Taking off shoes before entering a house

manju

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I wonder how widespread this practice is around the world.

I know in Japan, it is common, even expected to take off your shoes before entering a home. The reason should be obvious: Walking around all day, you may unknowingly pick up dirt or dog poo so the keep the inside of your or anybody else's home clean, you would take off your shoes at the entrance before entering.

What other countries is taking off your shoes before entering the house the norm?
 

mistabobdobalina

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I wonder how widespread this practice is around the world.

I know in Japan, it is common, even expected to take off your shoes before entering a home. The reason should be obvious: Walking around all day, you may unknowingly pick up dirt or dog poo so the keep the inside of your or anybody else's home clean, you would take off your shoes at the entrance before entering.

What other countries is taking off your shoes before entering the house the norm?

It varies by household / upbringing here in the US. I take off my shoes when entering my own house or someone else's. I've noticed some people take theirs off when they enter mine, others don't.
 
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deleted300444

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For me it is not about culture than what it is about cleanliness.

Think about it:
We walk through filthy Walmart parking lots, greece, oil, chewing gum, piss on public bathrooms, mud, dirt and rocks....need I say more.

Why bring all that past the front door abd wipe it on my carpets, etc.
 

prism

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yeah, i'd also say it depends on the household. in Europe, you'll find both too.
 

nudeyorker

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Also a custom in Hawaii likely due to the Japanese influence to the local culture... Customs and etiquette in Hawaii - *Most locals take their shoes off before entering a home. A shoe rack on the porch or footwear left outside a doorway of a residence indicate that shoes should be removed*

Some even have a sign on the door that says "Please Remove Shoes"
 

manju

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Also a custom in Hawaii likely due to the Japanese influence to the local culture... Customs and etiquette in Hawaii - *Most locals take their shoes off before entering a home. A shoe rack on the porch or footwear left outside a doorway of a residence indicate that shoes should be removed*

Some even have a sign on the door that says "Please Remove Shoes"

I wonder if this the standard practice of Korean, Chinese, Filipino households as well.

I was surprised when visiting 2 of my German friends homes in Berlin that they took off their shoes as well.
 

nudeyorker

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I wonder if this the standard practice of Korean, Chinese, Filipino households as well.

I was surprised when visiting 2 of my German friends homes in Berlin that they took off their shoes as well.

It's pretty standard in most every household in Hawaii, it's very common to see a pile of rubber slippers (flip flops) near the front doorway. I had German friends when I lived in the Caribbean and they did take their shoes off too... but removing shoes was very common in that community as well.
 

hairynyc

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I think it's pretty common in Muslim households to remove your shoes when entering.

I always talk off my shoes when I come home because I live in a filthy city and it's more comfortable anyway. I also ask whenever I go to someone's house.
 

Calboner

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In some countries (I would add Russia to those already mentioned), it is the custom for guests to remove their shoes upon entering the house, and for hosts to make slippers available at the entrance for the use of visitors.

To do this in a country in which it is NOT the custom to do it, such as the USA, apart from special conditions such as having a muddy walk in front of the entrance to your residence, is in effect to tell your guests that you expect them to bear the burden of keeping your floor clean rather than to bear that burden yourself. To me this seems selfish.
 

MickeyLee

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always.

mostly cuz i prefer to be barefooted whenever possible.

going for the bonus points: i keep foot *hand* towels and a skin friendly refresher spritz by the door. cuz clean piggies is a happy piggies


*OCD is at war with my inner redneck*
 

CUBE

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Growing up I played with the kids of two households where you had to remove your shoes. I hated it. I did not find the bare feet of these people to ever look close to clean. The carpets were stained. To this day, I prefer people with shoes on in my house. Not a problem. Of course if it is raining and someones shoes get muddy that is a different story. However, I will also add that regardless of what is on your feet in the way of shoes, what drives me nuts are people that, while sitting, hold the bottom of their foot while their leg is crossed over the other. An awful man I work with does this constantly. I don't want to shake his hand or eat anything he makes. All I can think of is..."It all has touched your feet sir, it all has touched your feet".
 

erratic

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It's typical in Canada, except at cottages. I don't think I've ever been to someone's home where they told me to keep my shoes on, but at people's cottages they'll tell me not to bother.
 

1Cody

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I visited an apt of a friend in Germany, we removed our shoes. My sister has a large house and everyone seems to remove their shoes at the door. I have forgotten a time or two and no one reminded me or made a big deal of it. I do usually go around her house in socks. My own house, I will remove my shoes at the door because that is the first thing I do when I get home. I have seen a couple of friends follow suit and remove their shoes not because I require it, some even sit down first then remove their shoes. I have one friend that is OCD and don't even like his feet to touch the floor after he showers. Also if he were to drop anything on the floor it is immediately unclean and not to be used. This includes a perfectly clean bath towel still folded. I have visited homes where I am not particularly close to the people and they require shoes be removed, I visit from the porch and usually kept whatever I had to say or ask very brief. I don't know, it just seems that if you remove your shoes in someone's house, there is a sense of intimacy???
 
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185248

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I always take off my workboots before entering someones residence or if walking through, take them off at one door and put them on at the other. If it is a party or something like that then my shoes usually stay on, or ask the owner.... unless its a naked feet fetish party, theres always the shy guy that leaves his socks on.
 
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798686

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Nope, can't be bothered - unless they're muddy. :)

I would at Nudey's tho. ;)
 

Matt_x

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I keep my shoes very clean, I don't remove my shoes often; only when I'm relaxed and at home. Also the muddy shoes comment, will be an immediate action for removal; and any household like NudeY that have a sign, or whom ask me to remove them..
 
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nudeyorker

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I don't have a sign or a shoe rack; just an array of rubber slippers are usually at the door when guests come over. But it's not uncommon to see something like this...
 

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