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?

Surely you just ask politely that people remove their shoes?

Though we must confuse people as I never wear shoes round the house while my husband always does.

Of course not. It's bad manners.

Don't know anyone who does. Muddy boots off, obviously, but normal footwear? Of course not.

You take your shoes off by my front door or you don't come in. I've got a 6 month baby who's crawling around, I don't want your dirty shoes on my floors. I also don't want to have to scrub my carpets because lazy arsed people can't wipe their feet. Shoes are footwear for outdoors.

I don’t. ... BUT... people do. 🤷🏻‍♀️
I like to be barefoot and we have a wicker shoe basket by the door so maybe they think they should? I do tell them not to worry about, so maybe those that do just prefer it that way?

When the kids were younger I would make THEM take their shoes off, otherwise it sounded like a herd of elephants whilst traipsing mud through the house 🙄

But generally no.

I have wooden floors everywhere so I don't care as I mop every few days but in others I always offer or just do it automatically if they have cream carpets etc

Different view points on this thread. Interesting.
Personally, I don’t consider it bad manners to ask, but to keep your shoes on.

I take my shoes off at home, so see no different when going to someone else’s house.

I don’t know anyone who keeps their shoes on. All my friends instantly take their shoes off at mine (& each other’s), One even brings her slippers 😊

No, people do it without being asked.
It's probably a rural thing.

I think offering whatever a guest feels most comfortable doing is most polite. I then have spare clean slippers for them to wear if their feet will be cold !

I wouldn't dream of asking people to take their shoes off. I have a large inset coir mat inside the front door and I credit people with enough intelligence and common sense to wipe their feet if needed. I also credit them with the wit to avoid large piles of dog shit en route to my house.

I do have one friend who prefers guests to take their shoes off- I find it twee but I love my friend so do as she prefers, and take slippers to keep my feet warm.

If Liz and Phil came calling, you wouldn't ask them to take their shoes off. So don't ask me either.

It's rude.

@leiaskye My MIL leaves a pair of slippers in the shoe rack by the door- where all the shoes live...
Was it wrong that when a pp just mentioned 'you wouldn't ask someone to remove their trousers if they had been on a bus' I thought 'actually I might!?'....buses are rank!

Yes I do !!!
Shoes bring in dirt and germs etc I don't want that on my floors or carpets !!!!!!
Why would you ?

@JanusLooksBothWays I would! And her hat....its rude to wear ones hat indoors..

Yes, the drive outside is muddy and covered in horse shit. I just say “you can leave your shoes right there” and point to the shoe rack.

I don't ask, but hope people offer.
I understand that they might not like too though. They might have hobbit feet or something!

Yes I do !!!
Shoes bring in dirt and germs etc I don't want that on my floors or carpets !!!!!!

Even in summer? What about sweaty feet, athletes foot, verrucas, and other foot nasties? Do you provide unused slippers or other coverings for everyone?

Imagine all the dead skin cells from all those strangers on your carpets... I'd rather take the risk of outside germs myself.

I don’t ask, but everyone does take their shoes off at the door. We live on a farm, as do a lot of our friends and family, and you’d have to be stormingly ignorant to wear shoes indoors having just crossed a farmyard

I hate this and don’t ask people in my house. Spent NYE in tights / no shoes as the host asked everyone to take shoes off before entering. Odd. Shoes are a part of an outfit. PILs ask everyone to take off and hand people slippers too. Odd again.

No

Just simply ask 'can you please take off your shoes?'
If people see me walking through my door and I take off my shoes, they'll either ask or just take theirs off too! I have wooden floors which can be easily cleaned but still hate the germs from bottoms of shoes being walked through the house! . Only exception are slippers which are for indoors only.

No, I'd never do that. Of course, I'd hate anyone to tread stuff into my house, but on balance I'm not going to make a thing of it

WTAF. I don’t want to wear some skanky slippers worn by every stranger in peoples house. That’s insane. Why would anyone offer used slippers?
And if there not used then that’s even more insane

I don't, I'm not worried about my floors (all hard floors on the ground floor, and very old carpet upstairs) and tbh find the thought of other people's bare feet/sweaty socks on my floor more unpleasant! I've noticed almost all of my children's friends take their shoes off automatically when they come for a play date though.

At other people's houses I tend to be lead be them - if they're not wearing shoes, or there's a pile by the door, I'll take mine off without waiting to be asked (whilst secretly hoping they'll tell me not to bother!)

Maybe put a shoe rack by your front door, and as people arrive just say "just pop your shoes there!" with a big smile?

All the play date dc take theirs off automatically here too. Recent birthday party there were loads of shoes in hall.

I offer at friend’s if I see they haven’t theirs on.