To ask visitors to please do this?

[925XX]

Remove their shoes. I have very pale cream carpets and no one in the household wears shoes in the house. My niece recently called and it was heavily raining, she had cork sole shoes on which sucked up lots of water which she tramped over my carpets. I asked her to take them off as wet soggy prints were being left behind. I do not have to ask some people but feel awkward when I do ask.

Not unreasonable at all. It's your house.

I had to ask the plumber to but covers on his shoes because he'd walked through actual mud and was about to walk it into my home.

I guess different people have different standards, I grew up in a home where shoes could be left on and didn't think anything of it. But I ask everyone to take their shoes off now and I think it's rude if they don't to be honest.

I have wooden floors but we leave our shoes off at home and they tend to be in a big pile by the door (instead of in the lovely baskets I bought ). Almost everyone who comes offers to take off their shoes, I think because they see the pile. I don't mind what they do but people def ask me & don't seem to kind

I think it depends.

We're generally a "shoes off" household but I do make exceptions - for example, I would never ask anyone with limited mobility to remove their shoes, or someone elderly as I feel as though it's unfair to make them do that much work just to come in my home.

Just ask people. We're not a "shoes off" house but I don't mind at all at other people's houses and will always offer if it seems like that sort of house.

I really hoped covid would make the vast majority of people come round to a shoes off policy at home. I don't understand how people are comfortable walking around at home in shoes and it's bloody gross on any type of flooring. I have no desire to clean floors repeatedly so they aren't harbouring dirt and germs (I am no clean freak). Your house, your rules - don't make it optional, have a shoe rack at the entrance and preferably a chair so there's no issues with anyone less mobile not being able to comply.

I bought my ex-son in law a sign from Ebay when he had new carpets fitted. Also, if you put a couple of pairs of shoes inside the front door, it gives people a hint. You can also buy printed doormats which say "Please remove your shoes".

I work in peoples homes, so always carry socks in my bag. I'd say out of the homes I've worked in at least 75% were shoes off.

So not an unusual request!

Everyone in the UK with good manners already takes off their shoes, and most people expect it. No shoes get past my hallway for any reason.

Glad its not just me then. In the good old days when doctors did home visits, my mother asked him to take off his shoes!

Feet are just as likely to have germs , athletes foot, yeast infections , veruccas . Give me shoes any day I hate the idea of someone’s bare feet in my house, but then we don’t live somewhere with dirty pavements . People either go from car to house or they are in walking boots / wellies which obviously you would take off. We also have a dog and he can’t take off his feet .

@Eunorition

I like in the UK and no one I know takes shoes off going into other people's houses.

I dont think they all lack good manners. Its just not really a thing here

If someone asked me to I would, but no one asks

We leave ours at the door, all visitors do too, never had to ask

I hate ‘shoes off’ rule, it’s unwelcoming. Don’t have light coloured carpets if you’re that worried! Carpets like that get grubby despite all this shoes off nonsense! They are dirt magnets.

If you must insist on such a silly rule, let your visitor know in advance so that they can bring slippers. I hate having to take my shoes
off and walk around in my socks, looks bloody ridiculous. Or get some biodegradable shoe covers.

Oh I hope he is not an ex son in law because of your present.😂

Utter nonsense.

@Topgub

I'm British too, everyone I know takes shoes off, can't recall anyone who doesn't - I've lived in London, east anglia, midlands and south west, no it's not a se thing

Given the amount of dog crap on the pavements these days, I don't think we'll be rethinking our shoes off policy anytime soon!

If someone tries to walk into my laminate with shoes I just say “shoes off. Shoes off. Shoes off. Shoes off. Shoes off.Shoes off.Shoes off.”

No your right, I should have bought black carpets so as not to show the dirt!

I live in the UK and don’t know anyone who has a shoe on policy. The thought of all the crap outside being trodden through houses (and we have hard floors) makes me feel a bit ill. Especially here in London - so much dog and fox poo!!

What's Covid got to do with it? Covid is an airborne disease. You should have a masks on policy, not a shoes off policy.

Is that a joke ? Who would be that rude to a guest .

Poppycosh

it’s simple basic politeness to remove shoes on entry

it’s not sit the colour of the carpet. There’s dirt from outside on shoes. I clean all the time as it is don’t come to my house and create work for me

We are a no shoes indoors family but I’m very reluctant to ask visitors to remove shoes. I see it as pretty rude tbh - it’s like saying that my floors are equally if not more important than my guests.