To ask all guests to take shoes off in my house?

[chardonm]

Just that really. A few people seem really put off by that.

My dear sil has to be reminded several times before she takes them off.

I hate the thought of trailing the dirt inside the house.

Tbh, I don't at all get the continued popularity of carpets, but I'd be very reluctant to walk on someone's carpets in shoes, whatever colour they were.

I’ve rtft and I haven’t noticed any mention of doormats.

There seems to an assumption that if shoes aren’t removed then the wet and mud etc will inevitably be walked into the house. But wiping, shod, feet on a doormat gets rid of that kind of debris.

Tbh, I don't at all get the continued popularity of carpets

We have carpet upstairs because I find it cosier. Wooden boards downstairs for practicality.

What I don't get is the continued popularity of cream carpets. Surely the most impractical colour of all time.

Because a HCP's shoes are sterile! This gets more bonkers all the time
It has nothing to do with being sterile for me. I'm not a germophobe.
I don't want my carpets ruining (when I had them). The odd outside visitor going from the hall to my lounge isn't going to trash my carpets.
Regularly wearing shoes on carpets means over time a lot of shit gets brought in, carpets are marked and they get into a state.

People who wear shoes all the time indoors are showing no respect for someone else's home & often have disgusting carpets themselves.

You've had a very sheltered life then, Saffy.

The exception to me is if it's a nurse, midwife, health visitor etc. I wouldn't expect them to keep taking shoes on and off all the time.

But those very people are probably exposed to a wider range of bugs than the average, because they visit sick people!

It depends. If they are going upstairs ide prefer shoes off when wet etc.
Downstairs is wooden floor and vinal and a cleanable rugs.

I'm more bothered by the cats getting paw prints every where tbh

Honestly think it’s the rudest thing to walk into someone’s home with shoes on

Well I think making your guests potentially feel uncomfortable by asking them to remove their shoes is rude. You are prioritising your floor over your guests’ feelings.

Popularity of carpets? Warmer, less noise, feel nice underfoot with bare feet.

Maisypops I can assure you my carpets are not “disgusting” and are in fact perfectly clean despite being walked on by shoes every day for 15 years (ie used for the purpose for which they were intended).

But those very people are probably exposed to a wider range of bugs than the average, because they visit sick people!
As I've just said to the last person who made thay argument, it's not about bugs for me.
I don't want my carpets trashing. Occasional visitors doing short visits are not going to trash my carpets walking from the hall to the sofa. Repeated wearing of shoes in the house will ruin my carpet because of the build up of crap over time.

Warmer I understand - but soooo impractical (esp cream ones as a PP said). Give me gorgeous varnished wooden floorboards any day, with a few rugs for warmth.

honestly think it’s the rudest thing to walk into someone’s home with shoes on

Well I think making your guests potentially feel uncomfortable by asking them to remove their shoes is rude. You are prioritising your floor over your guests’ feelings.

And the circular nature of this debate continues.

There's no end to this, is there?

The 'shoes off' thing also depends on the idea that everyone has a modern and/or centrally-heated and/or draught-free home. Feet do get very cold - especially with the very young and the very old - and shoes provide a layer of additional warmth. Indoor shoes are practical for larger older houses, where there may be lots of steps/chilly corners etc etc

There’s no end to this is there.?

Nope, opinions are deeply entrenched, but it whiles away a few idle weekend hours (every couple of months when it rolls around again)

Any carpet which is trashed by people walking on it wearing ordinary shoes having walked on ordinary pavements is hardly worthy of the name!

Carpets are designed to be walked on! Any even half decent carpet should last for several years of ordinary use.

We’re not talking about tissue paper here. If you covered your floors in tissue paper then I could understand the need to require the removal of all footwear.

Nope, opinions are deeply entrenched, but it whiles away a few idle weekend hours (every couple of months when it rolls around again)

I know

I can never resist wading in, despite knowing how futile it all is.

Our house is 400 years old. It would be like the fucking Arctic with bare floorboards, rugs or no rugs (which are a slip/trip hazard). Our carpets are cream and immaculate. We allow shoes in the house, no red wine, though.

I can never resist wading in despite knowing how futile it all is

Me too!

And me. I probably shouldn't open the next one.

Solution: overshoes

I went to a museum in Europe in the summer where you had to wear these giant felt slippers over your shoes, that would keep everyone happy, no?

I think shoes are outdoor wear. I'd as soon keep them on indoors as keep my coat on, it's just weird.

I don't make people take shoes off downstairs but (carpeted) upstairs is sacrosanct. Last time I decided not to bother a workman trod cat shit all over the carpet

I’m going to have to leave the debate as it’s too absorbing and I should be cleaning my floors. But it’s amazing how divisive this issue is. I still maintain shoe wearers are wrong and it’s completely illogical!! Please get some lovely warm socks to keep yourselves comfortable and preserve our floors!

Very simple.
Do as your host does or ask them if unsure.
If you do not follow this principle then you’re a rude guest.

I probably shouldn't open the next one

I told myself not to open this one. Then I told myself to just read and not comment. And yet here I am...

I have no idea why it bothers me so much that people I don't know and will never visit would expect me to take my shoes off if I did.

Someone upthread pointed out that her brother had ruined her new carpet (that she'd saved for) by treading in chewing gum and stuff. Some obtuse poster then suggested that she 'prioritised floors over people'

What actually happened is that her brother prioritised his thoughtlessness over everything else.

It's not about microbes or whatever. It's about unnecessary grime, marks and - yes- dog shit. The more people you have marching over your carpet, the greater the chance one of them will have something nasty on their shoe. People just aren't that careful!

Doornats are useful, of course - but then I still don't want someone stepping in shit, casually wiping their shoe over my mat (which will then stink and need chucking out) and then traipsing on in!