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!

Yeah it's a tricky one but you shouldn't really care about what people think, your house, your carpets, your rules.

Happy Christmas! I do not care what you think: my house, my rules! Ho ho ho!

You really expect guests to sit down to Xmas Dinner in socks and tights? For real?? Because you're too lazy to steam clean your carpets?

You would make your hosts go to the effort and expense of steam cleaning their carpets because you are too lazy to take off your shoes and wear socks (gasp! horror!)? . Yes for pity sake - I live where it is not customary to wear shoes in the house and everyone gets on fine with their stockings and socks.

However, the truth was said up-thread.....nobody on either side is going to change their mind. You never agree with me on these threads explain and I never agree with you - so its all a bit of a moot point

Well, this is the UK, not where you live.

You need to tell them in advance so that at the very least they can make sure they have clean feet and socks or can bring indoor shoes.My stomach is turning at the thought of sitting next to someone for a whole Xmas lunch with stinking feet .

Plus then they can plan an outfit which doesn't make them feel ridiculous if they have stocking feet.My parents and parents in law would be appalled at having to take their shoes off in public and a warning in advance would enable them to sort out appropriate footwear .I have known my MIL 30 years and have never seen her without shoes!Even when they stayed the night she put shoes on before coming down in the morning.

I usually take slippers off on casual visits to family and good friends, but it's just weird if they're just acquaintances. At a B&B we went to recently the landlady kept us at the door for aaaaaages before I noticed the pointed glances at our feet and the sign about removing muddy footwear (they weren't). The stair carpet was distinctly grubby anyway, and FFS, if you don't want puggy carpets, don't buy a pale one. It was bizarre and unwelcoming.

As for wearing communal guest slippers,

But I wear nice shoes with a dress on Christmas Day. I can't imagine sitting there in slippers, I'd feel like a right tit. It's not a pyjama party.

We take shoes off in the house, but I would not ask guests to, it's very very rude. And for special occasions like Christmas I would assume that shoes were part of the outfit.

Surely people don't need to be notified in advance if they are not to turn up to Christmas dinner with stinking and dirty socks and feet do they?

Having said that I wouldn't ask guests to take off shoes in case they weren't comfortable about it.

I trained the children to ask people to take their shoes off .

I think if your the sort that must insist on this idiocy then you should at least do the following;

Let everyone know in very good time, that way they can plan outfits around socks and bring their own slippers etc.

Do Not Offer Your Slippers; gross.

Ensure you have a chair in the hallway for elderly guest and be preapred to get down and help them!!!

'I trained the children to ask people to take their shoes off'

then you have trained your children to be rude

Its christmas be nice

(although a good opportunity to show off new socks )