To ask visitors to take their shoes off before coming into my home?

[moomin35]

Including my MIL who clearly didn't appreciate being asked!

So it seems whichever side of this debate you fall on some people are going to think you rude, so you may as well do what you feel like, since you can't please everybody.

I would never ask or expect people to take their shoes off. And I wouldn't expect to take mine off. Bedroom slippers are for bedrooms.

It's not medieval

However your never more than twenty meters from a pub. Piles of vomit and remains of kebabs are pretty much a frequent occurrence. Not forgetting the pigeons of course.

I see on average at least three people hacking up and spitting a day.
I'm. Pretty slack about cleaning but with no choice but to run the gauntlet all week there are limits

@ BadLad - how true.

ended up replacing her brand new flooring because of the damage my shoes did

really?

Maybe the tax payers would have like to argue she should have floor you can walk on, jesus its unbelievable?

My mil has floors you cant walk on, a dining table that scratches easily, kitchen work surfaces you cant put a glass down on without a coaster, Persian rugs you cannot walk over ( sans shoes) sofas you cant sit on...rooms you cannot go in, loos you can't shit in, sinks you cannot wash hands in.

No I dont bother going there anymore and neither does DH.

I see on average at least three people hacking up and spitting a day with TB on rise and small children in house its probably good idea to get jabs or take shoes oof.

The TB jab is a bit shit TBF- doesn't protect against all strains. I wouldn't rely on it for protection.

50% of the people on this thread should never, EVER go to Japan.

They give you slippers everywhere

Yes bolshy in Japan fine! do as romans do but moslty in uk we wear our shoes.

I'm going to give guests a colonic before I allow them to use my toilet. Dirty poo filled feckers.

Well high heals,wooden floors and lone working in the comunity policies are never going to mix well.

Your house your rules, but we don't do it and neither do any of our friends or family.

Absolutely shoes off. Makes perfect sense.

All this "well in the city my shoes aren't dirty"... then I advise you to commando crawl around town. Why not? Because your clothes get dirty?? EXACTLY!

The ground outside is disgusting. Only when it's muddy is it very noticeable. I'd suggest you go somewhere with hardwood floors and mop it. Then walk around in your shoes and mop again (with something where you can see what's been picked up). Then try walking around white carpet where dirt is really obvious and imagine how carpet fibres actually brush the bottom of your shoes, releasing all that dirt and grime.

I'll be honest that as a kid I never realised or thought about how gross it was but now that we own our own house I definitely understand how gross the carpet gets from wearing shoes inside so it's only allowed for people who look uncomfortable taking them off (I'd supply free slippers if it wasn't unsanitary).

'then I advise you to commando crawl around town. Why not? Because your clothes get dirty?? EXACTLY!'

Ummm no. I won't commando crawl around town because I'm not a freak and I find walking to be a more effective means of getting from A to B.

Thanks for the suggestion though.

If my clothes were designed with leather bits on the arms and body (you know, like shoes are designed to be walked on) then I might give it a shot.

These threads are pointless- they crop up with regularity and no one changes their mind.
I suggest that you do as you wish OP- half the people will be quite happy and half will think you are rude- but you can never please everyone.
It depends if you prefer to be a relaxed and welcoming host or you put your carpets first.

YADNBU - this has always been a real bug bear of mine .... I really think it is rude not to take your shoes off in someone else's home .......

Although beware ! MIL always seemed annoyed taking her shoes off - and now makes a point of bringing slippers to put on ....... For possibly irrational reasons this also irritates me ..... we have a warm flat and there are no medical reasons why she needs to cover her feet .... it's like she is making a point about something ...... !!

"I believe in cultures where shoes off is the norm, householders provide newly washed slippers for each visitor."

Slippers, yes.

Newly washed slippers? Not in any Austrian house I've ever been to.

PMSL @ the suggestion TB is contracted via shoes stepping on spit and then worn indoors. Christ on a bike!

I've always been a 'do what you like' house with regards to shoes on or off, But that is about to change.
I have mobility difficulties now (SPD) and once I've had the carpet cleaned I'll be asking guests to take their shoes off as the less hoovering DH has to do the better.

Where does one purchase artisanal slippers for their guests? ;-)

I don't mind being asked to take my shoes off in the winter, when I'm wearing socks.
But I hate being asked to take them off in summer.
My feet aren't the prettiest and I feel really self-concious having to sit there with my bunions on display. [shame]

Why would you do that to a guest?

These threads are pointless- they crop up with regularity and no one changes their mind.

I don't see why anyone mind needs changing. I don't understand why people think the people who disagree with them are being rude, precious or obnoxious. It's clear from this thread it's personal preference. I can see both points of view. I prefer shoes off in my home (and expect you to comply with that when you are there) and I will respect your preference in your home. It's shoes, not your first born.

Ours is a shoes on house as it's stone floor throughout, but I always take (or offer to take) my shoes off at other people's houses. I don't see why people would take offence at taking shoes off. YANBU

DP once did a job for a Japanese lady in her house. As he went through the front door he removed his shoes (mainly because it was raining and they were muddy). The lady was absolutely delighted, and thanked him for respecting her custom.

That was nice!

Agree, Written - it is personal preference. And as someone said earlier, your house, your rules!

Although, I don't ask people to take their shoes off - just prefer it if they offer (unless it's the youngsters caked in mud). And I always remove mine in other people's, unless they specifically say not to, or they are wearing shoes themselves.