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.

Express - either on or off, depending on what they think Diana would have done

😂

We are a shoes off house. Most people seem to take theirs off automatically or at least offer.

I've only ever had to ask twice.
Once to my dad who wasn't thinking and followed DD into the snug with muddy trainers on cream carpets, and multiple times to my mother in law who seems to think it's perfectly acceptable to come in and out her feet up with shoes on on my sofa

I wouldn't dream of assuming I can keep my shoes on in someone's home so don't think it's rude at all to ask people if they seem to forget or not realise

Mail - shoes on - shoes off is far too European

Times - shoes off, neat boot rack by the back door, and boot brush

Sun - shoes on for the men, shoes off and pink fluffy heeled slippers for the ladies

Guardian - shoes off, mahabis on (or barefoot), but won’t demand it of others - people can express how they want to display their feet how they wish

Express - either on or off, depending on what they think Diana would have done

😂

Well, I suppose no one would ever accuse Diana of having manky feet or athlete’s foot…

I haven't even got a phone
Do you have shoes?

Even visited someone who had carpet in the bathroom once.

Same. The kitchen too. Unthinkable here.

Shoes on Guardian reader here!

Shoes on Guardian reader here!

And here 😊

All this talk about class. I’m in a strictly no shoes country. Tbh people here watching UK tv series etc always comment on why so many have carpets, how disgusting it must be. It’s almost impossible to explain it’s about different cultures, it’s just seen as extremely unhealthy and dirty.

YYY to this. I have lived with wood floors and tiled bathrooms for almost 40 years. I couldn't go back to carpets.

I think it's rude to assume your guests can read your mind. If you want shoes off in your house, ask. If you prefer to take your shoes off in someone else's house, ask.

Yes that's what I've been saying all over this thread. Ask your guests to do what you want them to do with their shoes.

But follow the cue of the person opening the door to you when you're visiting. If they're wearing house slippers or socks and you spot footwear in the hall then it's safe to assume you should take off your shoes.

it’s just seen as extremely unhealthy and dirty.

Any evidence that the health outcomes are different as a result?

I mean, I doubt it, but I'll ask.

In cold damp climates carpets make sense in a way that they wouldn't in hotter countries. I'm in ROI, we have carpets upstairs and that's much cosier than hard floors.

No it's not safe to assume you should take your shoes off if you spot footwear in the hall and your host isn't wearing shoes.

I'm often shoeless and the kids are likely to dump shoes in the hall. Just ask.

Just ask

Exactly, it's not difficult

Apart from the dust, dust mites, dead skin cells, dander, pet hair, dried fecal matter, cockroach and mouse allergens, pesticides, herbicides, mould spores, particulate that settles in, lead dust, insect poo, ground-in food and dried drink, dried vomit, and bacteria tracked in on footwear that you can find in carpets, the carpet itself plus any padding laid down under it can emit volatile organic compounds.

wow it's amazing shoes on peeps are still alive...

and yet here we are!

Apart from the dust, dust mites, dead skin cells, dander, pet hair, dried fecal matter, cockroach and mouse allergens, pesticides, herbicides, mould spores, particulate that settles in, lead dust, insect poo, ground-in food and dried drink, dried vomit, and bacteria tracked in on footwear that you can find in carpets, the carpet itself plus any padding laid down under it can emit volatile organic compounds.

Any evidence that health outcomes are worse though? Is what I asked.

and yet here we are!

I'm a walking miracle me 😂

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.
This is what we do really. Most people ask but elderly people who want to come and sit as soon as possible, we just get them in. We have a carpet shampooer in case of marks.

I think it’s good to ask.
It’s really twatty to assume people are rude because they don’t take their shoes off though. They may have holes socks or manky feet. Slightly different in countries where feet are acceptable.

Dirt is why people have doormats. What happens when you have complete strangers fir gas or electrical inspections etc? Do you really want their manky work socks on your carpet.

I'd stake my car on there not being a singe case if Covid transmitted by shoe.
I think the PP was talking about Covid bringing an awareness of germs in general, not literally suggesting that it could be transmitted by shoe. Lots of other nasties can be, though.

Why does someone look ridiculous with their shoes off? This sounds like a Victorian person saying people look ridiculous without hats on.

Its a bit tricky if you've got high lace up boots on

Dirt is why people have doormats. What happens when you have complete strangers fir gas or electrical inspections etc? Do you really want their manky work socks on your carpet.

Every single tradesman who has ever been to my home has taken off footwear, revealing perfectly clean and non-holey socks underneath, or has brought along a set of disposable shoe covers to put over their footwear.

Is the wearing of manky socks such a common habit that it can be assumed the majority of people are wearing last Thursday's?

Everyone who comes to my house asks do you want me to take my shoes off. Maybe it's the pile of shoes by the door and that we are all barefoot. I always take my shoes off when in someone else's house too. Most people I know like you too. Not a big ask at all.

The only people I know who keep shoes on indoors are much older people but also posh folk. All my friends remove shoes at the door everywhere (we are mid 30s living in home counties).

I hate wearing shoes indoors.