[pests]

Most definitely not. It depends on the household or how clean inside is itself. Usually you tell by context or just knowing the person whose house you're entering.

Personally here in Michigan at my house right outside Detroit shoes are taken off if you are going inside to stay. If you're grilling or doing yardwork or moving from the front to the back (no path but thru house currently) they stay on. I'd never keep them on for longer than 10 minutes inside but it's common.

My cousin's is totally different. Shoes off before you hit the carpet. Maybe cause they keep it obsessively clean? Carry them to the backdoor if you have to. It's not something I even think about - they just come off, I don't need his wife upset or anything.

[orbme]

Calif. resident born and raised. Shoes off. However feet are covered with slipper or sandle indoors always. Many homes in ca are built on concrete slabs so walking indoors barefoot isn’t all that comfortable in feet, knees or ankles. Having a barrier between the bottom of your feet and the foundation absorbs and reduces some of this hardness. But outside shoes are for outside only. We have always thought of it like walking in your cleaned laundry. Would you do that... no so why would you consider wearing dirty shoes on clean flooring. Everything, including ourselves are often on our floors so keep them as clean as possible.