@Donna and Echo, I had the same thought. There have been multiple threads started on similar topics by a just-signed-up person.

Barefoot, socks or Uggs. At other people's homes, I just follow whatever they do.

To qualify my earlier answer, I am a total germaphobe! I cannot fathom what shoes worn outside could transfer onto my floors and carpets. I steam clean my tiled floors but would not know how to disinfect my rugs. I also clean my dog's paws after she has been outside and I have to say that she is one of the few dogs in my neighborhood who has almost never been sick.

Unless you eat off your floors, wearing shoes inside shouldn't pose any problems. That said, we have tile and hardwood floors so we can clean more easily. I spent my childhood outdoors, and think that we need to be rational when it comes to germs. I played in mud puddles, etc. and never missed a day of school. I was never sick. My house is clean enough for my standards.

I go barefoot or socked in my house and request that all visitors do the same. It's more of a cultural thing--from my Asian upbringing--and I do keep a few pairs of house slippers around for those who aren't comfortable not wearing shoes. Me, I have to keep myself from taking my shoes off as soon as I enter someone else's house, it's that ingrained.

My parents raised me to wear slippers around the house, but for some reason I always hated them and preferred to run around barefoot.

Bettycrocker, there are plenty of germs on my floor without me trapsing in with my street shoes. I live in NYC and the streets here are food of dog pee and lots of other gross stuff so shoes off is a no brainier.

All three of us take our outside shoes off in the house, mostly for comfort reasons. I wear slippers with socks, usually. Sometimes just socks. Sandals in the summer. My pups track in too much dirt to go barefoot - feels icky underfoot. Some would vacuum everyday, but I am not that person.

Jumping in to second Blonde Ambition's statement about what happens in NYC. While I'm not fussy about the wearing of shoes in our house, I do feel a little icky about keeping my shoes on in our city apartment, for all the reasons cited by BA.

With hardwood floors in both locations, I tend to head straight for house slippers, for comfort. In the apartment, though, I also do it to keep the street yuck outside.