How to ask for shoes off!

[RudolphRed]

I don't want to be 'that person' but we are having a little Christmas Eve get together at our house tomorrow. We've just put every penny we have into a house renovation, so I would really prefer if guests remove their shoes. I always do when I visit people, but is there a diplomatic way to ask if they don't? I'm not usually super fussy, but we've spent so much getting our home nice, I could really do without a lot of dirty shoes traipsing through and it's given heavy rain all morning to make matters worse!
If you're just going to make a snide remark, please don't bother replying to my post - helpful answers only please. Thankyou 🥰

If you are so houseproud why are you even hosting a party ... what about the possibility of spilled drinks, food dropped on carpets etc etc?
I do take my shoes of in my own home but wouldn't dream of expecting guests to ... and another thing I hate is a pile of shoes in the door way ... unless you live in a mansion (in which case you would probably have a cleaner) there is just no where to put all the guests' shoes.

many seem to place their floor above guests comfort. And don’t understand that’s really rude.

This.

The only time I haven't minded, was when some friends had done a massive reno project and it was on the market, complete with pale carpets throughout. But they didn't have parties there, either. I had a special pair of "indoor only" Crocs for visiting them!

@Quincythequince I don't think it's a good idea to mop a carpet. Not everyone has or likes wooden flooring.

You’re definitely mopping wrong. You need one of these, then you wouldn’t need to take your shoes off.

www.amazon.co.uk/Vileda-1-2-Spray-Max-Mop/dp/B0845FLQZ2/ref=dp_fod_1?pd_rd_w=mMNx8&content-id=amzn1.sym.369ca2df-1521-4fdf-a041-ad143e02ddad&pf_rd_p=369ca2df-1521-4fdf-a041-ad143e02ddad&pf_rd_r=Y9RHW5QEQ0HTMJXKB5EB&pd_rd_wg=LNBtt&pd_rd_r=94a990f2-c6d2-42c2-a2c8-0fe620d8a96e&pd_rd_i=B0845FLQZ2&psc=1

I think you have to warn people in advance, as others have mentioned. If I knew I was going to have to take my shoes off at a party it would influence my outfit choice, and I may choose to bring a pair of ballet flats with me to slip into for inside.

Let people know now, OP and save any fuss or embarrassment later and people can bring their own indoor shoes if they prefer.

In a previous life, I had to visit a local viscount in the course of my work. I saw him in his study, which was in the private part of the house, not the bit open the public.

I wasn't asked to remove my shoes, there was a smelly old spaniel snoozing and drooling on the floor, and his lordship had what appeared to be egg all down his tie.

There were cobwebs in the corners, too!

Fair enough.
But either way, my point remain re the sheer number of bugs your LO is exposed to every day, on a daily basis.

Yoir house with a toddler is likely to be more germ covered than many others are..that’s for sure.

VECTORS for all sorts bugs are small kids.

It was the same when I was doing a job that involved home visits, @TimeSlipMushroom . Some of our clients could be very unpredictable, and you needed to be ready to make a quick getaway.

We had shoe covers to use when visiting a couple of clients with severe OCD, who really couldn't tolerate outdoor shoes indoors, until a colleague slipped with shoe covers on and hurt her back quite badly. After that, any clients who wanted shoes off had to have their appointments in a community setting.

Shoes finish an outfit. Lots of my clothes would look dreadful with bare feet or, horrors, a slipper or or a borrowed sock.

I have a pair of evening trousers that I can only wear with heels. They'd be a real trip hazard if I had to go barefoot in them.

I have horrible feet. I hate people looking at them. I really, really hate it. If I turned up to a party where I was asked to remove my shoes without having been told in advance I think I'd just go home.

Text people in advance to say that your floors can get a little cold so they may want to bring slippers/extra socks.

@Quincythequince literally hooting with laughter, tears coming out of my eyes from your comment about elderly people coming in with 'potentially piss covered shoes' even typing that started a fresh onslaught!

Thank you for that 🤣🤣🤣🤣

If I was fussy about my floor, I would invest in some of that transparent carpet protector to use for social occasions.

I would not be able to attend any parties where I was forbidden to wear shoes, as I cannot walk safely without them or some kind of zimmer frame, which would also be contaminated with outdoor filth, as it's little rubber feet would have been slithered over the dog shit strewn pavement on my perilous journey to the party.

I'm surprised this flies on mumsnet of all places. A woman once told me to take my toddler's shoes off. He hadn't walked to her house. He'd been sitting in a buggy and I carried him in to the house. He cried when I tried to take off his shoes and I said ''can I just leave on his shoes then'' and she still insisted. So after that experience I get unreasonably triggered by this nonsense. If you're inviting guests over then you can't instruct them to take off their shoes fgs.

Most people come by car I'm sure. Can you not trust your guests not to walk dirt in to your house? It's all so rude.

These threads just amaze me in how polarised they are.

We entertain quite a lot and I've never ever had a guest remove shoes. There's nowhere in the hall anyway. Maybe it's just our friends, but I've also not been asked to take them off anywhere. I can't really imagine a nice house party in stocking feet.

I don't wear shoes inside for comfort, I get changed as soon as I'm in from work. But if a friend comes round I'd not even think to suggest that.

What happens in nice weather for example if people might have drinks in the garden or smokers going in and out?

You don't have to be diplomatic and gentle and subtle. Just ask outright as they walk in! No one will mind surely? It's a perfectly reasonable request.

No one will mind surely?

Read the room - or at least the thread. Many, many people mind.

Yes I’d love to know what happens in summer - doors to the garden are open - people milling in and out. Are they taking their shoes on and off every time they go from the garden to the kitchen? No because that would be ridiculous.

I’ve come to the conclusion people who are more precious about their floors than guests do not have parties (or very good ones).

Tell them in advance: bring slippers we've got new flooring

😆 I know.

It seems that we were able to convince people that guests wouldn’t be rocking up with a fresh coiler hanging off their shoes either one that was there unnoticed when they got dressed to make their way to the party (so that has been in their wardrobe since last year) or that they managed to step in and pick up during the circa 20m walk from the car to the house.

However, the issue of piss…all sorts of animal piss on shoes (leaves too maybe, lots leaves) has now cropped up.

You couldn’t make this shit up could you.

Worzel gummidge for guests!

Message people in advance
" we are a no shoes indoors household. Please bring indoor shoes or be prepared to go barefoot at our party"

That way everyone knows what to expect & people like me, who have reynauds, can stay home & be comfortable.

I didnt know this was so polarising until mumsnet.

I dont know anyone that doesnt take their shoes off automatically except for my Sister in Law.

@Quincythequince I'm not a germaphobe, I don't ban my son from going to soft play (our local one has a shoes off rule anyway) or constantly Dettol the house but the thought of someone accidentally stepping in dog poo and then walking it through my house turns my stomach 🤢

Yeah me either, I thought everyone just took their shoes off when coming inside. I guess not!

Guaranteed that the soles of adults shoes for a party (not workers boots or dog walking boots which some people seem to think other may wear to a party 🤣) is cleaner than soft play!

Hands down!

Think of all those particles of poo, wee and snot in soft play

🤮🤮🤮