How do you ask your guests to remove their shoes?

[lostblonde86]

Just that really, we have around 12 people over for Christmas dinner, and at least half of them don't automatically remove their shoes at their the door (I was brought up with this being basic manors). Yes so there is a door mat for wiping feet HOWEVER this doesn't even get done!! How can I politely ask for the removal of all shoes before my carpets are messed up?

Yes I'm very fussy when it comes to our carpets!

Ggirl of cause had friends/family round but they all remove shoes (without being asked). It's the family that we only see a couple of times a year that to be honest which are causing me the most amount of worry. Of cause if they are walking on my hard floors it's much easier and I don't mind quickly washing a floor should I need too.

I guess I'm just very rude to my guests, and of those who say I should be more worried about dirty hands. I do go round with a antibacterial wipe, seems me having a lowered immune system has made me rather paranoid!

I'll have some clean cosy slippers by the door and hope for the best.

Usually my guests would just take their shoes off without me asking. I think it's rude to walk straight in with shoes on. You don't know what's underneath your shoes. So unhygienic. Otherwise I ask them politely to take them off. Don't think they mind because it's actually more comfy without shoes on carpet.

You can buy sets of guest slippers (well you can here - Germany - I'm sure you can over the internet if not commonly in uk shops) for relatively little. There sre a range of sizes in a case, they look like felt or something. Everyone here takes their shoes off whether you want them to or not, even the chimney sweep and the plumber and the lady from the council who has to check something mysterious in the basement every other year... :o I sometimes wish they wouldn't - I have tiled floors and a dog and 3 kids constantly in and out who manage to have sand in their socks, and I don't wash the floors every day

well, my mum has wall-to-wall carpeting and I still get cold feet in her house. Thankfully she couldn't give a stuff about shoes in the house.

I have wanted to leave people's houses because my feet have been so cold without shoes. It made me feel very unwelcome that her rules were more important than her guest's comfort and I rather dread going to her house. Thankfully in RL the shoes-off brigade are in the minority.

Frankly, when I read these threads I'm always astonished that DD has lived to 4 years old without dropping down of some heinous disease, given that I don't have a shoes-off policy and I also don't wash the floors very often. And we have cats. Still, we are seem pretty robust. And warm.

I wouldn't want to wear someone else's slippers on Christmas Day or at a dinner/party. Like others have said, shoes are part of an outfit.

If you want them to take their shoes off - just ask. I'm sure people will. We seem to have accepted we live in a Hyacinth Bucket society where the state of your carpets is more important than the comfort of your friends and family.

when you've got babies crawling it's dangerous. - for real?

Isn't there an episode of 'Sex and the City' about this... :o

Sometimes my tights have holes in the toes. I would hate to have to take my shoes off and would feel really uncomfortable with my big toe poking through

White rug at the door. People then think "Aah if I have dirty shoes its going to show"..

mirry I have that problem too, apparently it never happens to Germans (or it could ne why they are happy just to drop their kids off to play - clutching their "house shoes" - and wave from the car without coming in! :)

Oh yes Carrie Bradshaw's shoes go missing.

By some artisanal slippers and leave them in a wicker basket by the front door.

I am a shoes off house.

Don't mind indoor party shoes, definitly no outdoor shoes tho.

I usually hover at the door and say,

'if they are outdoor shoes can you take them off please'

If they are shoes that clearly go with an outfit for best and haven't seen much outdoor wear then I am fine with that, but no dog walking shoes. I collar anyone working in my house like the interminable trail of people 'fixing' the bloody boiler and aske them to wear overshoes too.

I am a clean freak with a small child I hate the though of sitting on the floor to play amongst all the shoe droppings.... Bleaurggh

If it makes you feel unwelcome. Feel free not to come back.

"When you've got babies crawling it's dangerous". Snork.

Anyone with trainers is obliged to remove them because of the yuck in the grooves. Family I expect to remove shoes and I have a basket of slippers japanese style in the hallway. If I'm having a party I wear shoes as I expect every one to look their best. And I factor in cleaning a carpet as part of having a party.

Those who leave shoes or boots on in the house, do you only take them off when you get into bed? Don't you find it more comfy to take them off sometimes and let the air get to your feet? Don't your feet get a bit sweaty with them on for long periods? Don't you or your children ever draw your feet up on the sofa to get cosy? Or are shoes on sofas ok? Just curious

Christmas dinner=Christmas outfit. If you told me to take my shoes off I'd leave.

Honestly I think it's unreasonable to invite someone to your house and then ask them to off their shoes because you love your carpet more then them.
Love me, love me in my shoes.

How would you feel if you came to my house and I asked you to take off your make up? Or your tights?

This VERY rarely happens anymore (carpet is cheap these days and you are in a tiny minority) but whenever it does I always refuse and I've not been barred from the dinner party circuit yet...

I can't walk without my shoes. No, really, I've got a neuro condition that means I can't balance without tightly laced trainers/brogue type shoes.

Happy to remove them at your door if you're happy to carry me about?

I was just going to say what Weegie said. Some people have conditions, such as plantar fasciitis, which make it even more painful to go barefoot (or in loose slippers). Lots of old people have problem feet.

And it's fecking Christmas dinner! My sparkly trainers may be from Primark, but they match the sparkly jumper I bought from there as part of an outfit.

Why not have a pyjama party if you want everyone to pad around in slippers on Xmas day.

not ANOTHER thread on this

I agree Ann.

But I will join the masses saying, "I wouldn't, its rude." I care more about the comfort of my guests than about my carpets (and I have a rather expensive 100% wool cream carpet in my living room).

As for the babies crawling argument, presumably they are never allowed out of their pushchairs in any public place or to touch the swings and equipment at the park, etc.

Since some people obviously feel it is the height of rudeness for guests not to take their shoes off and others feel it is incredibly rude to want someone to take their shoes off, can we not agree that it is not a question of manners (because people differ so much as to what is correct) but rather individual custom?

I say this as a shoes on in the house person. I have trouble trying to convince guests to keep their shoes on!

i like to take my shoes off at home
I wouldnt mind if others didn't
but SERIOUSLY this thread is every bloody week and i can tell you NO ONE ever changes their mind

It's rude, don't do it.
Seriously, it's Christmas for god's sake, the 'my house my rules' attitude is completely inappropriate. I wouldn't want to spend Christmas lunch wearing someone else's fluffy slippers.