Shoes off house rule

[BettyBi0]

So we have a shoes off rule in our house. Mainly because of the grubby London streets and dog poo everywhere locally plus a floor licking toddler.

Every time my parents visit I have to ask them to take their shoes off. EVERY Fing TIME! They act like its such a massive imposition.

AIBU or would you just shut up and put up?

These threads go round and round as those who have shoes off rules cannot understand why people would want to wear shoes inside the house and those who wear shoes in the house cannot understand why people take them off!

I'm sticking to shoes off in my house, thankfully my friends seem to like me enough to be understanding even if some may think I'm mad!!

If no shoes means the heating goes up, to avoid cold feet, then keeping shoes on is the greener option.

Haven't the scientists worked out that this cleanliness obsession is what is causing the spike in allergies?

There's really nothing wrong with traces of dirt that normal shoes track into a house. Obviously people should remove their shoes if they have walked in dog poo or they're muddy. But what on earth is the problem with normal shoes?

So when did the shoes off start in history?

I can never imagine the Dowager in Downton taking her shoes off or ever asking guests to do so when they call for tea. Or for that matter any of the downstairs people kicking their shoes off at the front door when they visit each other.

I don't think I have ever asked or even been asked. I just take my lead from the guest if they remove we leave the entrance through one door if they don't we use the other.

One side is hard flooring the other is carpet. Ive never had a workman arrive and not use those blue cover things. But IME most people do automatically remove.

If I have a function them the same applies my dining room has slate flooring and if guests have removed footwear on entrance then they will find their shoes waiting for them just outside the dining room when we go there.

Ahh, ten pages of shoe debate heaven to catch up on
Can't we all just copy whatever our host does with their shoes, while maintaining an inner monologue about how weird they are?

I feel so self conscious whenever I walk into a house with this rule. I worry my feet will stink out the house.

Do people with no shoes rules never have that issue? People with stinky feet?

I would really really prefer that people took off their shoes in my house, the thought of dog crap and general disgusting street fodder in my carpet is quite frankly, revolting.

I find that most DCs do it automatically, but adults don't, and depending on how well I know them, I'll ask or not, or hover in the hallway til they get the hint.

YANBU. Put out a 'no shoes please' doormat.

What about non-friends and family? Social workers don't remove their shoes. Not that you perhaps have one op but what about people coming in non socially?

My social worker removes her shoes TopHat

Patter it started fairly early. There are references in Austen novels to walking somewhere with your indoor shoes with you in a shoe bag. Before pavements, tarmac and cars, people walked further and their footwear was filthy.

I had a no shoes rule in my studio flat, because I didn't want shoes in what was my bedroom. My mum was a pain in the neck about it, from which I learned to provide a seat, and slippers for her. In a house I'm less fussy but I always offer to take shoes off when visiting. People can then laugh at my darned socks.

Shoes off please.

How can anyone relax leaving them on? I'd feel most uncomfortable.

In Canada most houses ae shoes off for obvious reasons: who wants snow, salt and mud all over?

But most people I know have a lovely basket full of sloppers by the door so the guests can still have cosy feet.

gabilan my Nan in her mid 90s always brings her slippers in a bag, she's clearly read some Austen in her time.

If you walked mud over my carpets you would defiantly only be asked once.

Potterwolfie I do like a nice shoebag. I am still in my 40s though

I don't know anyone in real life with these rules and have never heard it discussed. Have never been asked to take my shoes off. I wear shoes at home sometimes and sometimes i don't. Depends what I'm doing.

I would hate to be asked though at someone's house.

The dowager In Downtown had bloody servants to scrub other people's crap off her carpets.

I honestly don't know anyone who doesn't take their shoes off when they come into another's house. I would see it as so fucking rude not to even start to take them off.

Yeuk.

I don't have this rule, but I think I would if I had carpets downstairs.
Our pavements are covered in dog shit and other detritus; carpets are very unhygienic but oh so comfy.
Would you walk on a sofa or a clean bed? Carpets are textiles that cannot be washed on a regular basis.
In most cultures it is the norm to remove shoes when entering a house or place of worship.
It shows consideration for others, nothing wrong in that.
Shoes are for outside, slippers or flipflops for indoors.
I know some people are rather snobbish about this, but I expect they are the ones that can afford to replace carpets on a regular basis.

OP eastern culture here nothing but shoes off, i think its weird when agents tell me to leave shoes on when viewing houses, i ignore them and remove it

YANBU its your house stand over them near the front door make them remove it, or issue them with shoes bags i keep them near my front door lol

we have slippers for indoors, and i keep new unused packets of slippers in big sizes for guests. this is quite the norm in japan and china too.

slippers usually in kitchen and bathrooms, separate ones

I don't have this rule, but I think I would if I had carpets downstairs.

This is a good reason for not having carpet, surely?

Is there a good reason for having it?

Not everyone can rip up carpets and replace with tiles or flooring?

I agree that posters saying you can clean carpets either can afford a cleaner, afford regular new carpets and are generally rich.

It took me years to get new carpets and no idle ignorant rich bugger will wear dirty shoes over them.

its nothing to do with carpets, i had wooden floors in my last place i used to clean them too, dirt still goes on them afterall carpet or not.