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We don't offer anything, we just have a pile of shoes at the front. I don't know--our place has carpet, so no one has minded yet.

I would never allow someone into my house with shoes on. We have some slippers if someone feels uncomfortable, and foot booties for plumbers and cable guys.

If someone refused to take off their shoes off, I would allow it but I would steam mop the house and never invite them over again. It's a cultural thing... I understand that some people aren't comfortable with other people's cultures, but this one is a really big deal.

First off, I totally get that this is a cultural thing for some people and a cleanliness thing for other people.

Having said that, this is like a nightmare situation for me. I have the grossest, smelliest feet and they're often covered with cornstarch and other stuff that I put on them to keep them as inoffensive as possible. I am very self-conscious about this. When I have to take my shoes off at the doctor (or anywhere else) it's embarrassing and I leave little white footprints everywhere.

@Rachel: I can't speak to all of Asia, but in Japan the floors are often lined with tatami mats (made out of woven rice straw):
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tatami

Japanese are just much more intimate with our floors than many cultures. When we eat at home, we often sit on the ground at small tables that are close to the ground. When we sleep in our bedrooms, we sleep directly on the floor, on futon (bedding) that is put directly on top of the tatami mats. When you wake up, you fold and put the futon away so that the floor can be used during the day (Japanese apartments and houses are often small). The floor is just a very intimate part of the culture.

Tatami are very hard to clean, so you would never think to walk on them. It is literally unthinkable. That custom is still around, and it actually makes a lot of sense in modern life too. In New York for example, one of the major vectors for bedbug transmission is shoes of people who walk in lots of houses (cable guys, meter guys, etc.).

@mrbee: thanks!

@mrbee: I don't think it's really fair to say that someone is uncomfortable with other cultures because they don't like taking their shoes off. I would never refuse if someone asked me to take my shoes off in their home. It's their home and I would respect their request. I don't like it, but that's because I'm uncomfortable with my sweaty gross feet, not because I'm uncomfortable with their culture.

We're Korean and never wear our shoes inside. We haven't had a problem having guests over and asking them to take their shoes off..
Dont think anyones minded..

I didn't answer the question at all, I realized, because I don't ask people to take their shoes off in our house. The only time people usually do is when it is wet/snowy/slushy outside. If it is a close friend staying a while, I might offer them my slippers but otherwise nothing.

I never wear shoes in the house (we never did growing up), but I have a hard time convincing my husband to take his shoes off! So I just let it go with guests. Wish I could regulate more though! I clean our wood floors constantly.

I think I kindof set the lead, if someone is coming to my house with me, I open the door and stop right there and take off my shoes. I've never had someone not follow suite. I also keep a basket next to the door where shoes are supposed to go, so they see that and usually know if they come over by themselves. DH's dad NEVER takes his shoes off because he has tall lace-up work boots, but it drives me nuts. I give DH "the eye" and he asks his dad to remove them, because they're gross.

I don't think shoes in the house are gross, and I won't vacuum/mop if someone walks in with shoes on but I think it's more of a respect for someones home, to at least offer to remove them. I think it's friendly to remove them, it says "I'm here and i'm gonna snuggle up on your couch and chill a while". Shoes on inside is formal, and for quick visits. Make sense?

@Grace: I wonder if it's a Canadian thing? We never wear shoes in the house and I've never seen anyone else do it either. It would never occur to me to keep my shoes on!!

@mrbee: Gotcha! I was worried my first comment was being taken as culturally I sensitive and that definitely wasn't how I meant it!

I grew up with no shoes in the house but my husband did not. We have hardwood through about half of our main floor and I hate it when someone walks in with shoes and I can see their shoe prints. My husband is much better about not wearing shoes in the house bc he sees how much effort I make to sweep and mop the floors but his parents have been harder. I purchased slippers for them but I think that pissed them off and now they bring their own slippers when they come over. His sister takes off her heels but wears her uggs...it's not about damaging my floors...it's about keeping the floors clean especially with a baby in the house!

We have a small shoe rack by the front entry and a bench where people can sit and take their shoes on and off. I also have some slippers but now I am totally getting some of those shoe covers/booties that Mr. Bee mentioned.

None of our friends wear shoes in the home so we never have a problem with that! I've only ever met a few people who tell me to keep my shoes on when I come inside.

I've never understood when people say "my shoes are part of my outfit and I'm not taking them off, just like I'm not taking my jewelry off". To me, when I am the guest of someone at their home, I would abide by their rules and traditions. I expect the same of my visitors.

I grew up wearing shoes in the house because my dad absolutely refused to take his shoes off every time he walked in his own house since he comes and goes so much throughout the day. We were always taught to wipe your feet and that's that. I would never ask my guests to remove their shoes because I find it annoying and awkward. Who wants to sit and untie their shoes upon entering, especially if their hands are full? I want my guests to feel welcome and invited in my home and I guess to me a large part of that is dealing with the dirt they bring in.

When I go to someone else's house I try to glance at the door and see if I need to remove my shoes based on their being a pile and if they asked me to, I would remove them but I wouldn't enjoy doing so.

@mrbee: when we had our vents cleaned I had DH ask the guys to take their shoes off. We don't have booties, but I handed P some plastic grocery bags that the guys could wear on their feet. HAHA. They actually had booties though so they wore those.

I've never met anyone who refused to take their shoes off.. I think I'd be really shocked and offended if I asked someone to take them off and they refused! We always ask about shoes when we go over to someone's house for the first time. I always feel weird wearing my shoes inside..!

I'm Canadian so it's shoes off, and I expect the same from my guests, no matter what their upbringing, because it's my house. I offer slippers if someone looks cold.

It drives me crazy when I'm in Chile or the States and I have to wear shoes inside because I feel so rude! It's just so ingrained in our culture.

@sslm: @Grace the first time I heard of taking off your shoes in someone's house was with my friends from Canada. They told me they do it because they're used to wearing boots in the snow and you wouldn't track snow into someone's house. I know they're uncomfortable when they come to my house and I don't ask them to take their shoes off!

I don't mind if you wear your shoes in my house as long as they're not obviously dirty or wet. My FIL wears his damn wet shoes in my house and I want to shoot him.

If I wanted guests to take their shoes off, I would make a place for them and just ask. I wouldn't offer socks.