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AIBU?

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Original poster

For asking the heating engineer to wear shoe covers in my house

136 replies

purplehearts21 · 03/12/2025 15:12

Guy came round this morning to the service the boiler, I greeted him in and asked if he’d wear the shoe covers as I’ve just had new floor fitted and new rugs. You have to walk through my whole house to get to the boiler and I get they they can’t take their shoes off for health and safety so I’ve came up with a solution. The guy looked at me like I’m a bit mad but I wouldn’t dream of walking through someone’s house with my shoes on. We’re a shoes off at the door family and you won’t believe the amount of people that will just walk on through unless you say something. ( including dh father and stepmother who are exactly the same and will stand and wait til you take them off in their home but will walk through ours with shoes on no bother) I find it so rude and would never do it unless I was asked to keep them on. This man looked at me like I was an alien though but at least he agreed.

was I being unreasonable to ask?

OP posts:
bumptybum · 03/12/2025 15:15

Very normal. In fact a lot of contractors bring their own. So i can’t imagine he’s never seen them before

mumofoneAloneandwell · 03/12/2025 15:16

Definitely reasonable. As above x

ForZanyAquaViewer · 03/12/2025 15:19

They usually bring their own and automatically put them on or take their shoes off, in my experience.

bumptybum · 03/12/2025 15:19

I do find it very very odd that your fil and step mil insist on you taking off shoes but walk into your house with their shoes on. That’s mega rude because it’s very clearly stating that they think shoes are filthy but they hold your place as not important enough to warrant removing their shoes. I’d find this level of rudeness intolerable. I hope you stop them and ask them to remove their shoes.

FullOfLemons · 03/12/2025 15:25

You can pack of shoe covers on Amazon

I always offer but as PP mentioned most bring their own.

xILikeJamx · 03/12/2025 15:29

I don't think I've had trades in the house in the last 10 years who hadn't brought their own shoe covers. I often tell them not to bother, but they usually make the gesture of their own accord

IcyPuddles · 03/12/2025 15:32

purplehearts21 · 03/12/2025 15:12

Guy came round this morning to the service the boiler, I greeted him in and asked if he’d wear the shoe covers as I’ve just had new floor fitted and new rugs. You have to walk through my whole house to get to the boiler and I get they they can’t take their shoes off for health and safety so I’ve came up with a solution. The guy looked at me like I’m a bit mad but I wouldn’t dream of walking through someone’s house with my shoes on. We’re a shoes off at the door family and you won’t believe the amount of people that will just walk on through unless you say something. ( including dh father and stepmother who are exactly the same and will stand and wait til you take them off in their home but will walk through ours with shoes on no bother) I find it so rude and would never do it unless I was asked to keep them on. This man looked at me like I was an alien though but at least he agreed.

was I being unreasonable to ask?

I’ve never asked a tradesman to cover his boots and it doesn’t bother me to be honest, although a lot of them bring their own covers.

My mother in law was stupendously posh and she considered it rude to ask guests to take off their shoes. I think it’s an upper class thing.

Comefromaway · 03/12/2025 15:33

YANBU (& I am a shoes on house).

I work for a firm of gas engineers & we have a supply of shoe covers.

taxguru · 03/12/2025 15:36

YANBU. We've been a shoes off/shoe covers household for 28 years since we moved here. These days, any decent tradesmen/contractor will either bring their own or will either remove their shoes or put on the shoe covers (we have a box by the front door) without any fuss. Yes, the odd neanderthal seems to make a big deal of it, but they're a very small minority, and we make a mental note not to use them again! Certainly the big firms like BT, Virgin, British Gas, etc come to the door with shoe covers in their hand and put them on automatically.

Luckyingame · 03/12/2025 15:37

Should be a requirement. Full stop.

Mariammaom · 03/12/2025 15:37

Of course no one should walk through your house with muddy, dirty shoes! Any tradesmen should bring their own covers.

Mariammaom · 03/12/2025 15:41

IcyPuddles · 03/12/2025 15:32

I’ve never asked a tradesman to cover his boots and it doesn’t bother me to be honest, although a lot of them bring their own covers.

My mother in law was stupendously posh and she considered it rude to ask guests to take off their shoes. I think it’s an upper class thing.

Edited
Show quote history

It doesn’t bother you that people wear muddy boots inside your house, on a nice clean floor??

MintDog · 03/12/2025 15:43

I find it rude personally.

icouldholditwithacobweb · 03/12/2025 15:43

YANBU.

Also, my parents did the same with my house despite their own being shoes off - they'd happily walk through MY house with their shoes on! I was very vocal about it, and they don't do it any more. The disrespect had my brows raised to the ceiling, though.

IcyPuddles · 03/12/2025 15:45

Mariammaom · 03/12/2025 15:41

It doesn’t bother you that people wear muddy boots inside your house, on a nice clean floor??

Show quote history

Yes if they were muddy. We have a doormat and no tradesman has ever come in with boots that were muddy or which left muddy footprints. Not all footwear is caked in mud.

ThatNoisyTealBird · 03/12/2025 16:05

Yanbu. I'm not generally too bothered but, if I'd just had a new floor and rug then absolutely I'd want to keep them nice for as long as possible!

Toddlerteaplease · 03/12/2025 16:14

ForZanyAquaViewer · 03/12/2025 15:19

They usually bring their own and automatically put them on or take their shoes off, in my experience.

This. Although I was very surprised when a sky engineer came last week and didn’t bring them. He did ask if it was ok to keep his boots on though. But it so the first time anyone has not brought covers.

XWKD · 03/12/2025 16:17

IcyPuddles · 03/12/2025 15:32

I’ve never asked a tradesman to cover his boots and it doesn’t bother me to be honest, although a lot of them bring their own covers.

My mother in law was stupendously posh and she considered it rude to ask guests to take off their shoes. I think it’s an upper class thing.

Edited
Show quote history

I would never someone to take their shoes off.

GasPanic · 03/12/2025 16:24

As a tradesperson you often have to wear protective boots all the time.

I'd expect some sort of covers, or at least be willing to inspect the soles to make sure there are no stones in the treads or nails embedded in them.

Aside from mud and carpets, a big issue is when you get a stone trapped in the treads and then walk on a hard surface like wood or laminate. It can cause a massive amount of damage if the person does not pick their feet up, although normally you notice pretty quickly.

IsItSnowing · 03/12/2025 16:56

I thought they all brought their own. Especially at this time of year when it's muddy and wet outside, it seems the decent thing to do.

Original poster
purplehearts21 · 03/12/2025 17:20

bumptybum · 03/12/2025 15:15

Very normal. In fact a lot of contractors bring their own. So i can’t imagine he’s never seen them before

He was quite young, probably mid 20s I’m guessing he’s not familiar with them.

OP posts:
Original poster
purplehearts21 · 03/12/2025 17:24

bumptybum · 03/12/2025 15:19

I do find it very very odd that your fil and step mil insist on you taking off shoes but walk into your house with their shoes on. That’s mega rude because it’s very clearly stating that they think shoes are filthy but they hold your place as not important enough to warrant removing their shoes. I’d find this level of rudeness intolerable. I hope you stop them and ask them to remove their shoes.

Exactly. It winds me up no end tbh..and they literally greet you at their door and stand waiting for you to take your shoes off before showing you to the lounge. I’ve often felt like being as rude as them and just waltzing on through over their cream carpet but I was brought up better than them.

OP posts:
Original poster
purplehearts21 · 03/12/2025 17:29

icouldholditwithacobweb · 03/12/2025 15:43

YANBU.

Also, my parents did the same with my house despite their own being shoes off - they'd happily walk through MY house with their shoes on! I was very vocal about it, and they don't do it any more. The disrespect had my brows raised to the ceiling, though.

The eyebrow comment had me giggling lol yep it’s extremely rude and it’s made me dread when they are coming over

OP posts:
MotherofPufflings · 03/12/2025 17:33

Maybe he was just surprised by you offering shoe covers as it's completely normal for tradespeople to offer to take their shoes off when they arrive? I've never had one say ghat they can't because H&S

Original poster
purplehearts21 · 03/12/2025 17:36

GasPanic · 03/12/2025 16:24

As a tradesperson you often have to wear protective boots all the time.

I'd expect some sort of covers, or at least be willing to inspect the soles to make sure there are no stones in the treads or nails embedded in them.

Aside from mud and carpets, a big issue is when you get a stone trapped in the treads and then walk on a hard surface like wood or laminate. It can cause a massive amount of damage if the person does not pick their feet up, although normally you notice pretty quickly.

Tbh I don’t care if the shoes are muddy or clean. Shoes should not be worn inside full stop. You’ve walked on pavement that has been pissed and shat on. People spit 🤮 it’s just gross and then you’re walking it onto your floors and carpets. It make me heave and I’m no clean freak but I like to take care of my home.

OP posts:
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