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?

I always take mine off but I wouldn’t ask anyone to in my house.

I wear my shoes in my own house as it's all wooden flooring downstairs. DH never wears his shoes in the house. I don't ask anyone to take their shoes off and when they ask if they need to, I say no. When I go to other peoples houses though, I always ask if I need to take my shoes off unless I've been there before and know 'the rules'. Most houses I go to say not to take them off but if I spot a carpet, I say no it's ok, I'll take them off

We do, even since moved and wooden flooring.
I paid a lot of money for decent carpets in last place and no way was it being worn down with shoes on.. In fact after 8 yrs it still looked new.
I always remove shoes in others houses except 1 as they say not to

No but I hate outdoor shoes being worn inside the house.

Sister has severe allergies, so all outside jackets, footwear etc are removed in the entrance hall before going inside the house, I've got absolutely no problem with that, but in my own house I have pets and I'm much more laid back (on the outside) so shoes are fine indoors... I have bipolar disorder, and suffer from severe anxiety and mysophobia! So I have my routine and I'm very ridged when it comes to decontamination!

I don’t ask but I sometimes wish people would engage brain and just do it. I have light carpets and live in the country, and walking straight in normally means walking shit all over the carpet.

I take mine off at friends’ houses without being asked, btw.

What happens if you insist on shoes off and the person has really stinky feet?

I take mine off at friends’ houses without being asked, btw.

God I hope you never come to my house. I hate feet and can’t stand it when people take their shoes off without checking. So rude.

Most of downstairs is slate so we don’t ask people to. But we have cream carpet up the stairs and in the sitting room so if people ask (they usually do) then we say yes but don’t enforce it. We have underfloor heating throughout downstairs so it’s lovely to walk on without shoes. But the carpet is scrubbable so actually dead easy to clean.

People should check before taking them off.

I always take mine off because I like to sit with one leg folded under me, and I think most people would draw the line at shoes on their sofa!

I'm not an 'outside germ phobe', it just seems common sense to me that you don't walk all that muck around your house

Exactly. When you live near muddy fields where everyone walks their dogs, I hardly think it makes me a "germaphobe" to not want mud, grass/chalk, and most importantly dog shit smeared over my floors. If not wanting dog crap on my floor makes me a "germaphobe" then fine, I'm a germaphobe! (going on this assertion, i'd hate to see the state of some people's houses who think this is OTT- shudder)

Yes i ask as i don't want all the mud crap and germs trodden into my carpets people who don't take their shoes off are disgusting

Yes given that we have just spent thousands of pounds carpeting our new home, I politely ask people to take off their shoes. I think it's a fair request tbh.

Just ask politely
We have cream / beige carpets throughout the house and I never ask people to take shoes off, although many people do of their own accord.
I've had the odd child trapse mud through but it washes off and my 15yo carpets are still in very good nick and no kids or babies have caught anything off the floor in fact my two have rather robust immune systems (which I am thankful for as mine is screwed)
We have a big mat by each door (a lot of people come in via the back door)
If people ask me to take shoes off in their house then I don't mind but it's not always easy for me to do as I have severe (but invisible) arthritis so it's not always that simple especially if there is nowhere to easily perch to do it.

We also live in the countryside, with a building site next door.
I have never known an adult who comes to the door with muddy shoes to not take them off of their own volition

I just automatically take my shoes off as I go into anyone else's house just as I when I get home. It's basic hygiene and politeness.

Forgot to add that I have folded indoor shoes in my bag. I have sparkly evening ones if I go out to dinner. I don't care if people think I'm odd.

I think it's really rude not to at least offer to take your shoes off.

I live in Asia so it's always shoes off - no need to ask anyone.
Workmen who come to the house bring shoe covers with them and put them on at the door.

I never ask people to remove their shoes and hate being asked to do so.
I feel very uncomfortable sat in someone's house in stocking feet.

Only people I encountered who don't take ahoes off in their house are people on tv and MN

I have washable slippers for guests.

It's a cultural thing. I've moved around a bit. In some parts of the country it's common courtesy, in others it's seen as precious. Certain small minded people can't see that their way of doing things isn't universal and get in a huff with people doing things differently.

No, they either do it automatically or ask me

Hate it. It’s ridiculous when you get all dressed up to go round for a dinner party then have to traipse around in stockings. My grandma always said it’s a lower class thing.