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

[DisneyPhD]

The only time I do is if there is snow on the ground, it doesn't mater how much you try to get it off, it will track all over the house and get things wet. If it is very rainy and muddy out then I will too, but rain isn't nearly as bad as snow so that doesn't happen often. Of course most people around here know that so I don't ever ask them too.

I wear shoes around the house myself often, especially when I am wearing pants and they would be too long if I don't have shoes on. If Kids have dirty shoes they come off (or get cleaned.) Most of the time we don't fret over it.

Anyone remember the Sex in the City where Carrie's friend made her take her heels off at a party (they were NOT dirty) and they got stolen?????

How about keeping up appearances where Hyithance (SP?)makes everyone take off their shoes, even police officer?

 

[jrmasm]

I totally agree. Feel free to wear your shoes or not in my home. I hope I have the same option when I visit other's homes.

At my house, you can take your shoes off but I'm going to think you're weird.

 

[Lady de Winter]

I don't really care one way or the other if people come into my home and take off their shoes/don't take off their shoes. I leave it up to the guest to do whatever makes them the most comfortable.

However, if I were to go to someone else's home and they asked me to take off my shoes, I'm okay with that... UNLESS they whip out a basket of "community" socks or slippers and expect me to put those on! I can't even describe the amount of creep factor presented there. If they want me to put on socks or slippers, they better be coming out of a hermetically sealed package so there is not a shred of doubt that they are NEW, not just clean. If someone actually expected me to wear previously worn socks or slippers, I would no longer visit their home. That's just over the top disgusting to me.

 

[bimshire]

We do not wear shoes in our house. All shoes are left in the garage as that's where we come in and go out. We have a shoe rack. Two top shelves are mine. Next 3 shelves down below to my wife and the other shelves are use by the kids.

Guests coming through the front door leave their shoes on the mat.

Workmen bring what I would call a bootie that they pull over the sole of shoes.

We can sit or stretch out on the floor without worrying about who tracked dog doo-doo into the house.

I voted yes on telling guests, if they don't already know, to take off their shoes.

We don't have cocktail parties, but summer parties in the backyard are no problem(keep shoes on) since the front door is locked and people know to come through the side gate.

One other thing, we have a Korean extended family across from us and they have the shoes lines up outside the garage entrance door and front door. Some shoes also just inside those doors. So I think it is cultural and in other cases individuals like us who prefer shoes to stay outside.

 

[bicker]

I think you have that backwards.

Nope. Visiting is a two-way street. A guest conforms to the standards of the host's home, and the host, in turn, addresses issues of comfort as you suggest. They work hand-in-hand, not one over the other.

 

[pansmermaidzlagoon]

Guess we all have things that bug us. I never think department stores or public restrooms have sparkling clean, sanitary floors. I don't really care to gift my home with "their" germs.

It's not about liking carpets more than people.....It's more about enjoying my home, without bringing all the dirt, etc into my home environment.

that is what I was thinking - I 'll take my chances with my friends and family's "foot sweat" over the germs they would bring in on the bottom of their shoes any day!!!!!

I especially agree with the "not about liking carpets more than people" comment too!

 

[NEVERENOUGHWDW]

I don't now...although I wish I did.
When the new flooring is installed the answer will be YES!

 

[Shannone1]

I don't think it's rude to ask family/friends to take off their shoes. I am not "host" in their eyes....they are coming to hang out. We aren't proper about it. They kick off their shoes and we all have a good time. They don't consider me a "host". They help themselves to drinks and snacks and make themselves at home.

If I have on my "hostess hat" (which is rare) and I am hosting a party for people who aren't good friends/family I would not ask them to take off their shoes.

I think it is rude for people to track mud/dirt/snow/grass clippings all over my house. 90% of the time, it is just us in our house and we want to have a nice, clean house to live in. I don't want to worry about what's embedded in the carpet. Your socks will not be dirty when you leave our house

 

[FSUGrad97]

I don't really care one way or the other if people come into my home and take off their shoes/don't take off their shoes. I leave it up to the guest to do whatever makes them the most comfortable.

However, if I were to go to someone else's home and they asked me to take off my shoes, I'm okay with that... UNLESS they whip out a basket of "community" socks or slippers and expect me to put those on! I can't even describe the amount of creep factor presented there. If they want me to put on socks or slippers, they better be coming out of a hermetically sealed package so there is not a shred of doubt that they are NEW, not just clean. If someone actually expected me to wear previously worn socks or slippers, I would no longer visit their home. That's just over the top disgusting to me.

ITA!

I think the sock/slipper thing is worse than leaving your shoes on!

Now of course, all the people who do this will say that the socks/slippers are clean (and they may very well be), but I'm not big on wearing items like slippers after other people.

JMHO.

 

[nuke]

Except that people don't die without footwear, nuke.

And they don't die from wearing their shoes either.

 

[jrmasm]

Nope. Visiting is a two-way street. A guest conforms to the standards of the host's home, and the host, in turn, addresses issues of comfort as you suggest. They work hand-in-hand, not one over the other.

Nope, you're still wrong. The comfort of the guest should come first. Good manners are not a two way street. Either you have them or you don't. It's not determined by what someone else does first.

And to your earlier post, can you site a recorded case of death due to dirty carpet?

 

[hlane]

However, if I were to go to someone else's home and they asked me to take off my shoes, I'm okay with that... UNLESS they whip out a basket of "community" socks or slippers and expect me to put those on! I can't even describe the amount of creep factor presented there. If they want me to put on socks or slippers, they better be coming out of a hermetically sealed package so there is not a shred of doubt that they are NEW, not just clean. If someone actually expected me to wear previously worn socks or slippers, I would no longer visit their home. That's just over the top disgusting to me.

ITA That just creeps me out to no end

 

[Mouse House Mama]

I would never ever ask anyone to remove their shoes but secretly I wish they would most of the time. It would just make the cleaning of the floors easier. But- I would be barefoot everywhere if I could. I would never ask though because I think it is rude to do so and I want my guests to be comfortable. If that means more times scrubbing the floors then so be it.

 

[Mouse House Mama]

I did want to add something-

While I respect others in their choices, I most likely would not return to a home where I had to remove my shoes unless it was a cultural thing. I may not want my kids running around barefoot in someone's home. Maybe your house isn't what I consider warm enough for them to wear no shoes etc. If we however chose to remove our shoes then that is one thing, but if you demand I take all of our shoes off in your garage before we enter then I think that would be a very short last visit. It would make me too unconfortable, like if we spilled a crumb you would have a breakdown. JMHO.

 

[::Snow_White::]

No I don't ask them to take off their shoes.
I don't really care if they wear them or not as long as they don't put them on the furniture.
But if it's really muddy outside or something and their shoes are all dirty I'll ask them to take their shoes off.
And if I go to someones house and they walk in with their shoes on I'll most likely leave mine one.
If they take theirs off I'll take mine off on my own. I have no problem with anyone asking me to remove or keep my shoes on.

 

[bicker]

Good manners are not a two way street.

I guess we'll just have to agree to disagree about that.

And consider yourself not invited into our home.

Seriously, the disrespect for your host is what I find most disturbing here. I find a lot of the assertions made in this thread to be overly melodramatic and seemingly deliberately hurtful to people who believe differently. I feel like my comments have been driven to an extreme in response to such insensitivity. Pity that there seems to be no chance of people getting along on this issue... that doesn't bode well overall.

And by they way, we don't have carpet in our living room; it's hardwood floors.

 

[Mkrop]

I hate to say germaphobes, people can have really disgusting feet to and not be clean either, germs are a fact of life.

I suggest a good vacuum or a coupon for some Swiffer Sweepers. You cant keep all the dirt out.

 

[Minnesota!]

For those of you who insist on people taking off their shoes, what do you do in the summer? For 3 months out of the year, I don't wear socks. I would feel very uncomfortable having my feet bare in someone else's home, and would cringe to put on someone else's slippers.

I either bring a pair of socks in my purse (if I know the house is going to be cold or haven't had a pedi recently..), or I go barefoot. It truly must be a regional thing. I cannot imagine WANTING to wear my shoes. They are just not a comfy accessory. I don't like "extras"...when I get home from work I strip to the bare essentials - t-shirt and sweats. No socks, shoes, undergarments , or jewlery.

I think it's rude to ask people to remove their shoes.

I wouldn't remove my shoes in someones house unless it was someone I was really close to and my feet hurt.

I remember as a kid my mother yelling at me to put shoes on before company came over. I guess it's another one of those regional things.

For the people that make everyone take off their shoes. What do you do when you have delivery people or workmen come to your house.

Delivery men usually either bring booties or take their shoes off. We had guys out to clean our vents recently and the shoes were off as soon as they came in. Must be MN born

My carpets certainly do NOT come before my guest - I have 2 little boys so my carpets are in bad shape. Its just how everyone I know was raised so its what we do. If someone would wear their shoes in, I would just give them a look of "how are you comfy like that??". But I wouldn't not allow them in...that's just rude. Just as rude as leaving b/c you were asked to take them off...

 

[Liberty Belle]

As for the slipper suggestion I made - I would buy inexpensive (clearance, etc) slippers for guests without socks and then let them take them home with them. I wouldn't expect anyone to wear used slippers. But then, I don't expect people to take their shoes off. I do find it odd when people automatically take them off when they can clearly see that we have ours on, but I don't think twice about it. As long as my guest is comfortable, I'm happy.

 

[Pakey]

We don't require it because we have tile floors but I would not have a problem if we were asked to do this at someone else's home. To me, it's not any different than requesting that guests don't smoke in your home.