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It won't be as good as comparing your lover to a sporting event, but it something I have wondered about and was reminded of when I visited a new blog I am reading called My Friend Said I Should. ( I wish my friends would listen when I say they should start blogging...hint, hint.) She was recently on a holiday to the States and noticed that while they have plenty of toilet seat covers, no one takes off their shoes in the house. The post itself is very funny, go read it. I'll wait.
Back? Wasn't that worth leaving me for? Oh, it made me laugh. I'm assuming that none of my American readers are easily offended, otherwise maybe you won't find it as funny as I did.
So here's my poll question...do you take your shoes off when you come into the house. Now, you can't just answer the poll and leave, you must leave a comment saying where you are from.
And hopefully in a week I will be able to answer the question everyone is now going to be asking:
"Are Canadians the only people who take their shoes off at the door?"
18 January, 2008
Because everyone loves a poll...
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40 comments:
That is funny!
I never realized Canadians took their footwear off at the door. I know that all of my Asian friends remove their shoes at the door (sometimes outside the door- brrr).
We never removed our shoes when I was growing up - too damn cold Inside for that. We don't take our shoes off when we enter our house, but I do have my carpets professionally cleaned a few times a year. I never take my shoes off in a hotel because I am convinced the floor is dirtier than my shoes. Of course, I take my one disinfectant for the hotel toilet seat too!
I'm from England and I always take my shoes off.
I didn't know Canadians take their shoes off either. But let me speak about this subject as an American....I would love to have a shoe-free house as it would keep the carpet much nicer but it is kind of awkward to have to ask guests who come over to take their shoes off since it isn't custom. I guess if I want clean carpet I'm gonna have to move to Canada....or somewhere in Asia.
you know i love a good hard stiff poll...
yes, shoes off @ the door thankyouverymuch. thats the way we roll in OHIO.
Yes I always take my shoes off at the door and yes I am canadian..
but.. Living in the UK (england) Most of the people I have ever met do not take off their shoes at the door.. but I still always do not matter how much they insist that I just leave them on.. lol
I don't take mine off right at the door, but ususally go straight to the bedroom and take mine off so I chose no, so as not to skew your results.
Oh, and I am from Tennessee!
And also? I thought that post was hilarious!
Everyone I know takes their shoes off in the house, and I live deep in the States...so there goes your friend's theory.
As a child we took our shoes off in the porch (not sure my mum did). In this house everyone except me takes their shoes off as soon as they are in the door. My excuse is that my feet get cold (really I'm too lazy) but I always make sure that they are clean.
Last week Ben walked around the house in his shoes (for the first time in ages) he was so excited about something he forgot to take them off and guess what? He had dog pooh all over them...my floors got a good wash that day!
Yes I take them straight off at the door but my husband doesn't it drives me crazy and he thinks I'm obsessed
with germs!
We're both English and grew up in the same town so I guess maybe it's the individual not the nationality
Rebecca your memory is not too good then because I always took my shoes off and still do. It's other people who don't always bother in this house~ despite my nagging!
Emma sorry about the family debate. Outdoor shoes come off and indoor shoes/slippers go on (we are UK as you know).
I had to post about this I linked to you hope that is okay!
I'm from Texas. We do and we don't remove shoes when we enter a house. It depends on the house;). And it depends on the shoes. e.g. workboots -outside. dress shoes - inside (but usually removed once inside);). It's the same here in England - that I've noticed. People are really considerate (usually, though I've got a neighbour who - argh - never removes her muddy boots when visiting me) about mucking up one's floors here.
How's that for an answer?
People in Arab countries, Persia, China, Japan, Asia Minor (India, etc) all remove their shoes when entering a house. In the Middle East they usually have a place where you will see loads of shoes near the front door, or entry hall....
chrisb- when I visit you - I'll remember to take my shoes off! Yes maám! lol
Also in Texas, but no, we don't take our shoes off. My husband changes from his work boots to inside shoes but only AFTER he walks through the house. Of course I was raised in California so that might explain EVERYTHING!
No - we don't take our shoes off, but I wish we did. I think the floors would stay cleaner, but of course - since I have two black labs, it really doesn't matter because they track in just as much as shoes do.
however, I do have friends that require shoe removal - so the trend may be catching on here? Oregon
atlanta, ga
the shoes of our family or anyone else do not enter this house. I practically overtake visitors at the door to remove them. We put a bench just inside so that it is easier for people to remove their shoes, but it is a hard and fast rule. The only exception is Drama-- because he isn't big enough to take off his shoes, so I sometimes put him down if my hands are full before removing his shoes. the other exception is my grandmother. she always enters and leaves through the garage and her room is just off the garage entrance, so she puts her shoes on and takes them off in her room.
but my husband is Asian.
I had no idea that Canadians removed their shoes... one more reason to love y'all!!
I am absolutely astounded here that people don't take their shows off after entering a home. The dirt?! How weird that I just assumed everyone all over the world...who wore shoes anyway...automatically took them off at the door like we do. I guess I couldn't live in the States then because no way would that be acceptable to me. Either that or I'd be the bag no one wants to visit...because I make them take their shoes off at the door :o)
Virginia
I take off my shoes shortly after entering my home but not at the front door. I do it for comfort because I would rather be barefoot not because of any custom or cleanliness reason. I know, I'm weird for an American. My neighbor never takes off her shoes and ALWAYS tracks something across the floor ...
I took the poll. We take our shoes off in the garage and then step in. I have a rug by the front door for guests to set their's on. I have often wondered if we were rare in this so I will enjoy reading the comments. :)
I guess I should have said I have lived in the states all my life and we have been doing the shoes off at the door for the last 4 years or so. It was weird at first but it's such a habit now that we automatically take our shoes off at our friend's houses too.
We remove our shoes, but I and oldest daughter slip into house shoes. We have no carpet so any bit of dust bothers me, as does stepping in a spot of water from someone dripping when washing something, with socks on. I also have trouble with heal spurs so wearing cushioned shoes with arch support helps (croc knockoffs). I have a friend who comes to some of my home parties. Before the party, my kids work hard to make the house clean including mopping the tiles and even using bleach in the water. This friend started wearing her shoes in the house, even when the weather was wet. One time I had clean slippers out and offered them to her at the door, explaining the kids work very hard and cleaning the floors before company comes and I was worried she might be having cold feet so here are some slippers. She has been courteous since, no wait, she hasn't come here since ;-). Well, I can't remember. Anyway, I do offer slippers at the door. I have a pair of indoor shoes in the vehicle because of the kids phys ed program. We are required to take our shoes off at the door. I hate stepping in snow with my socks and my feet freeze, so I put the indoor shoes on. I can also use them for dentist and doctors offices. Did we talk about this at coffee? I will shut up now.
Alaska now but Oregon, California and Hawaii, people I knew always took their shoes off. Actually when I was a kid I never really wore them unless going to school or out anyway but we all take shoes off at the door.
Oh and I find it very rare to actually have toilet seat covers in the holders. The only places I really ever see it is at the schools (sometimes) and nice restaurants (again not always).
I always do. It drives me batty if I don't. I don't require it of people coming into my home but it was ingrained into me (by those Canadian half of me in fact!)
I'm always uncomfortable in houses where people leave their shoes on. Then I feel like I must keep my shoes on. And it doesn't feel RIGHT keeping ones shoes on inside a home dammit!
So, yeah, I dunno. I don't make people take theirs off but you'll never find me wearing shoes in my own home. EVER.
I never wear shoes at home. Never. I hardly wear shoes at work. I have to remind myself to put them on before I walk down the hall.
I sit on my feet, by the way. I don't want my feet touching the floor.
I need to go read the other post, but I wanted to chime in here (mostly because it's been FOREVER since I've been here). I live in south Georgia and I kick my shoes off when I get in, but like BS says.. it's purely a comfort thing. I HATE wearing shoes. If I've been working in the yard, I slip them off at the door and leave them on the porch, or just inside the back door. Hubby goes to the bedroom and puts on slippers.
It's interestting to see the differences.
I always, ALWAYS take my shoes off when entering OTHER people's homes! As for my own home - if I'm in a hurry, and I'm just in & out on the main floor (like, if I was out, then forgot something & just had to run back in) I'll leave them on. Otherwise, I always take them OFF.
My mother's house, however, we always left them on. Still do. And she's also Canadian. Go figure.
I know Americans that take their shoes off at the door. I do not unless my shoes are muddy. I thought it was the Dutch that took their shoes off at the door.
I always do!
Hilarious!
It's our culture here (in Asia) to take our shoes off, at home or when visiting others in their homes. (no, am not Canadian!:-)
I'm American but live in England. We take our shoes off at the door because we stupidly bought pale carpets. The dog, however, keeps his shoes on. Well, he has to. Only surgery would remove them.
Born in France (where people take their shoes off at the door), raised in Canada (where we continued to do so) and now have it as a rule here in Texas, because I don't want my son playing on a carpet that's filthy.
Also, here's an interesting finding. They've discovered that you track pollutants and pesticided in your house when you don't remove your shoes. So homes where people don't take off their shoes tend to have sicklier children who have an increased risk of cancer later on. For that reason alone, I've become good at forcing guests to remove their shoes too.
Yes, we do, only because most of the time we have either dirt, mud, snow, cactus, etc. on our soles. We come in through the garage and into a "mud" room where there is a sink and separate restroom. If we are realllly dirty, we can strip and put our clothes in the washer there, and try to get through the house relatively clothes-less (hoping no one notices) until we can get to a shower. We also have shoe areas just in side the front and back doors as well. NLM
No, we do not take our shoes off at the door UNLESS they are muddy or slushy snow covered....then they come off right inside the door. I try to get the kids to kick off their shoes once we get inside...sometimes they remember...sometimes I don't remember to remind them to do so. I usually take mine off after 10 minutes or so of being in the house.
I am from the states and I thought that post was hilarious!
The shoes come off in the laundry room, before you get to the kitchen. No shoes should EVER touch carpet. Hardwoods and tiles are okay.
Birmingham, AL Biatch!
We don't take our shoes off at the door here in Australia. This drives my Canadian hubby mad. However there is no snow so no slushy muddy shoes to contend with. My mum and dad take shoes off at the door since they got new carpet a few years ago. One of my friends insists on it but she asks in a rude way. Last time I was over there I complied and her dog chewed up my brand new shoes. I haven't been back.
Looking for the Fun Monday post. Great blog. I love polls!
If I put my shoes back on will you post again please?
The post is too funny (though I've only seen the toilet seat covers in airports, maybe it's the part of America I live in?)
I grew up wearing shoes in the house, but now that I have to clean the floors we don't. When we go to our friends' houses they generally have a pile of shoes at the door and we just add ours. If I go somewhere and people are wearing them I do, too, so my socks don't get wet and dirty as they track through the house!
Lisa
I'm in America. We (my husband, me, our kids) take our shoes off because I'm the one who cleans the damn carpets.
We don't require anyone else to take them off but I wish I could!
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