your smelly feet on your hosts?
Slobbing around in socks can look really grungy and undressed. Surely, it's not attractive to attend someone's cocktail party or a formal dinner in your socks?
Ladies' evening shoes, in particular, are meant to be worn as part of an outfit. They are attractive shoes, designed for indoor wear, not walking in the dirt. Leaving expensive, elegant footwear at the door is bound to make most women wonder why they bothered dressing up.
Image by Samira Khan
Cool shoes deserve showing off
Your shoes are a part of how you present your personality and identity. You choose your shoes when you buy them, and you choose which pair you will wear on a certain day and to a certain function. Removing them when you get there strips you of part of your presentation package.Image by Ali Williams
Do your slobbing around in your own home, not mine
I walk around my house barefoot, or in socks, and if a friend comes over to hang out, I have no problem with them taking their shoes off if that is more comfortable for them. But I don't expect them to remove their shoes for the benefit of my polished wooden floors.Likewise, if I visit friends I might feel like vegging out and removing my shoes, or I might be wearing shoes or boots that take too long to do up again, and I'd prefer to keep them on.
But it's a different story if my accountant comes to my home, or a real estate agent, for example. I don't want to do business with their feet. Shoes are part of business attire and it is unprofessional to remove them.
Image by Richard Masoner
Shoes or no shoes?
The gloves (I mean shoes) are off!
Do you always remove your shoes before entering a house?
Fetching blurbs now... please stand byAbsolutely! It is proper etiquette to remove your shoes.
catherine and Francisco says:
On more formal occasions such as if I am having a party or someone is over for dinner I don't ask people to remove their shoes. However, under other circumstances I do ask people to take off their shoes when entering my home. I even ask service people to remove their shoes. They normally refuse and say their company's contract prohibits that for insurance reasons. But I still always ask.
Posted March 18, 2009
Lina Surianto says:
Yes
Posted November 05, 2008
Lindsey says:
The polite thing to do is take your shoes off in someone elses home. My house shoes are left on the porch and most people automatically take their shoes off when they see the shoe pile. Whenever I visit someone elses house I take my shoes off if their are the obvious clues like shoes by the door or they answer the door in socks. If either of these occur I just slip my shoes off and walk in. If it is hard to tell what the household custom is I simply ask "Do you want me to take my shoes off?" If they say you dont have to I always reply. "I only ask because it is a rule at my house that shoes are off at the door."
Posted August 22, 2008
Amanda says:
It is proper to remove your shoes when entering someone's house...no matter the condition of the floors. If you are in doubt, it doesn't hurt to ask the homeowner before entering or take a look at the entrance...are there several pairs by the door?...take the hint.
Posted August 17, 2008
Eddie says:
Yes, it is a matter of cleanliness. Think of how often you wash your feet compared to how often you clean your shoes. As a general rule I take off my shoes if the floors are cleaner than the bottom of my shoes. Unfortunately I've visited places where it would be better to leave your shoes on and not get your socks/feet dirty.
Posted August 17, 2008
Amanda says:
I always take my shoes off before entering anyones home. I really wish that everyone took off their shoes that way their would be no awkward moments when I ask people to take off their shoes at my door.
Posted July 16, 2008
MCPHERSON says:
please take off your shoe to enter the house thank you MCPHERSON FAMILY
Posted July 06, 2008
spirituality says:
I prefer walking around without shoes (or socks for that matter). I would really prefer it if the proper etiquette WERE to remove your shoes, even in the West - why is it proper to walk the dust of the street into my carpet?
But if you are going to ask me to take off my shoes, please provide a chair or bench or something for me to sit on while I take them off :)
Posted June 16, 2008
No way! If I wanted to take my shoes off I wouldn't have worn them in the first place!
daoine says:
I always walk around barefoot in summer, so I have no issues at that time of the year. But in winter I have really cold feet. If you want me to remove my shoes inside your house in the middle of winter, you'd better have underfloor heating. Or be prepared to turn your thermostat up to at least 25C.
Posted August 17, 2008
bygproductions says:
I agree with Victoria_neely. At home I go barefoot, but prefer to keep my shoes on when visiting, unless it's a close friends house, or I know my socks don't have holes.
Posted July 31, 2008
Victoria_Neely says:
It depends, but I prefer to keep mine on unless someone orders me to take them off. I do it, since it's their house and their rules, but I'm always unhappy about it.
Posted June 16, 2008
Really nasty foot diseases
You don't want these feet walking around your home!
Add a link that makes the case for keeping the shoes firmly on.
California Podiatric Medical Association - Fungal Nails
Fungal infection of toenails is a common foot heal more...0 points
California Podiatric Medical Association - Athlete's Foot
Athlete's foot is a skin disease caused by a fungu more...0 points
California Podiatric Medical Association - Warts
Warts are one of several soft tissue conditions of more...0 points
Are the germs on your shoes worse than the germs on your feet?
Life as Mom » Mahalo for removing your slippahs
We have a strict no-shoes in our house policy. I h more...0 points
What secrets does your sole bear?
In a recent study, researchers at the University o more...0 points
Germs? We need 'em!
New Jersey Mom's Blog: Germs on your shoes
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The ultimate in etiquette
Kindly remove your shoes...
Post links if you agree with this etiquette of removing your shoes.
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Shoes off!
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On a more serious note...
Some people don't own a pair of shoes
Whether or not you remove your shoes before entering someone's home is a moot point in some places in the world. But innovation abounds... These are shoes made out of flattened water bottles and string.You can help innovative people like this by visiting Acumen Fund or Kiva.
Image by Kate Andrews
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