To be pissed off re shoes on in the house

[JeVoudrais]

Had visitors round this morning. I didn't answer the door as was occupied and came down 15 mins later.

Shoes on. In my carpeted living room. When they left, I asked DP and he said they always keep shoes on when they come. I expect it is because we have dogs. They know perfectly well that we rug doctored not long ago and that the dogs do not go in the living room with wet or dirty feet, though.

Regardless of how hygienic they think my carpet is, would it not be polite to at least ask regarding shoes? We have always removed shoes ASAP in their house because they take theirs off and it is expected of their guests.

I have OCD and am having a meltdown inside currently. AIBU to tell them in no uncertain terms next time that SHOES ARE NOT ALLOWED and ban them from my house if they want to keep them on?

Next time I have a party, treaclesoda, feel free to drop by. Wear your best shoes.

Everyone I know in Germany is shoes off

who cares? they also have see through pipes to see their shit being flushed away. they are obsessed by germs, following in their wake should be more of a worry.

When I went to Buckingham Palace I was not asked to remove my shoes.

Yeah, that Queen is no better than she ought to be... Or maybe she is. I don't know any more.

Or maybe you were just supposed to know, TalkinPeace, and have committed a dreadful faux pas. Has she invited you back?

I can cope with taking my shoes off for the fussy people, who value carpets above all else, but I am not prepared to wear anyone's slippers- that is truly gross so don't even suggest it!

See through sewage pipes that is just a random bit of made up nonsense - I've lived in Germany 9 years and never seen a transparent soil pipe, where on earth did you see that Stepin ?

pippi
She and Andrew and Anne and Philip and Katherine did not take theirs off either

Thus proving how posh they all are, TalkinPeace. Or how common. One or the other.

This is why I'm uncomfortable in a shoes off place. They were hole-less when I put them on, honest!

Never saw see through pipes.. think you're thinking of the shit shelf.

You can't check your poo for worms in a pipe. It would be like a shit aquarium.

InlandTiger, I am nodding in agreement with your comment about respect for the hosts. I think it is basically respect for their culture and their concept of home though, when shoes off cultures are encountered, and not their hygiene preference. For some people the concept of home involves retreat from the outside world. It is a sanctuary, a private space, somewhere to get away from all that pertains to the outside world and one's public life.

On the subject of footwear and parties -- winters are snowy where I live, and people frequently go to parties in snow boots and bring something fancier to change into. Summer parties tend to be more casual and are held outdoors.

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3554403/Now-s-party-time-controversial-intervention-Brexit-debate-Barack-Obama-Lady-Michelle-greeted-William-Kate-Harry-informal-Kensington-Palace-dinner.html

^^ shoes on, kensington palace, young royals and barack obama. ON A VERY NICE RUG TOO and pale cream carpets, and round the future king.

Will little george survive this assault of germs? will the carpet?

Nail biting stuff....

I think it's unlikely the queen cleans her own carpets, otherwise I'm sure she'd be tutting away at Obama.

Inlandtigar totally agree with your comment
'Take your cue from your host' if their not wearing shoes indoor why would visitors think it's ok to ware them

I really don't understand the argument that shoes need to be off for hygiene. Unless everyone operates under this system it just doesn't make sense.

For example, I don't have a "no shoes" rule in my house so when I walk around barefoot/in socks I'm walking on the same floors that other people walk on in shoes. Sometimes I nip out to the car barefoot/in socks. Sometimes I take my shoes off in work and wander round in socks. I take my shoes off on planes too. As someone else mentioned at soft play kids are in germy ballpools in their socks. My barefeet wander around swimming pool changing rooms. They walk on bathroom floors (where god-only-knows-what has splashed) So if I were to take my shoes off at a friend's house chances are my socks/barefeet have as many germs as my shoes.

Also my trousers. On an average day I may well sit on train seats, bus seats, waiting room seats, park benches. Sometimes I even sit on the ground outside. When I go to the toilet my trousers probably touch the cubicle floor (and maybe even the bottom of the toilet). I lean against bus stops, walls and shopping trollies. My trousers get rained on. They get splashed. Other people press up against me or brush past on public transport and in queues. Small children put their (germy) hands on my trousers. I touch door handles (including toilet cubicle handles that people have touched immediately after wiping their bum) and then touch my trousers. I wipe my own bum and then touch my trousers (to pull them up) before I wash my hands.

Trousers are evidently germ-riddled. All those people who have a no shoes rule for hygiene reasons, do you also ask your friends to remove their trousers before they sit on your sofa, chair or floor?