Guest slippers. Gross?

[ladybee28]

I live in a (normally) hot country, and so my house has no heating (think thick stone walls and tile floors rather than carpets and radiators.

It's not cold here in winter, but it does get chilly at night and first thing in the morning.

My dad and his partner are coming to stay for a week, and they travel light – probably hand luggage only.

I was thinking about getting them some cosy slippers to have waiting here so they don't get cold feet walking to the bathroom in the morning (I LIVE in my L.L Beans in the winter).

But I've been trying to stop unnecessary spending and it would be a shame to buy 2 pairs of slippers for only one week's use, so the thought occurred to me that they could be guest slippers - here for any of my buddies or family who want to pop them on while they're visiting and keep their feet warm.

And THEN the thought occurred to me that that might be kind of gross –what if people had sweaty feet?

My friends are split in opinions. Some say it's totally disgusting. Others say it's no grosser than wearing the slippers they give you at a spa, and people can keep their socks on.

So I thought I'd ask here: WDYT?

Guest slippers: nice way to take care of people, or vom-inducing idea?

[SausagePourHomme]

Can you get some of those spa slippers and put them in wash? I think that would be fine. Not normal slippers

[halcyondays]

Spa ones are always new aren’t they?

Can’t people just bring a suitcase and pack their own slippers?

[ladybee28]

@SausagePourHomme

Can you get some of those spa slippers and put them in wash? I think that would be fine. Not normal slippers

This is what one of my friends was saying – her family is Vietnamese and she said they've always had a big basket of guest slippers like these ones by the door so people feel less weird about having to take their shoes off.

@halcyondays people CAN – but as I said, my dad and his partner are traveling light, so won't be bringing their own.

[mangocoveredlamb]

I think it’s a great idea as long as they’re washable!! I always take a small pair of slippers when we go to peoples houses because I have reynaulds and so my feet get very painful when cold and I find it really hard to warm them back up!

[WorraLiberty]

Just tell them the floors get cold so don't forget to pop a pair of slippers in their luggage.

If they choose not to, that's their choice.

[pincertoe]

If they are washable fine, maybe fluffy slipper socks so they can be easily washed but don't loose their shape and still give the comfy feel?

[chocoshopoholic]

I lived overseas for a while with the tiled floors. I had guest fluffy socks rather than slippers that could be popped in the wash between guests.

[wowfudge]

Flip flops instead? Frankly if someone travels so light they don't think to pack something to put on their own feet then that's their look out.

[mindutopia]

Sounds great, just wash them. I bought some cosy slippers to take on holiday with me the other week. Holiday cottage was fairly dirty floors (it was on a farm). I brought them home and shoved them in the wash and now they are lovely and clean and soft again. I think it's a lovely gesture. I'd just let people know they were washed just for them, as it would put me off using them if I didn't think they were clean.

[TheCanyon]

No matter how lightly I packed I would never ever not take slippers with me, especially to a place with tiled floors.

As long as they're washable and actually washed between guests I think it's a nice idea to have a few pairs available.

[Dilbertian]

I have white guest slippers that go in the wash after the guest has left. White, so that guests can see that they are visibly clean. Cheap, (spa slippers from Amazon) so I replace them if they look worn or grey.

Sometimes new guests are a bit unsure when offered the slippers, so I always say that they're clean and washed between guests. No different to the bedding and towels that I offer them.

[ladybee28]

@wowfudge

Flip flops instead? Frankly if someone travels so light they don't think to pack something to put on their own feet then that's their look out.

Maybe so, but it's my dad and I love him, so I'm not going to leave him with cold feet because "you should have thought about it better".

That's not the daughter he raised and I'm glad of it.

All those of you suggesting fluffy slipper socks, that makes perfect sense. The ones with the sticky bits on the bottom, right, so there's no risk of slipping?

Interesting to see how many of you do this already. It seems like a nice way of acknowledging the fact that the floors can get chilly and making people feel that little bit extra cared for – but yes, washable is key!