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Original poster

For asking the heating engineer to wear shoe covers in my house

136 replies

purplehearts21 · 03/12/2025 15:12

Guy came round this morning to the service the boiler, I greeted him in and asked if he’d wear the shoe covers as I’ve just had new floor fitted and new rugs. You have to walk through my whole house to get to the boiler and I get they they can’t take their shoes off for health and safety so I’ve came up with a solution. The guy looked at me like I’m a bit mad but I wouldn’t dream of walking through someone’s house with my shoes on. We’re a shoes off at the door family and you won’t believe the amount of people that will just walk on through unless you say something. ( including dh father and stepmother who are exactly the same and will stand and wait til you take them off in their home but will walk through ours with shoes on no bother) I find it so rude and would never do it unless I was asked to keep them on. This man looked at me like I was an alien though but at least he agreed.

was I being unreasonable to ask?

OP posts:
RecordBreakers · 03/12/2025 20:28

I'm with you @Evaka , but I'm English.

I find it bizarre that anyone would put flooring down that they feel people can't walk on.

DappledThings · 03/12/2025 20:27

It's neither one nor the other. Not unreasonable of you to request shoe covers if you're that bothered but also not unreasonable for him to be a bit put out/surprised at the request.

I'm a shoes off as soon as I get to someone's house person but I don't insist on others doing it. It's nice if they do but not significant enough to worry about if they don't.

Evaka · 03/12/2025 20:26

I'm such an outlier here. Wouldn't cross my mind to ask. I think a few have offered to take off their shoes but never turned up with covers.

I'm Irish and I think we are way less bothered about shoes off than brits. Any Oirish MNers who can challenge or confirm?

XWKD · 03/12/2025 20:21

RecordBreakers · 03/12/2025 17:55

I personally think it is bizarre to have floors you can't walk on, but even I don't thing you were being unreasonable to ask him to put them on as you'd provided them.

You would have been unreasonable to ask him to take his shoes off.

Me too.

StruggleFlourish · 03/12/2025 20:00

I find it odd that he did not come with shoe covers on him,
I have not had a service person who has come to my house in the past 15 years who did not carry a pair of shoes covers to slip on.
Don't worry about it, it wasn't you being unreasonable and asking something so strange, it was him.

BIossomtoes · 03/12/2025 18:45

Mariammaom · 03/12/2025 15:41

It doesn’t bother you that people wear muddy boots inside your house, on a nice clean floor??

Show quote history

Most people’s shoes aren’t muddy because they do the majority of their walking on pavements. I prefer people to keep their shoes, my hall’s tiny and I don’t want it cluttered up with shoes.

Original poster
purplehearts21 · 03/12/2025 18:25

RecordBreakers · 03/12/2025 17:55

I personally think it is bizarre to have floors you can't walk on, but even I don't thing you were being unreasonable to ask him to put them on as you'd provided them.

You would have been unreasonable to ask him to take his shoes off.

Really? It’s unreasonable to ask a man to take his shoes off in a shoe off household. That’s bizarre to me. Some of us like to keep nice homes..

OP posts:
Gettingbysomehow · 03/12/2025 18:07

Nothing wrong at all with shoe covers. Perfectly normal. Id not want dirty boots all over my house. But these are men. They wouldn't even think about making a mess for us to clean up.

Growlybear83 · 03/12/2025 18:00

I can’t remember the last time a work man didn’t either bring shoe covers with him or ask if he should remove his shoes when he arrived.

RecordBreakers · 03/12/2025 17:55

I personally think it is bizarre to have floors you can't walk on, but even I don't thing you were being unreasonable to ask him to put them on as you'd provided them.

You would have been unreasonable to ask him to take his shoes off.

Original poster
purplehearts21 · 03/12/2025 17:38

MotherofPufflings · 03/12/2025 17:33

Maybe he was just surprised by you offering shoe covers as it's completely normal for tradespeople to offer to take their shoes off when they arrive? I've never had one say ghat they can't because H&S

Everyone of them has said they can’t take them off. I don’t know if it’s a lazy thing where they can’t be bothered to untie there boots but I just want them in and out so offer them covers. If they’ve got their own great but sometimes they need reminding

OP posts:
Original poster
purplehearts21 · 03/12/2025 17:36

GasPanic · 03/12/2025 16:24

As a tradesperson you often have to wear protective boots all the time.

I'd expect some sort of covers, or at least be willing to inspect the soles to make sure there are no stones in the treads or nails embedded in them.

Aside from mud and carpets, a big issue is when you get a stone trapped in the treads and then walk on a hard surface like wood or laminate. It can cause a massive amount of damage if the person does not pick their feet up, although normally you notice pretty quickly.

Tbh I don’t care if the shoes are muddy or clean. Shoes should not be worn inside full stop. You’ve walked on pavement that has been pissed and shat on. People spit 🤮 it’s just gross and then you’re walking it onto your floors and carpets. It make me heave and I’m no clean freak but I like to take care of my home.

OP posts:
MotherofPufflings · 03/12/2025 17:33

Maybe he was just surprised by you offering shoe covers as it's completely normal for tradespeople to offer to take their shoes off when they arrive? I've never had one say ghat they can't because H&S

Original poster
purplehearts21 · 03/12/2025 17:29

icouldholditwithacobweb · 03/12/2025 15:43

YANBU.

Also, my parents did the same with my house despite their own being shoes off - they'd happily walk through MY house with their shoes on! I was very vocal about it, and they don't do it any more. The disrespect had my brows raised to the ceiling, though.

The eyebrow comment had me giggling lol yep it’s extremely rude and it’s made me dread when they are coming over

OP posts:
Original poster
purplehearts21 · 03/12/2025 17:24

bumptybum · 03/12/2025 15:19

I do find it very very odd that your fil and step mil insist on you taking off shoes but walk into your house with their shoes on. That’s mega rude because it’s very clearly stating that they think shoes are filthy but they hold your place as not important enough to warrant removing their shoes. I’d find this level of rudeness intolerable. I hope you stop them and ask them to remove their shoes.

Exactly. It winds me up no end tbh..and they literally greet you at their door and stand waiting for you to take your shoes off before showing you to the lounge. I’ve often felt like being as rude as them and just waltzing on through over their cream carpet but I was brought up better than them.

OP posts:
Original poster
purplehearts21 · 03/12/2025 17:20

bumptybum · 03/12/2025 15:15

Very normal. In fact a lot of contractors bring their own. So i can’t imagine he’s never seen them before

He was quite young, probably mid 20s I’m guessing he’s not familiar with them.

OP posts:
IsItSnowing · 03/12/2025 16:56

I thought they all brought their own. Especially at this time of year when it's muddy and wet outside, it seems the decent thing to do.

GasPanic · 03/12/2025 16:24

As a tradesperson you often have to wear protective boots all the time.

I'd expect some sort of covers, or at least be willing to inspect the soles to make sure there are no stones in the treads or nails embedded in them.

Aside from mud and carpets, a big issue is when you get a stone trapped in the treads and then walk on a hard surface like wood or laminate. It can cause a massive amount of damage if the person does not pick their feet up, although normally you notice pretty quickly.

XWKD · 03/12/2025 16:17

IcyPuddles · 03/12/2025 15:32

I’ve never asked a tradesman to cover his boots and it doesn’t bother me to be honest, although a lot of them bring their own covers.

My mother in law was stupendously posh and she considered it rude to ask guests to take off their shoes. I think it’s an upper class thing.

Edited
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I would never someone to take their shoes off.

Toddlerteaplease · 03/12/2025 16:14

ForZanyAquaViewer · 03/12/2025 15:19

They usually bring their own and automatically put them on or take their shoes off, in my experience.

This. Although I was very surprised when a sky engineer came last week and didn’t bring them. He did ask if it was ok to keep his boots on though. But it so the first time anyone has not brought covers.

ThatNoisyTealBird · 03/12/2025 16:05

Yanbu. I'm not generally too bothered but, if I'd just had a new floor and rug then absolutely I'd want to keep them nice for as long as possible!

IcyPuddles · 03/12/2025 15:45

Mariammaom · 03/12/2025 15:41

It doesn’t bother you that people wear muddy boots inside your house, on a nice clean floor??

Show quote history

Yes if they were muddy. We have a doormat and no tradesman has ever come in with boots that were muddy or which left muddy footprints. Not all footwear is caked in mud.

icouldholditwithacobweb · 03/12/2025 15:43

YANBU.

Also, my parents did the same with my house despite their own being shoes off - they'd happily walk through MY house with their shoes on! I was very vocal about it, and they don't do it any more. The disrespect had my brows raised to the ceiling, though.

MintDog · 03/12/2025 15:43

I find it rude personally.

Mariammaom · 03/12/2025 15:41

IcyPuddles · 03/12/2025 15:32

I’ve never asked a tradesman to cover his boots and it doesn’t bother me to be honest, although a lot of them bring their own covers.

My mother in law was stupendously posh and she considered it rude to ask guests to take off their shoes. I think it’s an upper class thing.

Edited
Show quote history

It doesn’t bother you that people wear muddy boots inside your house, on a nice clean floor??

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