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Original poster

Cleaners wearing shoes indoors?

60 replies

francesfrans · 01/04/2025 11:08

I’ve booked a cleaner to come this week and then every week following this to help my maintain the house and I’m finding it a struggle with a newborn and toddler with a partner who works away. We never wear our shoes indoors, to me this is grim. My friend who has a cleaner (different one) says her cleaner wears shoes indoors and says this is standard. Is this so? If it is I would probably rather not go ahead. We have brand new carpets and I don’t want dirt/germs/bacteria trailing in form outdoors. But on the other hand I could really do with the help. Anyone else who has a cleaner what are your thoughts on this and does your cleaner wear shoes indoors?

OP posts:
murasaki · 01/04/2025 11:27

Mine brings slider style things so no outdoor shoes.

Which is entirely up to her , I wouldn't mind either way.

Lovelytoseethesun · 01/04/2025 11:30

For a period of time some years ago I worked as a cleaner, including in someone's home. I always removed my shoes - I don't wear outdoor shoes in my own home and think.its perfectly normal to take them off in someone else's home.

If you are the employer then I think you have the right to request no outdoor shoes while the cleaner is working.

FancyNewt · 01/04/2025 11:31

Just tell the cleaner you don't want shoes worn in the house. It's really not hard to work out.

Cheezewizz · 01/04/2025 11:31

I’m a cleaner and always take my shoes off as standard unless clients has said I can keep them on

PsychoHotSauce · 01/04/2025 11:32

I had a second set of trainers for cleaning in client houses and changed them over in the car. I wouldn't be cleaning someone's house in socks that would get wet when mopping/doing bathrooms etc. If you want to supply those plastic overshoe things then do, but personally I think I'd consider you an awkward and fussy client if you couldn't trust me, as the cleaner, not to drag mud and dog shit through your house... Doesn't exactly get the professional relationship off on the right foot if you think I'm a moron from the start.

OhHellolittleone · 01/04/2025 11:33

My cleaner brings trainer that look like ‘gym’ trainers. I’m pretty sure they aren’t worn outside as are completely clean. Personally I can’t stand for too long without support - much worse when preggo) I wear Birkenstocks inside (just normal ones, I just designate them for indoor use. Although I will pop into my garden (but if do this in bare feet too…)

TizerorFizz · 01/04/2025 11:34

Why would a cleaner bring in germs and dirt? They are cleaning! You sound ultra precious! Mine wore sneakers and she didn’t spread germs and bacteria. You can do that well enough by breathing!

Original poster
francesfrans · 01/04/2025 11:37

TizerorFizz · 01/04/2025 11:34

Why would a cleaner bring in germs and dirt? They are cleaning! You sound ultra precious! Mine wore sneakers and she didn’t spread germs and bacteria. You can do that well enough by breathing!

Why? Because there are all kinds of germs, dirt and bacteria on the ground, I even see people walking past spitting on the ground, and one specific man who often walks past who like to blow his nose directly on the ground, dogs wee everywhere, we live near the coast so lots of bird/seagull mess on the ground… just a few reasons. My child plays on the floor, baby will eventually crawl etc .. we have never worn shoes indoors and I think it’s disgusting personally.

OP posts:
Cynic17 · 01/04/2025 11:43

Of course! It's not safe for them to go around barefoot or in socks.
Floors are meant to be walked on, FFS.

mugglewump · 01/04/2025 11:49

If you are a shoes off household, just tell the cleaner and they will comply. I tutor in people's houses and take my shoes off in 'shoes off' houses and keep them on in others - as I do in my own house. For one family who had a very cold kitchen floor (where I tutored), I kept a pair of slippers to wear in their house. It's no big deal. Just a cultural thing and people respect others' house rules.

AirFryerCrumpet · 01/04/2025 11:58

Get some shoe covers.

Ecocool · 01/04/2025 12:02

My cleaner used to take her slippers with her to wear. I'm sure most will be happy to take shoes off as it becomes more acceptable to do in the UK (why it's taken so long is a mystery)

TizerorFizz · 01/04/2025 12:35

Your baby will get far more germs from being around people! You actually need DC to build up resistance to bacteria. Someone wearing shoes really doesn’t harm babies but from what you say about your neighbourhood - I’d move.

Ecocool · 01/04/2025 13:02

TizerorFizz · 01/04/2025 12:35

Your baby will get far more germs from being around people! You actually need DC to build up resistance to bacteria. Someone wearing shoes really doesn’t harm babies but from what you say about your neighbourhood - I’d move.

Yes, but it really is minging to walk outside in the dirt and then take that indoors.

IHopeYouStepOnALegPiece · 01/04/2025 13:32

No its not standard,

I've had cleaners and worked in many homes that also had cleaners, I can think of 2 out of nearly 30 who wore shoes and refused to not.

Either they wear slippers or sliders
2 brought their own change of "Indoors" trainers
many just wore socks

You're the employer, if they wear shoes and you don't want them to then just ask them not to, either they agree, great or refuse and you find someone new.

TizerorFizz · 01/04/2025 14:12

@Ecocool Really? I live in the countryside and we do take off dirty shoes but I don’t make people take off shoes who walk from my drive to the house. Presumably your visitors walk up a path and you have mats down? No reason why cleaner cannot bring shoes or slippers but we have indoor hard floors and they are slippery when wet so unsafe for socks.

Wexone · 01/04/2025 16:44

sweet lord 20 years or more having cleaners and never once have them take off shoes. I have no issues with guests visitors etc wearing shoes. plus as well if she is working from a health and safety point of view she should be wearing shoes. it's dangerous to be mopping etc without shoes she can fall or drop something on her feet

Lampzade · 01/04/2025 16:47

My cleaner changes to trainers which she does not wear outdoors

scalt · 01/04/2025 16:52

It would be mumsnet if there wasn’t a good supply of threads about shoes indoors.

And regarding those disposable overshoes, won’t someone think of the planet? Aren’t we being preached at all the time to use less plastic?

availablecupcake · 01/04/2025 16:58

This would stress me out a bit, sounds like lots of cleaners do wear shoes indoors, and I’d just cancel but I seem to be the odd one out!

museumum · 01/04/2025 17:05

Mine brings indoor shoes with her. You cannot expect them to clean in socks/bare feet. It's pretty easy in an initial conversation with a cleaner to drop into the conversation quite naturally that you ask everybody to take their outdoor shoes off at the door.

EffortlesslyDecluttering · 01/04/2025 17:10

Wouldn't bother me, I think the amount of dirt from an average pavement or drive is negligible (people do step round obvious messes) but you are the one employing her so ask. If she has a problem with it she isn't the right cleaner for you.

HanSB · 01/04/2025 17:10

Just call or message before they are booked to 'check that they will not wear outdoor shoes' in your home. I think it's pretty standard that they change shoes. Mine always brings slippers with her

Fynoderee · 01/04/2025 19:43

I’m a cleaner. I wear plastic overshoes.

I do not work bare foot or socked because I’m not up for stubbed/broken toes, stepping on Lego and sharps (I had a pin go right in my foot once that was in a rug in a house where a client insisted no shoes so I’ve worn shoes ever since) or verrucas/athletes foot from standing in client’s showers.

if it’s a deal breaker for you, offer her some overshoes whilst she’s there. Screwfix do 100 for £5

What happens when you have other trades in the house though? Plumber/electrician/decorator/removal men?

twiddlingthumbs69 · 01/04/2025 19:52

I used to be a cleaner. To begin with I always removed my shoes. However, with the amount of walking/bending etc it soon became apparent that not wearing shoes was causing knees and back pain. I then bought some good quality insoles and wore those inside my trainers. If your cleaner is happy to take shoes off then I’d ask her. Personally I’d see it as a red flag and either up the price or decline the job

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