Wearing shoes in the house?

[JillA 2]

I definately think people should take their shoes off, but it doesn't drive me crazy either. Then again, it's not like we know anyone here, so people aren't tramping through the door every day.

Question for those who don't normally take their shoes off. There is always that thing where someone (in this case Jill) says that Canadians are used to taking off their footwear because of the snow/wet etc.

America is also, generally, covered in snow all winter - so what do you do in that case, do you come in from the snow with your shoes or boots still on?

It's safe to say most of Canada is covered in snow all winter, not most of America! I'd say there are more states that don't get snow than ones that do. Even here in Philly, it's the northeast yet rarely snows here. Maybe twice per winter there is a "storm" but it's like an inch of snow

[trailmix 77]

Ok then, some

Let me reprase - for those of you that live where it snows, in the U.S. - do you take your shoes or boots off when it is snowing (when you go inside someones house lol)?

Edited June 20, 2009 by trailmix

[Krikit 1,165]

I grew up with the no-shoes rule. The only exception was when you were hosting or going to a house party and people were all dressed up..... the shoes were kept on. Oh, and if it's the visitor's first time at your house, you don't say anything about the shoes coming off in order not to embarrass them. In my family, we just bring our slippers to each other's houses. Unless it's summer.

There are homes which I have been in, here (the US), where they don't have the no-shoes rule. For the first few times I would take off my shoes. But I found that, because no one else did, the floors were filthy. There is one house, in particular, where I no longer take off my shoes.... unless I have my slippers with me. Eww. It just grosses me out BIG time.

While on my way to the computer this morning, I looked down at the light-coloured carpet and sighed because it's time to shampoo again. It's soooo much work. But it has to be done every few months to keep them clean.

For the most part, my husband has learned to remove his shoes before he steps on the carpet. If he's on the tile I don't care..... that's easier to clean.

The last time my inlaws stayed with us, I noticed they did not remove their shoes, and their son (my husband) followed suit. (I had just shampooed the carpets. ) After we had come in out of the rain and I saw what they were doing to the carpets, I made a comment to my husband. Either the MIL heard, or my husband told her, but all of a sudden the shoes were gone and the slippers were on. Later that day, or maybe the next day, my MIL said to me "I notice you always remove your shoes in the house. Even at my house. Is that a cultural thing in Canada?" I said, yes, as well as in England. We were brought up to show that it was a sign of respect at being in someone else's home, as well as consideration for their property.

I do understand we were all brought up differently, so I don't get too bent out of shape about it. Except when I have to shampoo.

[reeses16 8]

We live in an apartment, and every time my landlord comes over she raves about our carpet and how clean it is. Maybe its the no-shoe rule, but we don't do anything special; we vacuum and clean up spills immediately. I wonder what the other carpets in the building look like, lol.

[Krikit 1,165]

Just had to email my dog walker the other day and ask him politely to take his shoes off while in the house. He tracks dirt and grass in and I guess didn't see a problem with it. Most people here wear their shoes in my house and it's a huge pet peeve of mine.

Can I just mention that everyone I know who has a dog (or pet-sits a dog) in Canada wipes their feet with a towel -- if they come in out of a wet or snowy day -- before they're allowed into the house?

[minnew 4]

It drives me bonkers that my fiance will not take off his shoes! He also grew up where it was not customary to take them off! I have got him to at least take off his sneakers at the door, sometimes it not until after he has brought in the grocery bags he will take them off. (and tracked the carpet and floor)

But his work boots! Ugh! He walks around the house in them until I finally say take them off! He will get on the phone after coming home and pace around the house! He can't sit still while talking! His work boots, well the tops of them are usually shiny, but the bottoms...yuck.... grease, dirt and jet fuel! Gross!! I don't want that tracked around the apartment!

I feel weird not taking off my shoes, even though his parents walk around with their shoes on, they say oh don't worry about it! I just can't bring myself not to take them off, unless I need to run in the house and get something really quick!

[Flames9_RN 358]

I always wash my dogs feet as well! She knows that if her feet are wet, sh e sits and raises her paws (1 at a time) to be cleaned,lol Of course, she is the smartest dog in the universe,lol

[reeses16 8]

Just had to email my dog walker the other day and ask him politely to take his shoes off while in the house. He tracks dirt and grass in and I guess didn't see a problem with it. Most people here wear their shoes in my house and it's a huge pet peeve of mine.

Can I just mention that everyone I know who has a dog (or pet-sits a dog) in Canada wipes their feet with a towel -- if they come in out of a wet or snowy day -- before they're allowed into the house?

We trained our dog to do that too. One time my grandma was visiting and she let him back in the house, and she was like, "why is he just standing by the door?" I told her he was waiting for someone to wipe his feet. She laughed really hard. My dog just passed way last week, if we ever get another dog he would definitely be an outside dog.

[Krikit 1,165]

We trained our dog to do that too. One time my grandma was visiting and she let him back in the house, and she was like, "why is he just standing by the door?" I told her he was waiting for someone to wipe his feet. She laughed really hard. My dog just passed way last week, if we ever get another dog he would definitely be an outside dog.

[Marilyn. 340]

growing up we would wear shoes in the house.. of course if they were muddy and dirty we had to take them off at the door...

shoes in the house is not a big deal to me...

[Flames9_RN 358]

growing up we would wear shoes in the house.. of course if they were muddy and dirty we had to take them off at the door...

shoes in the house is not a big deal to me...

Marilyn, your now banished to the "Off Topic" forum!! lol

[MrsCat 6]

In Canada, we always took off our shoes.

Here the standard is to keep your shoes on, unless one of these are posted outside.

[Krikit 1,165]

Marilyn, your now banished to the "Off Topic" forum!! lol

[trinket 30]

I never knew its a custom in Canada to keep shoes outside. Makes me happy It's the same in India and I had warn my husband from the start that once I come to US, he can't enter the house wearing his work shoes. It wasn't much of a issue for him, he takes his shoes off at the stairs before entering the house.

I do wear slippers in our apartment though, and those slippers never get out of the apartment. It was the same back in India too, you have shoes and sandals for outside and for inside you have your own slippers.

We hardly ever have any guests, so I haven't really had the issue of asking others to keep their shoes off, but I never know what to do when I go to someone elses house, by habit I take my shoe off at the door step, but sometimes they think its amusing how I take my shoes off.

[Ontarkie 14,507]

Shoes on in the house still drive me crazy i'm about to stop ppl at the door and bluntly tell them to take the dang shoes off or go home. I'm so close to doing that its not funny. I have 3 signs on my door and one sign in the house by my shoe rack with all our shoes on.

Most ppl like my inlaws are pretty good at taking them off in the kitchen just not at the door. But hubby's Aunt and Uncle will totaly ignore every hint I give em to take their filthy shoes off. I don't think I will be so nice anymore. I now need to get a carpet cleaner to do my new carpets. The dang ####### thats on ppl shoes is crazy.

I think the worse part is they were told that we hubby bought this house he wanted to have ppl take their shoes off, new carpets and how I was he figured he would start right away. I think its plain rude not to take your shoes off. With us its not that they don't know how we feel its they dont care cause they think they are better then us type of attitude.

Danielle