Please can you take your shoes off

TITEASCRAMP

CH27 wrote: »

I'd rather see friends & family and have them feel comfortable & welcome and have a grubby carpet than ask people to remove their shoes.

Could I ask why you think it would make them feel uncomfortable?

lostinrates

I wouldn't 't say I get offended. It can be quite awkward though if I am sore that day (I some times use a walking stick but mostly don't and hope many peor do not realise moving can be awkward for me. Bending ATM is very difficult....or rather, standing up again afterwards. Sometimes what is a simple request for some provides unseen difficulty for others. .

I have been mildly ....annoyed is taking it too far...put out, when at black tie events in private houses, the shoes have been an intrinsic part of my outfit. Tbh, it's also a bit odd talking to people in a formal situation inches they are in a bow tie and socks. Similarly, summer parties where you are meant to wander between the house and garden and there is a queue by the door or you have to leap frog over shoes which bet ever more disorganised.


If I am wearing boots or mucky shoes I would of course take them off without being asked but I always worry my socks will smell ...totally unwarranted btw, my feet don 't usually smell...though in my muckers or Welles they can a bit.

gingin_2

lady1964 wrote: »

We live in China and our apartment has all wooden floors. When any service people come in, they put elasticated plastic bags over their shoes. We had to do the same when we were viewing apartments, or take our shoes off - bit embarrasing one day, I'd put my Uggs on with no socks

Virgin media do that here in the UK too, it always impresses me.

Metranil_Vavin

I asked the gas meter man to take his skanky looking shoes off recently before he came in, and he looked at me like I had poked poo up his nose! :rotfl:

In the end as it seemed such a hardship I just ran upstairs and took the reading myself and shouted it down to him!

If a tradesman is coming over, they always have grubby shoes but I understand that asking a plumber or builder to remove their shoes is a bit daft, so I just put down loads of dust sheets they can walk on.

Similarly if my mum comes over I don't ask her to take off her shoes as she is crippled with arthritis and it causes her pain to take them on and off.

Common sense prevails!

aliasojo

Errata wrote: »

There is no way of asking every single person who visits the house to take their shoes off without offence.
What do you value more, your friends or your carpets?

If they are true friends then even if they don't agree it's necessary, they will do it anyway as it's important to you.

If they complain about having to do it then tbh, I would think them a tad selfish as they are not the ones who would have to live with a dirty or stained carpet and so in that case I would value my carpets more.

Son and I both have similar issues just now. He's recently bought a light coloured new carpet, he's 22 and it's the first time he has ever bought anything like this so he's understandably careful of it. His unthinking or uncaring (depending on your view) mates just troop in with their shoes on and already the carpet is showing darker areas despite the doormat and runner.

We're in a not so nice rental right now but obviously need to look after the place and it was quite annoying when SIL/BIL and nephew all came in and kept their shoes on despite seeing us remove ours in the porch. Our driveway is an old tar covered affair and tiny bits seem to cling to your shoes and then come off on the carpet. I wonder if they will go halfers on the carpet cleaning when it's time to leave. :whistle:

I might go buy some of those plastic overshoe things they ask you to put on when visiting new builds. At least folk would have the choice then and if they grumped at that too then they seriously need a slap with a wet fish.

LE3

well, I am a slippers-only-in-the-house person but I would never ask a visitor to remove their shoes (well I possibly would if they were absolutely caked in mud after hiking but not generally!)

I feel very uncomfortable when I visit a friend's house as she asks everyone to take their shoes off. Not only do I have to think about which socks I'm wearing, but I also worry about my feet getting cold, and worry about treading on lego/bits of toy/spilled drink etc.

When I know I'm going round for a while I'll take slippers with me, but dropping in for 1/2 hr I rarely remember & spend the whole visit uncomfortable - if you aren't used to being in only socks, it's quite an odd feeling!

I do not wish my guests to feel uncomfortable - my visitors comfort is FAR more important to me than cleaning the odd mark off a carpet!

Lunar_Eclipse

I wouldn't find the request offensive and usually ask if they'd like me to remove my shoes anyway.

However, I'm the opposite. I prefer people to leave their shoes on in my house (sweaty socks on my carpet or floors - no thanks!) since I'd rather sweep up any dirt than think about grubby socks.

I also feel a tad naked when I take my own off in someone else's house since I always wear slippers at home (well Ugg boots or flip flops as slippers) and like my feet to feel cosy. I particularly dislike people walking round in bare feet (usually kids) since I can't tell you how many people have happily walked around my house with verucas on their feet! That makes me feel sick and incredibly angry (at their selfishness) all at the same time. I think that's what's done it for me, I sometimes have to ask people several times to 'oh leave your shoes on (please!)' now.

Mupette

TITEASCRAMP wrote: »

Was wondering the best way of asking this question. I have a no shoes policy at my house. When I come in I take my out door shoes off on the mat at the back of the door.
I would like all my visitors to do the same. But no matter how I ask them to do it, some people seem to still get the hump.

How could I ask people to remove their shoes without offending them.?

As I've thought maybe its how or what I'm saying that I'm getting wrong.

Your house your rules.

I'm in a new build home and the builders all turn up and first thing they do is remove shoes, they were not asked by me, i think it is company policy they all do it.

If the person coming into your home refuses to remove shoes, simple refuse access. It's you who has to clean the carpets.

Lunar_Eclipse

TITEASCRAMP wrote: »

Could I ask why you think it would make them feel uncomfortable?

Some people, myself included, do actually feel physically uncomfortable not having anything (shoes/slippers) on their feet.

I know shoes are for the outdoors, just like coats, but feet get cold.

Ames

Wow, can I come to your house? I hate having shoes on in the house and always feel uncomfortable when I visit people because of having to keep them on!