Do you ask visitors to remove shoes?

skintchick

I take my shoes off at home as soon as I get into the porch, and I insist that OH and DD do the same, because we have our slippers here. I would never ask guests to take shoes off, and if people ask if I want them to remove their footwear I always assure them that they can keep them on unless they prefer to take them off.

I do expect feet to be wiped well on our two doormats though.

I really dislike being asked to remove my shoes at someone's house - perhaps my pedicure is chipped, or I am embarrassed about my bunions, but I have reasons why I want to keep my shoes on, including warmth and comfort.

If someone offered me some clean slippers to wear instead that would be fine, but usually people just want you to take them off and have cold feet while they have their slippers on!

Interestingly, I have a friend who insists everyone removes shoes as she has pale carpets BUT she keeps her own shoes on in the house! That always bugs me.

skypie123_2

I had read that flea eggs are easily trampled into houses on people's shoes. Hence why you'll sometimes find them in offices etc where there are no dogs.
In my house you take your shoes off.

teeni

In my house you take your shoes off when you use the front door Or put little blue covers over your out door shoes if you choose not to, i keep them in a little box just insode the front door.. I have a little pew like bench just inside the door for people to sit on.
Yes have cream carpet through out the house, mainly because i live in a cottage with little windows and need the extra light. I am in the process of having the floors tiled, slow process as i try to save for wach room, not sure if i will be so obsessive then.

I always take my shoes off in someone elses house as well, i wouldn't dream of walking on someone else's carpet with outside shoes on.

PinkLipgloss

Taking my shoes off when I arrive home, or when entering another persons home has been a habit of mine since I was a child.

I have a baby that crawls around/plays on the floor and therefore don't like the idea of people entering my home wearing shoes.

However, I do appreciate that some people may find this uncomfortable/embarrassing for various reasons.

Therefore I have a system - take your shoes off and wear guest slippers (if you wish - and the guest slippers are washed/replaced regularly) OR wear shoe protector bags (I have a supply).

So far, no one has complained! In fact I find most people automatically take their shoes off without any prompting at all.

jessyclark

I always ask my guests to take of their shoes as i have cream colour carpet so I didn't like people walking on them with their street shoes. In winter I always had lots of spare slippers so that my guests could wear if their feet were cold.

nancyliu0522

In my opinion, it's a mutual self-awareness. As the visitors, it's better to have the sense of remove the shoes. And as the host, it is oughted to say that " it's all right, just come in pls ".

Craftyscholar

I think the first time I came across the idea of "take your shoes off" must be about 20 years ago.
I was brought up to wipe my feet on entering any house - taking off shoes was unheard of - then suddenly it became essential.
I would never dream of greeting any visitor in that way.

Errata

I'm in the "leave the damn things on" camp. I presume all those in the "take 'em off" camp won't let a doctor, nurse, policeman over the doorstep if they won't take their shoes off.

KateLiana27

We don't ask, but we take ours off and have a shoe rack by the front door, and most people can take a hint Usually they just automatically remove them, or ask if they should, in which case we say vaguely "oh, sure, if you don't mind".

We deliberately chose wooden floors for downstairs to avoid it becoming a major issue.

I never have a problem with being asked to take my shoes off - it's their home! As long as it's done in a friendly way ("ooh, would you mind leaving your shoes there? Thanks so much"), it's fine.

lostinrates

This comes up over and over.

I never ask people to remove shoes. We would neverchoose to have carpets doenstairs for this reason. We have cats and dogs too, so washable floors are washed often.

I remived shoes when asked, but it can cause me problems. Fresh air does not solve the issure of verrucas...i almost always have one (my immune system is not very good fue to health) and i am usually barefoot ( in and out ) when irs warm enough.

When men pee the spray. If you use a loo in a no shoe household then walk around you are likely taking as much of that around the house and on your feet as what your shoes go in. While i am not a clean freak, having friends piddle on my fee does not appeal any more than wearing shoes in the house.

My problem is that while most of the time i am able, often removing and putting on shoes can cause me fiscomfort or indeed pain, and certainly embarrassment. I wear shoes i can slip on and off usually, but i do find it ( and verrucas id i have one) a diffuculty in this situation.