Do you remove your shoes when you enter a house? Why or why not?

[Highlander]

It's also custom here in the Czech Republic to remove your shoes when entering someone's house. Most homeowners have a box of spare indoor shoes or slippers for guests to change into.

If you are seen as an important guest or of higher social standing you will be told to leave your shoes on however, for example when we were viewing houses here the estate agent showing us round removed her shoes while it was insisted we kept ours on.

 

[redhen]

My family that lives IN the house take their shoes off at the door. Or I make them mop the floor for me..
As for other people that come into my home..no..I don't ever ask them to remove their shoes. I think its very rude and tacky to ask people to take their shoes off ..I figure if they WANTED to remove their shoes they would have already done so at the door..

 

[newfoundland]

I agree with Redhen it is very discourteous to ask people to remove their shoes, it implies that they have not wiped their feet on the doormat properly. Of course, I do not include societies where it is the general habit and custom to do this. As for worrying about germs on the floors complete waste of time. If floors are washed daily with hot soapy water they are sufficiently clean for small children to play on. I am assuming here that any obvious messes would be cleared up straight away. Trying to keep children in a sterile environment may be linked with the upsurge in allergies and asthma.

 

[jak2002003]

I will always ask people to take off their shoes entering the house.
I live in Thailand and it is a mandatory tradition to remove shoes before entering houses or religious building and also some small shops.

Also when entering a house or other building we don't stop on the threshold, this is very bad if you do, its to do with the spirits in our homes and stepping on the threshold would offend them and bring bad luck and misfortune to the occupants of the house.

Not to remove your shoes would be a sign of disrespect to your host.

In Thai Buddhism, a person’s feet occupy the lowest realm of a person’s existence. The head is the highest, and feet are the lowest. That’s why in Thailand it is also a major gaff to show the bottoms of one’s feet when sitting, or to (and this is really a bad one) point with your foot at someone or even at something.

I am form the UK, but have lived here many years, and I could never imagine wearing shoes in the house now, even living back in Europe. Think about it. The bottom of our shoes are on all the dirty streets and ground, then when I see people wearing shoes in the house, putting their feet om the rugs, sofas, and beds, that is just disgusting.

In Europe most people have carpets and they are even harder to keep clean. At least tiles or wooden floors can be swept and mopped clean.

 

[Cold Canadian]

Liveing in the country leaves little doubt as to where the shoes / boots stay .We have our slippers etc that are to be worn inside and inside only ,outside shoes regardless of what they are stay at the door or mud room ,no one walks in with shoes on ever !.

 

[thaiturkey]

I will always ask people to take off their shoes entering the house.
I live in Thailand and it is a mandatory tradition to remove shoes before entering houses or religious building and also some small shops.

Also when entering a house or other building we don't stop on the threshold, this is very bad if you do, its to do with the spirits in our homes and stepping on the threshold would offend them and bring bad luck and misfortune to the occupants of the house.

Not to remove your shoes would be a sign of disrespect to your host.

In Thai Buddhism, a person’s feet occupy the lowest realm of a person’s existence. The head is the highest, and feet are the lowest. That’s why in Thailand it is also a major gaff to show the bottoms of one’s feet when sitting, or to (and this is really a bad one) point with your foot at someone or even at something.

I am form the UK, but have lived here many years, and I could never imagine wearing shoes in the house now, even living back in Europe. Think about it. The bottom of our shoes are on all the dirty streets and ground, then when I see people wearing shoes in the house, putting their feet om the rugs, sofas, and beds, that is just disgusting.

In Europe most people have carpets and they are even harder to keep clean. At least tiles or wooden floors can be swept and mopped clean.

I think that Buddhist practice, like that of many old religions, introduces sensible practices as rules so that they are respected. Much the same as Jews and Muslims being taught not not eat pork because, in the days before fridges, pork would rot within hours of slaughter. I doubt whether Lord Buddha, a few thousand years ago, introduced the footwear rule. He was Hindu, in any case.

As I wrote earlier, I respect the rule in Thailand and go barefoot where it's expected so as to avoid offending the occupants. At home, I change to indoor shoes because, despite cleaning, floors always carry enough dust to make my feet filthy.

By the way, the offence given by showing the soles of your feet applies also to the soles of your shoes. It's also a Muslim taboo, I believe.

Thailand also has a custom to the effect that you don't touch people. Hence the wai rather than a handshake. That seems to be changing because many English speaking Thai men will show their knowledge of Western ways by offering their hand. You don't touch women and never touch someone on the head. I think the origin is in past hygiene considerations (before soap and such) and the sexual taboos still observed, despite what goes on in the tourist areas. Thai couples will not even hold hands in public.

Here's a Thai wai (pronounced 'why') for those who don't know what it is:

 

[Criskin]

As for worrying about germs on the floors complete waste of time. I think anyone with the most elementary grasp on biology would know that there are going to be germs on any floor, but I see nothing wrong with trying to limit the opportunities for bringing ickiness in the house. I've walked all over NYC and through several airports in my favorite pair of boots. I don't even want to know what I stepped on or in, but since they haven't been washed since, even the thought of wearing them indoors makes me cringe. If floors are washed daily with hot soapy water they are sufficiently clean for small children to play on. Who has time to wash their entire floor every day? I wish I did! I'm really jealous of people who do! I am assuming here that any obvious messes would be cleared up straight away. Trying to keep children in a sterile environment may be linked with the upsurge in allergies and asthma. I think a sterile enviornment is impossible outside a controlled lab, but one of the benefits of house pets (which I have) is that it has been suggested to combat allergies in children.