AIBU to think that workmen should offer to take their shoes off in your house?

[Dollslikeyouandme]

I'm a shoes off in the house person, and always offer to take mine off when visiting. It's not because I'm a weird cream carpet visitor slippers freak. But I have carpet, a ds who likes to play on the floor. And a neighbourhood where the streets seem to be covered in dog shit.

I hate asking people to take off their shoes, so usually don't, and just hope they do anyway.

I've noticed workmen never take off their shoes, and lately I've had to have a few people in and around the house and gave been cringing at their boots standing on my bathmat mainly.

I just think shoes on carpets are gross.

I haven't got a three piece suite I have two sofas and they never had plastic covers on in the first place, nor do I have plastic covers on anything in the house.

Squoosh I bet if you looked at guidelines on caring for home floor coverings it would recommend not wearing shoes.

Yes they are squoosh! Feet, not shoes!!

I know what you actually meant but tell that to a learning-to-crawl baby?!

Hmmmm, I may be wrong but I'm pretty sure floors pre-date 'guidelines on caring for home floors'. How did people cope with walking before they were given guidelines!

Actually funnily enough ds nursery had a no shoes rule in the baby room, staff wore slippers and there were shoe covers for parents.

So does my local swimming pool.

Maybe it's just everyone round my neck of the woods.

I'm talking about floor coverings. Not just all floors. A floor like a solid school hall is totally different to a bedroom carpet.

And how did they cope without shoes squoosh?!

Perhaps people who are offended at being asked to remove shoes feel you are accusing them of not looking where they are going and standing in dog mess without realising.

Workmen aren't allowed to remove shoes, they have their boots for their own safety . When you go to work do you take your shoes off ?

Most workmen have shoe covers too.
Obviously if you're having major renovations generating tons of dirt then they'd just keep their boots on as normal though. Totally depends on the situation.

needtobediscreet prior to the invention of shoes people had one or to more pressing matters at hand than the upkeep of their floors. A days hunting the woolly mammoth tended to leave people too tired to worry about the upkeep of their cave floor.

They should take precautions to keep dirt to minimum . Most of them will put down some plastic or dust sheets but taking shoes off it a tricky one.

That's weird. I would never take my shoes off unless specifically asked. If I was asked I would think it was very precious.

"If I was asked I would think it was very precious."

I don't. It is the social norm where I live. If you went to someone's house and saw everyone taking their shoes off and you didn't would you feel out of place? Or would you think everyone else was odd?

You may take your shoes off inside your own house and take them off visiting friends but workmen do not remove their boots. It's a crazy idea to assume they would. A baby room at a nursery isn't the same as a workman doing a Potentially hazardous job. If you don't like the work men's shoes inside try DIY

My next-door-neighbour but 2 invited me in to see her floor tiles, but told me I could come in only if I took my shoes off. My shoes were my house slippers

But I don't live in a cave...? Do you?!

Haven't read the whole thread but dad worked for HA as a plumber and gas fitter - most workmen have to wear safety boots even if they are doing some wiring ect as it's policy. If anything happens they aren't insured so my dad would never remove his boots, he would wear shoe covers when asked.

Thanks purple - shoe covers have been mentioned lots on here but some people seem to think even asking that people wear those is rude and unnecessary?!

I hate it when people read the op and the last few posts and then jump in with an opinion.

I think we've established that a worker wouldn't be able to remove work boots for safety reasons kitchensinkmum, the discussion has moved on from there and we are now discussing caves and flooring vs footwear through history.

The point about what people may have done years ago before possible floor care guidance is a ridiculous one.

There are all sorts of things we did/didn't do years ago that has changed.

Food predates a fridge, it doesn't mean you wouldn't use one.

Well if you're talking about what's ridiculous.......

I put food in my fridge to prolong its life. My floor's life expectancy is not compromised by having people's shoes on it.

Do you have carpet or wood floor?

I remove my shoes at home simply because it is far more comfortable to wear slippers. I don't buy uncomfortable shoes, but not wearing them is the default option for me for comfort.

We also have a light coloured carpet in the lounge (which came with the house) and I prefer to prevent it from getting dirty in the first place rather than spend £££ every few months having it cleaned.

I do have my carpets cleaned regularly, but only about once a year. I do vacuum every week BTW- I'm not that skanky

Honestly. What a pointless thread. Haven't you all got floors to clean .....