Do you ask people to remove their shoes in your house?

[SC Minnie]

We have wood floors downstairs that are easy to clean so I don't have a problem with shoes in the house. But if the kids are playing outside and come in the house I ask them to take off their shoes in the garage if they are muddy. Most of the time they do it without being asked.

I would never ask an adult to remove their shoes. We have a concrete drive and walkway so there is no reason for regular guests to have muddy shoes.

 

[Kath2003]

We have wood floors downstairs that are easy to clean so I don't have a problem with shoes in the house. But if the kids are playing outside and come in the house I ask them to take off their shoes in the garage if they are muddy. Most of the time they do it without being asked.

I would never ask an adult to remove their shoes. We have a concrete drive and walkway so there is no reason for regular guests to have muddy shoes.

I agree - when we were kids we had to take off our shoes. Most adults should use their own judgement - if my shoes are dirty (and I'm a geographer so sometimes they are!), I apologise for them being dirty and take them off, whether the host requests it or not. I wouldn't walk on MY carpets with dirty shoes, so I'm not going to walk on anyone else's? I think most people above the age of 10 are able to tell whether their shoes are dirty for themselves and make the right choice!

 

[DVC Sadie]

No, I would not ask a guest to remove their shoes before entering our home.

I did require our son to change his shoes at the door after playing, hunting or skiing just to keep the dirt from being dragged through the house.

What I expect of my family members differs from what I require of guests.

 

[ducklite]

Most of the "public" areas of my house are tiled, so it really doesn't matter.

If it's raining out, then maybe. But otherwise no.

I wipe my dogs feet when he comes in, even if it's not raining though.

 

[Liberty Belle]

We do as well. It is part of our expectations that our guests conduct themselves in our home as we do, i.e., making themselves at home, and participating in these reasonable measures to keep the floors safe from scratches and gouges.

 

[earthfaries]

I don't have too many people coming into my house but I don't let shoes on the carpet.
NOT for vanity reasons but for child safety reasons. I babysit and I have 3 children and I don't want pesticides, dog poop and pee, dirt, who knows what all over my carpet where my babies are playing, laying their toys and putting their hands in their mouths.
I have a pair of crocs I bought just for wearing in the house. Sometimes I will run out and leave them on, then wipe them diaper wipes when I get home. Let me tell you those wipes are BLACK!!! Disgusting!!! Just from running into Wal Mart It will take 6 diaper wipes to get them clean
That stuff would be rubbed on my carpets and all over my kids toys and clothes and hands
Anyway...my friends know they can bring house shoes, my family who visits also knows and the people who come over to drop off their kids for babysitting don't mind and actually appreciate me keeping the carpets clean

It all boils down to do what you want to do . Don't worry about what others think. It is your house and if you want to protect your carpet for whatever reasons do it!!!
It will feel much better to kindly ask them to take off their shoes than not say anything and beat yourself up the whole time for being a wimp and not speaking your true feelings.
People don't think about things like dirtying up your carpets. I had one dad come pick up his daughter one day and he just walked right on the carpets with his muddy red clay boots, I had to scrub and scrub to get it out. I didn't even have a chance to ask him to remove them, luckily he wasn't the one who picked her up on a regular basis!!

 

[4greatboys]

We dont ask anyone remove their shoes when they come in and none of my friends or relatives do it either

Maybe its a regional thing.

 

[Cindy's Mom]

Never would I ask a guest to remove their shoes. As other have stated, we too have hardwoods all over, so they are simple to clean up.

 

[lilyv]

We dont ask anyone remove their shoes when they come in and none of my friends or relatives do it either

Maybe its a regional thing.

It is very common in Europe, it is also just expected in the Pacific Islands...and it's normal at our house.

We lived overseas for many, many years. Some habits I don't give a second thought to, until posting.

 

[anniemae]

We don't wear shoes inside as we live in NE and I can't stand the sand, dirt, salt etc. from outside to be dragged in all over my floors. Also when dd was crawling I insisted people remove shoes as she would crawl all over and suck her thumb. I just couldn't stand the thought of her ingesting chemicals, salt, road grime etc that inevitably winds up on the bottom of peoples shoes. Most people will offer to remove shoes this time of year. Now that dd is walking I am not quite so stressed about it.

 

[cteddiesgirl]

I don't care as long as it's not raining/snowing out. Then I would like for them to remove their shoes. Otherwise, there is a rug at the door where they can wipe their feet.

I have friends who have to take shoes off the instant they get inside. Others don't feel comfortable without shoes on their feet, so they leave them on.
If someone is worried about my carpets, then they can pay to clean them.

 

[CJMickeyMouse]

My two sons' high school basketball team spends virtually the entire winter at my house.... and they all take off their shoes in the entryway even though they have never been asked or told to do so.

Last year we had furniture delivered during the Christmas party (bad timing!) and we had to move 30+ pairs of size HUGE shoes out of the way. We still laugh about it.

It was even funnier when the kids came upstairs and we were sitting on the new furniture. We just told them Santa had stopped by.

 

[hlane]

Yes, if they don't remove them first I will ask them to. Pretty much 95% of the people I know do the same in their house as well, it's common around here I guess.

 

[NMAmy]

-Some people will act as though you've just asked them to donate a kidney with a spoon.

In Michigan, it is the norm for people to remove their shoes at the front door. In New Mexico, people look at you like you have two heads if you take their shoes off upon entering their home.

Since I grew up in Michigan, we all take our shoes off when entering anyone's home. However, I never ask anyone to remove their shoes when they come to mine. Most of them do, though.

 

[Minnesota!]

Yes, if they don't remove them first I will ask them to. Pretty much 95% of the people I know do the same in their house as well, it's common around here I guess.

Agreed. My shoes are off the minute I walk into someone's house. Never known any other way...

 

[Luv2Scrap]

Here in northern MN it is almost always either snowy or muddy, so everyone I have ever known has always taken their shoes off when entering someone's home, with the exception of the short couple months when we get summer weather.

there are always exceptions.... there are a couple houses I occasionally have had to visit where I would NEVER take my shoes off - I'd have to sterilize me feet for a week if I did! but I will wipe my feet very well even in those cases. No point in making it even worse!

 

[Luv2Scrap]

Agreed. My shoes are off the minute I walk into someone's house. Never known any other way...

huh.... must be a Minnesota thing!

 

[petrymom]

Agreed. My shoes are off the minute I walk into someone's house. Never known any other way...

I agree with you and the person you quoted. I live in Wisconsin and at certain times of the year, there is a lot of MUCK that can be tracked into a house. It is only polite to remove your shoes upon entering someone else's house and I always do it (I belive it shows respect of others property.)

If someone enters my front door, I will ask them to remove their shoes on the tile. You would not believe the DIRT AND GRIME that accumulates on that tile. Most people do not have to be asked. I think this is because of the area we live in.

 

[Mkrop]

Ok so I live in the Northeast so we get weather too but are we talking stopping by to visit and you wnat people to take off their shoes or are we talking a dinner party where everyone is walking around in stocking feet .

Everyday type visiting seems like it would be ok to ask but if you are hosting a party, I am going to be cleaning after anyway I am not going to ask people to take off their shoes no matter how yucky it is outside.

 

[va32h]

This is always a hot topic around here!

No matter what you do, it's going to be the opposite of what someone else prefers, so you really can't win.

As a guest, I defer to the wishes of the host so if I were asked to remove my shoes I would (unless my socks or feet were unpresentable in which case I guess I would have to leave )

I do expect guests to wear shoes in my home. If someone walked into my house and took off their shoes without being asked to do so, I would find that very presumptuous!

If you are going to require shoelessness in your home, I wouldn't put up a sign...that just seems unfriendly. Businesses have signs, you know? You'll be shoeless yourself presumably, so that's a big hint. If you keep a pair of shoes at the door that's another hint. And if those hints fail, just politely ask them to take off the shoes. It might also be nice to have some clean socks handy in case people are uncomfortable being barefooted.