To ask visitors to please do this?

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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.

We're generally a shoes off house too, and I think it's perfectly reasonable to ask people to do so - your house! I think in a lot of other countries it's completely standard to always remove your shoes when entering a home and would be considered the height of rudeness if a visitor didn't do this.

Respect and good manners goes both ways. Just because someone is a guest does not mean good manners should go out of the window.

Well, I agree, whatever your preferences are, do as you're told tbh🤣

They probably would make allowances for foreigners but if it was in the middle of winter and a visiting Brit tried to bring in snow or mud to someone's house I think practicality would take over and they'd be asked to remove shoes but at the same time I think most visiting Brits would realise before they were asked because most people are sensible and would see that dripping snow everywhere isn't the best idea!

But in the UK, most people if they're visiting others must know them to a certain degree so would surely know if its a shoes on or shoes off or a 'we don't mind' kind of house, and prepare accordingly. I would always go with what the host prefers as that's how I was raised, to be a polite guest.

Tells me all I need to know about the type of person you are.

@Blossomtoes No I’ve said you respect the culture of the country you are in. Many times.

I’ve also said I offer to remove my shoes at every house I go to - even in this country so I am
never rude and wouldn’t trash those pristine (impractical) cream carpets.

What is rude in this country is asking people to take their shoes off. Hopefully they’ll offer if you want them to. But you shouldn’t ask. I would never ask guests to take shoes off.

Tells me all I need to know about the type of person you are.

Blimey, unnecessarily rude comment to infer from a joke. I take it you don't get invited round much after the first time then

What is rude in this country is asking people to take their shoes off.

I agree! Maybe you tagged the wrong person ☺️

I’m British and the culture I’ve grown up in is shoes off.

It’s not the ‘shoes off’ that is the issue. It’s the asking guests to take their shoes off which is impolite.

I‘m sure in many British homes people don’t wear shoes. That doesn’t change the fact it’s basic manners not to demand guests take their shoes off.

I couldn’t even tell you if we were shoes off/ shoes on. I walk around barefoot I guess we all
take shoes off some minutes after coming in. None of us walk around the house in shoes all day.

I wouldn’t dream of asking guests to take their shoes off though. That is the difference.

Sorry, I’ll be clearer - in the culture that I live in and have spent most of my life in (England), asking people to take their shoes off is completely normal, not considered rude, and I’ve never heard of any objection to it except on MN.

I'm shocked this is still 'controversial'.

Shoes are worn outside to keep your socks clean and prevent you from bringing in, and consequently breathing in, all the dust and dirt from outside. That is the function of a shoe.
Can't believe comments that you look ridiculous without shoes on?!Seriously, you feel like you must bring bird/ dog poo to my house because you think that completes your look?

I'm mostly annoyed with people who have been to me before, and were asked to take shoes off before, but still would keep their shoes on next time waiting to see if I'd ask them again - I'm reluctant to every time. I just wish everybody stopped wearing shoes inside already.

But why take personal offence. 'Do you mind taking your shoes off, thanks so much' is not rude, it's just not. Imposing in somebody else's home, however, is.

yanbu. I have some of those hotel slippers to offer people though. Only a few quid on Amazon.

I do not take personal offence. I said it is fine if you keep your floors clean.
Not if your guests walk away with filthy socks.

Shoes off house here too. Friends come and remove their shoes - no problem. I see no reason to wear outdoor shoes inside! I really want to minimise cleaning and if that inconveniences some people - tough. I don't have dogs in my house either.
I have white tiled floors and cream carpets in other rooms - really don't want to look at wet or muddy footprints all over.

What happens if you have a house party? Do all those with precious floors demand shoes off then? Or never have parties?

They demand you take your shoes off for parties as well. People dressed up all in tights, socks or barefoot.

Yes, although in practice I never actually ask people to take their shoes off because everyone does it automatically.

Most people would just ask politely, most polite people would just do it without kicking up a fuss.

I can't imagine asking people to remove their shoes when they come in my house. Of course I would also assume that if anyone coming into my house had muddy shoes for whatever reason they would take them off before coming in.

I'm usually barefoot in my house, but I don't take my shoes off at the front door. I take them off in my bedroom or wherever I'm going to leave them. I also often go outside barefoot - to take the bins out for example - so it's not like my feet are always cleaner than my shoes!

But - your house, your rules.

I don't really have parties much these days but yeah people would take their shoes off for a party too but I wouldn't have the kind of party where people felt they needed to keep shoes on to complete their outfit as that's not really my thing. I was at an engagement party earlier this summer at a posh house (by my standards - they had a grand piano ) with people dressed up and I don't recall anyone keeping shoes on.

@DangerouslyBored Crikey I bet your floors & skirting boards are filthy 🤢 NOT taking shoes off when you arrive home and straight into cosy slippers is what is nonsense! How can you feel comfortable with shoes on? Why would you want all the bacteria from the outdoors, floating round your home? Yuck

Exactly.

If you want someone to take their shoes off, ask them. If you want to take your shoes off in someone else's house, ask them.

@Davyjones You'd be getting a slap from me if you spoke to me like that! How dare you?????

@GT22 You stare at their feet????? Are you quite alright?