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.

I don't care. You can wear shoes in my house, or not, whatever is yo2u preference. I won't mind being asked to take shoes off if I go to yours. It just doesn't matter to me at all.

We have hardwood floors, clean them twice or three times a week. We wear indoor shoes around the house, for comfort mainly, but I would never ask guests to remove shoes, what’s the point? Sweaty feet are a far worse infliction in my opinion! Clean the floor if it bothers that much, it doesn’t take much.

Does the same apply for carpets?
When we moved in we decided on carpet in the living room, stairs, bedrooms. All light grey. Within 4 months i had to change living room and stairs carpet! All because of the large very visable dirt mark in living room door way, and first few steps of stairs! That's not cheap! (Carpet cleaner just seemed to make it worse after it was cleaned)
So now we have a no shoe rule, except workmen type thing that isn't often. Carpet has not been lovely and clean for the last 18 months!
It's my home, I like it looking clean, and it's my earnt money that had to replace old carpet. Not a single person has ever seemed fussed by taking their shoes off. And I know an awful lot of people with the same rule!

*Carpet has now been lovely and clean. I mean!

mostdays that’s like being ambivalent about marmite

Now get off MN! It is absolutely COMPULSORY to have passionately held views about show on/off-ness. Did you not get the email when you joined?

I too am looking forward to the competitive towel washing thread that must be due soon. That and the “wearing pants in bed” discussion. Compelling.

SHOE on/off-ness. Obvs.

People wear pants in bed? (Sorry, couldn't resist.)

I know Jennie

Start a thread. I dare you!

I'm wondering whether some people on this thread are being purposely difficult or just socially awkward.

• If someone offers you socks or slippers:
  Most people (everyone I've ever met) will accept a no and are fine with guests being barefoot of wearing socks. You're not forced to actually wear them. An offer could be politely declined...

• If someone can't take their shoes off for health reasons:
  Just say so. Most people would simply tell you to wipe your shoes. (I've actually had this experience when I had crutches as a teen...)

• But I have extremely stinky feet:
  I'm really sorry, that must be difficult. But it's not a reason to be outraged about shoes off houses/people. That argument is like someone with bad pit smell complaining about being expected to take their jacket off! And if it's really that rank: make up some vague medical issue. (I'm fairly certain bad foot stink could be a medical issue, btw...)

That and the “wearing pants in bed” discussion.

I nearly made a comment about this being a non-issue. But then remembered that it's mumsnet. I wish there was a thread like that! ;)

*I know Jennieconfused

Start a thread. I dare you!*

Done. Now let's get this to 1,000 posts by bedtime. (With our without knickers.)

The only thing more iconically mumsnet than shoes off/shoes are the loo brush threads.

Still can't understand the haterz

I hadn't considered that JeremyCorbynsBeard ! Perhaps you're right. If people all wiped their feet properly and, crucially, checked them, I'd be less worried.

It's possible I've come across quite neurotic on this thread. I honestly don't bark "take those fecking shoes off" at my guests. But I am freakishly squeamish about dog shit. I have a real horror of it (in case that wasn't clear).

I think that people care more about pants on/off than shoes on/off. But it's hard to be sure...

Nobody has ever walked dog shit into my house.

I didn’t know there were people so against taking their shoes off! You all must have horrendous feet.
I take my shoes off at any opportunity, cannot relax with shoes on.
I also don’t like the idea of outside dirt being traipsed round the house- especially with the baby crawling round in it

No shoes in our house ever! Never has been and if you don't like it you don't come in. DH is Swedish, they would never have shoes on in the house either, it's considered rude. Why would you need to keep them on. It's much more comfortable without them and gives your feet a rest. Apart from them there are enough studies which only help me stick to the no shoe rule; yuk! www.ciriscience.org/a_96-Study-Reveals-High-Bacteria-Levels-on-Footwear www.today.com/home/health-reasons-why-you-shouldn-t-wear-shoes-house-t129820 www.scarymommy.com/wearing-shoes-house-bad-says-science/

I think that people care more about pants on/off than shoes on/off

I couldn’t give a shite wether people wear pants in bed or not but hell will freeze over before I start dictating what my guests should wear for the sake of my floor.

Scarymummy.com? Yes, massively credible.

We do as I’ve got a crawling baby. Most of my friends expect no shoes in the house too.

I think it's OK to expect visitors to remove shoes as long as you provide somewhere to sit when removing them and provide a choice of thongs for them to wear. If you expect me to slip and slide about in my socks on your wooden floors then know that you are legally liable if I have an accident. A friend has had half his foot amputated, and one leg is shorter than the other - would you expect him to remove his special shoes and hobble around in circles?
PS. "thongs" isn't a typo.

you are legally liable if I have an accident

Really?? I don't see how.

As long as you wipe your feet what’s the problem?

I've been thinking about this, and the chances of having dog shit brought into the house on someone's feet. I agree that it would/is horrible, but I really don't think it's very likely.

For a couple of years I worked in a community centre which was mostly carpeted. At the front doors there was the type of fitted, heavy duty doormat you often see in public buildings.

Over the course of a week, there were at least 1,000 visitors to the Centre. Some of those visitors would go out at some point during the day, and come back in again, so for the purposes of carpet dirtying, they could be counted as two visitors. We were open 7 days a week, and only really closed fully for less than a week in total, but to account for quiet time, I'll assume a year of 45 weeks. 45,000 visitors.

I worked there for 2 years - so, 90,000 visitors in that time. None of those 90,000 visitors took their shoes off when they came into the Centre. None of those 90,000 visitors over the course of the 2 years I worked there (I was the manager so would have been told if this had happened) brought dog shit into the Centre on their shoes. Not once!

The carpet was stained in places, and I didn't think it was the best choice of flooring for a busy public building, but none of those stains were caused by dirt or shit or anything brought in on people's shoes. They were mostly caused by people dropping food or spilling drinks on the carpet.

90,000 visitors - all with shoes on - no dog shit or anything else that would wreck a carpet.

If I had to take my shoes off, I would be expecting to do so once I have passed the door mat and in the hall.

But some responses sound like guests must take their shoes off while still outside?