Do you ask people to take off their shoes in your house?

[avocadoincident]

I almost always take my shoes off in other people's houses.

I'd like people to take their shoes off in my house but I don't want to sound like a precious knobhead.

How ( if you do) do you ask people nicely to take their shoes off?

Or should I just not be a precious knobhead?

"Would you mind taking your shoes off?"

Is it just me or does this get asked every week?

Nah, just not be a precious knobhead.

Floors are meant to be walked on.

If someone's been stomping through cowpat en route to your house chances are they'll offer to take them off anyway.

No, and I have never been to anyone's house where I have been asked to take them off either.

I don't and hate it when people make me do it

I think this has been discussed many times! Your house, absolutely fine for you to ask.

I don't see any point in beating around the bush, and don't want room for people to avoid it. They come in, and if they don't take their shoes off, I say 'please could you take your shoes off'.

I have a shoe rack by the door, an obvious doormat and always come to the door without shoes. The shoes dp and I wear the most are immediately visible when you enter as they are out of the rack Oh, and I have cream carpets!

I tend to find that doesn’t mean I have to ask often as people can see we are a no shoes house and immediately offer or take them off automatically.

I dont care so never ask but everyone around here takes their shoes off and on standing there going "it really doesnt matter. Just get in!"

Although I did ask today for the first time ever cos the delivery guy was bringing in a bit box for me but had just been delivering at the farm next to us so his shoes were caked in mud and what smelled like dung. I felt super awkward asking! Especially since he was doing my a favour but I had too!

No I don't, wouldn't ask in this climate.

Hell yes!!! No-one enters my house with shoes on!!! I just ask them to take shoes off,no big deal.

I’m always desperate for people not to take their shoes off- always seems really odd to me.

I don't ask but I wish they would. It's very obvious that we don't wear outdoor shoes in the house (they're all by the front door). Friends and family all take them off automatically. I wouldn't expect people entering our home for work purposes to remove their shoes (but I'd love it if they did). Where I live is great in many ways but there is a lot of dog crap on the pavements

I don't know anyone who doesn't take their shoes off in the house. I'd be surprised if I had to ask someone to take them off.

We have a ton of cheap slippers if people want to use them. My husband is Asian, so this is just the norm for him. But it would be beyond him if someone walked through the house with shoes on.

I take mine off and I don't allow shoes in the house with DS/DP. We are in rented accommodation with light coloured carpets so I'm trying to keep them in the best condition I can. Close family take their shoes off without being asked. I wouldn't bother mentioning it to other visitors though - generally theyre only going from the front door to the couch for a cup of tea so if they want to keep their shoes on that's fine.

Yes; I have new carpets and I’m trying to keep them as nice as possible. Although I don’t normally have to ask to be honest.

I really hate taking my shoes off and no, I don’t ask guests to, not at all.

'Nah, just not be a precious knobhead.

Floors are meant to be walked on.'

I agree. I think it's so stuffy and unwelcoming to ask people to sit there in socks or tights, or bare sweaty feet in summer (gross). And I say that as someone who is extremely house proud, and I have cream carpets too!

If people start faffing around removing shoes on the doorstep, I tell them to keep them on and get inside. The only exception would be if someone had obviously filthy, muddy shoes. I will take shoes off if asked in someone else's house but I HATE it

No.

This is such a Mumsnet thing. I've never been asked to remove my shoes in friends' houses but I do take them off voluntarily if they're muddy or dirty.

I don't ask anyone to remove their shoes, we have real wood floors though which are easily cleaned. I know one friend who asks people to remove them but she has pale cream carpets. Doesn't bother me.
I never wear shoes at home just because I like being barefoot.

@Batqueen Shoe rack by the front door also....gentle hint... Its not that I'm precious but I've got a 1 & 2 year old that seem to be able to pick up the smallest speck and put straight in their mouths (and brand new carpets!).

I always ask the question 'do you want me to take my shoes off?' When I enter someones home anyway, just because some people do but don't want to ask-

I have has a few 'raised eyebrows' when I've asked 'sorry, do you mind?', I wouldn't put up a fight or anything if someone said they did mind- but then I think its polite to ask, it's my home, thems the rules!

It is the cultural norm where I live (Sweden) - it is considered disgusting to tramp the dirt from outside through someone's home unless you have a disability. Also the norm in most schools/nurseries/clinics etc - you remove shoes in the cloakroom or wear those baggies over your shoes. Children keep "indoor shoes" at school - slippers/crocs/trainers or sandals etc

I don't and I wear shoes in my own house most of the time. I will offer in other people's houses though

I love these threads. Never change MN, never change.

Personally I hate removing shoes, being asked to remove shoes or anyone trying to remove shoes in my house. But it's your house OP. Do what you want.

Please can you take your shoes off?

My PILs wear their shoes indoors, and their carpets are filthy!

While I wouldn’t expect someone who struggles to take their shoes on/off to do so, I think it’s common decency to ask if you should take them off in someone else’s house.