Should Guests Take Their Shoes Off at the Door?

The no-shoes rule seems to hit a nerve across many households in the country, so we asked our Facebook readers to weigh in. Do you wear your shoes inside or leave them at the door? Do you ask guests to take their shoes off? Why or why not? Here are some of the top comments - join the debate below.

1. Not For Guests
"I take my shoes off at the front door. The rest of my family does also. But we would never dream of asking a guest to remove their shoes." - Julie M.

2. Asking Homeowner
"I shouldn't have to ask guests to remove their shoes. If they have common sense or proper etiquette, they would automatically take their shoes off or ask me what my preference is."- Amy B.R.

3. Home is Not a Museum
"No way! We 'live' in our house. It's not a museum and we have doormats and a vacuum. I think it's very rude to be asked to remove my shoes, especially if I am not wearing socks. I don't want to walk barefoot on their filthy floor." - Leslie M.

4. Living With Allergies
"We always take our shoes off. I have severe allergies and I don't want you dragging in pollen, mold, pesticides and who knows what you stepped in at the gas station." - Schelly M.

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5. Wear Booties
"Everybody who comes into my house removes their shoes. For people coming to work on the house, I have 'booties,' which I buy at Home Depot and can be discarded after being used."- Patricia D.

6. Vacuum Up
"No. My house is a home and meant to be lived in. Dirty feet are the reason there are vacuum cleaners." - Lauren

7. Home is a Retreat
"My home is my intimate retreat from the chaos of everyday life. It is an embrace as I walk through the door, a hug at the end of a busy day, and as welcoming as flannel jammies on a cold winter night. No way to do that wearing shoes."- Pat T.

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8. Floor Cleaner
"Yes, we leave the shoes at the door and ask our guests to do the same. My Japanese mother never allowed shoes to be worn in the house. It's amazing how much cleaner the floors stay."- Jennifer K.S.

9. Clean After Guests
"No. I live on the beach in Florida, and it's always really bothered me when someone made me take my shoes off. They're my shoes, and if I didn't want to wear them I'd leave them at home. If you appreciate your carpet more than my company, then I don't want to come to your home anyway. To keep from having this issue we put ceramic tile on the first floor of our home. If I have a mess it can easily be cleaned up - after my guests have gone home." - Kristi W.

10. Consider Kids
"It's good manners and common courtesy to remove your shoes before entering someone's home. Especially when they have young children at crawling age." - Alexandra K.

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