To expect visitors to take their shoes off?

[marymungoNminge]

Just that really! Do you take off your shoes in the home or keep them on?

I'm pretty house proud and I like a tidy home, not a germaphope by any means but I take pride in keeping my home fresh and clean. (Well as much as I can with a toddler!) I think it's really rude to walk into someone else's home with outside shoes on where there's spit, shit, dirt and whatever else. If I had wooden floors maybe that'd be different.

Someone came for an appointment today walked in with their shoes on and left dirt on our stone coloured carpet. WIBU to tell people to remove their shoes if they walk in with them on? DD(2) takes shoes off and puts them on the shoe rack. I just think it's gross but maybe I'm the odd one! It's just how I was brought up!

I'm probably in the minority here but, i've never gone into someones home for a few hours to have my hair done. If i did, then i would absolutely take my shoes off.

If i was to go into a salon to have my hair done for a few hours it wouldnt enter my head to take my shoes off. I also wouldn't expect the hairdresser to have carpet due to the hair etc which might go on the floor so clearing that up is easier on hard floor.

Also this is of course a factor

Maybe employera should provide shoe covers

I have lived in two countries and lots of places in both and I have never ever had anyone ask me to take my shoes off in their house.
Maybe I have grubby friends.

The only time I have ever seen it in "real life" if you can call it that is an episode of Sex and the City

I don't have carpets in my house but I have done with crawling babies etc and can happily report all have grown to adulthood with no ill effects.

I have (1) slippers for frequent visitors. I.e. they reuse the same specific pair of slippers when here. (2) I bought on eBay a set of about 100 shoe covers, I ask workmen to use these indoors.

(3) for other visitors I have some cheap IKEA slippers which I can chuck in the washing machine after use. Or they can use shoe covers.

(4) Downstairs is laminate wood flooring. There is a downstairs toilet. if we have a party there is no need for guests to go up to the carpeted areas, so shoes stay on. We just roll up the living room rug and keep it upstairs for the duration of the party, then mop the floor the next day.

Also are any of the people who tell people to remove their shoes happy to go and their jobs with no shoes on? Its one thing asking a guest but not someone doing their job!

We take shoes off but don't make visitors do so. Eg elderly people find it quite tricky to take shoes off sometimes and don't want to do it with an audience.

Kids are crawling around in playparks and all sorts, I don't think anywhere is sterile tbh!

I insist and if someone doesn’t want to they don’t come in ! Huge problem where we live with dog shit and fox shit all over pavements and there’s no way remnants of that are being walked round my home !

If my workplace was a no-shoes building then yes I'd be happy. My office is very chilled out though so I actually do wear slippers at work 😂

so if the carpet gets dirty, so what's the problem? Are you actually going to be down there licking it, breathing it in? Its not as if germs are going to get you, cannot see the problem😁

We all take off off shoes off the minute we get home because it’s more comfortable. In other peoples houses I do; depends on the shoes I’m wearing though - I always try to wear shoes that I can easily slip on/off if I’m visiting someone.

I ask beforehand when visiting because I know some people like them off and some people don’t but in our home, it is shoes on downstairs (vinyl wood flooring) and shoes off if you’re going upstairs (beige carpet). I’m in and out of the house when doing the front and back gardens and having to take off my shoes every time when I don’t have to is tedious and ridiculous. Vacuuming up the dirt and mopping the floor afterwards is just easier to me.

Tbf I don't ask my DH's grandparents to take them off but I cry inside watching them walk over my rugs with their shoes on.

She’s got a toddler! I have a crawling baby. She does not need to crawl through bits of dog shit just so guests feel welcome. Babies and toddlers will then put their hands in their mouths, rub their eyes, etc.

I also have a dog, and trust me, even with the best will in the world, picking up shit can leave a bit behind. You are walking in it. Take your shoes off

We used to change to slippers even at school. They still do actually. Or going ito gp's office. You left your shoes by the door.

You can ask people to take their shoes off. But don't expect them to do it unprompted.

YANBU. I have wooden floors and it's not different. I don't want loads of grit over the floors, I actually find it more annoying on a hard floor because stuff sticks to your feet if you're barefoot at home. And as others say, it's gross. There's so much dog shit on the pavements, why would I want that on the floor inside? Also bare feet may be stinky but they're not a biohazard.
Japanese, Korean households take shoes off as standard. I don't know why we don't!

We all take our shoes off but I don't expect guest to, although some do.

I actually thinks it's more of an issue in the summer.

I have fungal toenails ( I know) and don't always wear socks. Even if I do have socks on, I feel lots of people would rather I kept my shoes on if they thought about it.

Then there's that whole thing of taking your shoes off and then being invited into the back garden.

Also if I've got dressed in a hurry my socks don't always match, or there's a hole in my tights etc and then I feel suitably shamed.

It feels a bit like someone asking to see if you've got your best knickers on.

So no, not rude to keep them on or take them off, but I think it's rude to insist.

Either don't have a cream carpet, or hoover/mop more if your bothered about germs.

And who cares what's on the bottom of shoes? Who is going around licking their floors?

No, I wouldn't expect someone working on their feet to take their shoes off.

Ok, I'll accept that babies and toddlers might lick the floor.

If someone (like a workman) refuses to take their shoes off, I have a supply of elasticated plastic shield covers that they can wear over their shoes

I wholeheartedly agree with all of this.

A hair appointment op??

So your hairdresser was walking in your hair barefoot?

Shoe covers not shield covers

It’s pretty subjective. Who are these people walking caked on mud, dog shite and bugs into houses (or is this another ‘only on MN’ thing.

Out of curiosity, I checked my shoes in case I need to pop round someones house.

Pretty normal looking.