Taking off your shoes

[Azalea]

..in the house. Yes or no?

Being from a Turkish/muslim background, I find it strange to not take of your shoes in your house. God knows what you are carrying under those shoes. People/dogs pissing, spitting and what more outside. I really wouldn't want to take those germs inside. Yet, in many Western cultures, people rarely take out their shoes inside of their houses.

One of the few ''cultural shocks'' I experienced growing up in the Netherlands was not taking of your shoes in the house. I remember it very well. I was very little (3-4 years old?) and went to a Dutch friends house for a 'play date'. As soon as we were in their house I started taking of my shoes, the parents of my friend were like 'Ooh no, you don't have to do that'. I thought it was very strange and kept insisting on taking of my shoes. But they won eventually. I still remember how strange it was..walking in their house with my shoes on. I felt like I was doing something really naughty.

And even now, after having visited over dozens of Dutch houses of friends, I still find it weird to not take off my shoes in their houses.

[Slycooper]

I don't take off my shoes sometimes either. In fact as I write this I have my shoes on. But then reading what you wrote made me take them off lol.

[Azalea]

I don't take off my shoes sometimes either. In fact as I write this I have my shoes on. But then reading what you wrote made me take them off lol.

You can wear slippers and other 'inside shoes'. Why would you want to wear the shoes you wear outside? I never got that.

[Slycooper]

You can wear slippers and other 'inside shoes'. Why would you want to wear the shoes you wear outside? I never got that.

I don't know. Sometimes I just forget. Then I will be like oh I'm still wearing my shoes.

[Jackson]

Hmm in my house and the houses of most friends & family it is considered impolite to wear them in the house, except in the 'cloak-room' as you first enter. Usually we get in, wipe shoes on mat, take them off and either walk around in socks or put on slippers (light indoor shoes). Although if we need to keep going in and out (such as if we are doing DIY or something, then it would be pointless to keep taking off and putting on shoes every time, so we leave them on. But this is the exception.

I think it's pretty much for the same reasons as in your country - Who wants the dirty ground surface inside their own living rooms and bed-rooms? No thank you!

[Slycooper]

However when I am a quest in a house I almost always take them off unless they say otherwise.

[Smaug]

Here where I live (and in all the Western World I assume) we don't take off our shoes when we get home.

[Kalitas]

Nah, I love walking barefoot everywhere (especially on the grass ). I only wear shoes to walk down the street

[Damião de Góis]

I don't take my shoes off either. That would be considered strange here.

[rashka]

Inside the house we do not wear our shoes but slippers are worn. Guests can come in with their shoes on. I think it is impolite to ask them to take them off. What if they are embarassed with their foot odor or something? I wouldn't want sweaty feet on my rugs anyway.