Wearing Shoes Inside - The Fuck?

[ClockworkPenguin]

I was always taught that its polite to remove your shoes. Some people are about it stricter than others, specifically anyone with an expensive carpet tend to be very strict. Personally, I tend to wear slippers indoors 'cos they're warmer and comfier than shoes anyway.

 

[Hero in a half shell]

I always wear my shoes inside, it's more comfortable, warmer, and you don't break your toes every time you hit them off something or drop something on your foot, and you don't get wet socks if you walk over a wet spot in the kitchen or something, you don't need to change in and out every time you enter and leave the house, and you don't end up with a pile of discarded shoes at your front and back doors.

There are practical reasons for wearing shoes inside, and I much prefer it.

Now... socks in bed...

 

[Karoshi]

Huh? I guess that's mostly an American thing. In Europe most people take off their shoes inside. In Russia keeping your shoes on inside is an absolute no-go.

 

[gazumped]

If you properly shower and exchange socks every day/other day, you won't have smelly feet.
Well, most people won't. There are always exceptions.

It does really depend on the person, some people are simply smellier/sweatier than others. And especially in warm weather.
And this is the reason I prefer to keep my shoes on in other people's houses, paranoia about smelly feet. If they have a no-shoe rule (which less common than common in my experience, in London, UK) then of course I'll respect it, though.

Also, DM boots or Converses take forever to take off, so there's that.

And some people don't clean their floors enough and I'm more worried about the health of my feet than the health of their floor. This was the case when I lived with my mum, she had athlete's foot and would always walk around with bare feet. So I pretty much always kept my shoes on if I wasn't in my bedroom.

 

[TheColdHeart]

I hardly ever wear shoes inside. Most of the time I don't even wear socks. First thing I do when I get home from work is take my shoes and socks off, feels refreshing to let them get some air. The rest of my family wear shoes inside, my brother puts them on even if he isn't going to leave the house.

 

[Scarim Coral]

I pretty much take my shoes off in my parent house most of the time. The only time I would keep wearing them is either I'm heading back out soon or maybe there is some king of spillage (altought I would get my slipper or sandal out). Not sure if this is a facter but my parent mostly have carpet instead of wooden floors.

 

[Realitycrash]

If you properly shower and exchange socks every day/other day, you won't have smelly feet.
Well, most people won't. There are always exceptions.

Also, DM boots or Converses take forever to take off, so there's that.

They do. It's a pain. Still, what's another minute? If you can't bother, then you shouldn't wear them (And yes, I own and wear both).

 

[omega 616]

I used to have a friend who's family made me take my boots off ... I used to wear army boots with 24 eyelets, it took me about a minute to take each one off, then another minute to put 'em back on!

Since then I vowed to never enter a house where they make me take off my foot wear.

On another note. After I moved out of the homeless shelter, they have a person who comes to make sure you're keeping the place clean, paying bills ETC. During 6 months of this period a college student was working with her.

Anyway, after I got my carpet fitted they come round to check up on me. I let them in, then walked off into my living room, they took there time to come in and I wondered what was taking so long, when they come in I realize they took there shoes off.

I just laughed at there over politeness, especially since I was wearing big work boots.

I think when you go into somebodies house and get your shoes off, it conveys a "making yourself at home" or overly familiar impression. I think it's like meeting somebody for the first time and hugging them, it's bit forward.

If somebody asks me to take them off I think it's quite bossy, after all you have a hoover and even vacuum's that wash your carpet at the same time ... not to mention no matter what you do, your carpet will get dirty.

 

[EscapeGoat_v1legacy]

That's just sort of odd. I mean, come on, shoes for outdoors, slippers/socks/bare feet for indoors. That's the way it's always been in the houses I've lived in, always made sense to me. Also I always thought it was more polite to remove your shoes indoors. No sense treading dirt into the house, onto the carpets, no wait what are you doing clean that up right now!

 

[DugMachine]

My shoes are comfy as hell and I forget they're on most of the time. It's no big deal.

 

[Eclipse Dragon]

We have hardwood floors and a husky that sheds A LOT.
We can't keep our floors clean at the rate this dog sheds.

I wear shoes indoors,
have you ever had a piece of dog hair stuck in your foot?
It's like stepping on a shard of glass.

Although I don't wear sneakers,
I wear flip-flops that I can take off or throw on easily,
so I guess that counts as part of the slippers camp.

 

[Rawberry101]

In the US it's not a big deal. You can go with or without. I personally find taking off my shoes more comfortable but. I've only been to one or two houses where they really make it an issue if you have your shoes on. I guess this is one of the few things most Americans don't have an opinion about.

 

[Xan Krieger]

I'm wearing my shoes inside right now. If they're on they're staying on till I have a reason to take them off. If they're off they're off till I have a reason to put them on.

 

[sextus the crazy]

So, my question is; Is this really common-place in the US, and why? How do you feel about it?

wait, people do that. unless you're just there for a really short amount of time (like to pick something up), you're supposed to unless otherwise stated. I guess it depends on the household.

 

[TehCookie]

Everyone I know who wears shoes indoors has an indoor pair and an outdoor pair, so the indoor pair is clean. Though I hate wearing socks so I can't understand how someone finds socks and shoes comfortable, but other people do.

 

[Zykon TheLich_v1legacy]

I've never really known anyone to take their shoes off inside unless they are muddy or otherwise covered in dirt although that may well just be the company I keep. Besides, there are all kinds of hard and sharp objects to tread on or stub your toe against inside.

 

[Thedutchjelle]

I keep my shoes on inside usually. Only when I'm nt planning to move out again for the entire day do I take them off.

No one here at my household does their shoes of out of habit.. only if they're really muddy.

 

[KiloFox]

it's kinda a social stigma here to not have shoes on outside of your own home (with the exception of course being beaches and swimming pools) it's just a general uncomfortable feeling. and taking off your shoes indicates you're going to be staying for a long time. (typically into the night) also the whole foot odour thing.

there are some people that don't like to wear shoes though, and generally won't unless it's required of them. i'm one of them. unfortunately it IS required to have shoes on going into public buildings, so i don't get the chance often.
i've only been wearing socks around the house because it's cold as BALLS in the morning and we don't have a heater.

 

[spartan231490]

Where I'm at in the US, wearing shoes inside is almost universal, it really isn't that dirty. As for what I think about it, I like it. It keeps my feet warmer and it protects you against the hazards of legos and the like. It's also really annoying to take your shoes off every time you enter a home, and putting them on constantly is even more of a hassle. Also, unless you have a mud room or something like that, it's a real hassle to find someplace to put the shoes.

 

[DanielBrown]

The only time I wear shoes inside is when I'm about to leave and remember I've forgotten something. Can't be arsed to take them off during that short time. I feel bad while doing it though and try to touch the floor as little as possible.

I'm Swedish, as well as the OP, so I don't understand it either.
Gaze at our clean floors!