Outdoor shoes inside

No outdoor shoes allowed in our house, any workmen I ask them to take them off never had a problem with anyone refusing. Adult children and small grandchildren automatically take their shoes off as we do in theirs. Not just because of dirt on carpets (main problem with light carpets) but also germs and hygiene, why would you want to bring traces of dog poo, wee and goodness knows what else that lurks on your shoes from the streets into your own home yuk.

We have wooden floors with a rug here and there, and when floors are washed the water is filthy. This in a household where we do change into slippers or go about barefoot. Most visitors slip shoes off too - it's just a habit with most people we know. When I lived in a big city it was almost a daily hazard to step in dog poo - more than once that got walked into the hall carpet and when we moved I decided hard floors; I shudder to think how cream carpet might look if a visitor unwittingly brought such a delightful addition into the house. So - no, I don't think it's unreasonable to ask them to take their shoes off; 'My house, my rules' applies most definitely.

Thanks JacquiG,ive just ordered some shoe covers,for workmen,no excuses in future,as ive just had my stairs/landing carpet cleaned before christmas.

I think schools do that to protect the floors

They still DO have plimsolls at schools for indoors,or 'pumps' as theyre called in the north& northwest

Its not a class thing at all Grandma70's! im not as posh as Hyacincth ,but not completely common either! I was brought up to respect peoples homes and have done same with my children.as they have done with theirs.( yes the GC always DO remove their shoes,putting their parents to shame

My friend who has two dils from japan has through their influence made a no shoes policy in her home.
She has a large basket of slide slippers in different sizes at the entrance of her home.
She said it has made a big difference in the amount of housecleaning she has to do. One hoover a week and no touch ups in between.
My house is impossible to keep clean, two dogs that shed and bring in dirt from the park and a bunch of men with foot ball boots.

thats the annoying thing for me- i always had my kids remove their shoes when they came in as children,and to do so in others homes to show a bit of respect for others property,and as i said,they do it in each others homes,but its like now that theyre adults the same rules dont apply in my house any more! Its odd,and very irritating.

It’s definately the thing to do here in Canada, just about everybody takes off their shoes,it’s automatic, in fact,if someone does not remove shoes it seems very odd!

I do think it’s partly a class thing. See Hyacinth Bouquet and Last of the Summer Wine again.

We had indoor and outdoor shoes at school, but there were 500 pairs of feet, so a bit different from an ordinary house. In homes, your own or anybody else’s, it’s a matter of using common sense. Wipe your feet on the doormat. If they are still really dirty, take shoes off, but not otherwise. Have sensible carpets downstairs (not pale).

These people who worry about small children playing on carpets that may have a bit of outdoor dirt on them - do they also disapprove of children playing out of doors, probably on the ground some of the time?

I do sympathise. Rather than cause any energy sapping stress I'd go and buy some cheap rugs from Ikea/Home Bargains and scatter them about 'casually'. Wash them and then store for next visit. Good Luck.

‘ Urmstongram’, your Post was hilarious. Yes exactly..are there really people in this world you would ask you to put shoe covers or slippers on in their house.
obviously there are.
I wouldn’t go anywhere near that kind of host anyway.
If you don’t want people in your house, don’t choose cream carpets!

What an interesting thread!! I never would have dreamed that taking outdoor shoes off could be a 'thing' here in the UK.
I did it for years (decades, actually) but always associated it with foreign expectations of courtesy.
Once we even stayed somewhere with an indoor/outdoor rule not only for shoes but for CLOTHES, too!! A special changing room had been set up for it. You definitely thought twice before choosing to nip out of the house! There were many children in the house and the purpose of the rule was health related, to keep germs out.

When I got new lounge carpets I thought it was a very good idea to ask people to remove their shoes. It didn't last long! Nobody objected, they just took far too long on a fleeing visit to put them back on again- kids especially and that is IF they could find them!

I always try to take my slippers if I know I am going to be spending any amount of time at others houses but I detest walking around barefoot for some reason?

If asked I take shoes off. And next time I went I would take slippers. In my daughter house I leave a pair of slippers there.

GrannyGravy13
Come visit me anytime

Is it a class thing? I can’t imagine anyone asking the queen or Prince Charles to remove their shoes when they visit one of their upper class friend’s stately home or asking titled people who visit them to remove their shoes. Admittedly, they don’t have to personally wash the floors or hoover the carpets and such homes usually have an assortment of dogs roaming around anyway. Each to their own I guess.

No,i dont expect family to don plastic slipovers, just the workmen wearing them would be nice,i think if their bosses have provided them for that purpose then why not use them,goodness knows where they've been trampling in those big bulky workboots But im not expecting family to do anything we're not all willing to do in their homes,by just removing shoes at the door if their going upstairs.

And no,my stairs/ landing carpet isnt cream its a mid grey.so its not a 'being precious' issue.

Plastic slipovers
I think I would just go home again rather than be asked to wear these when visiting someone's house!
When workmen came in I was pleased they brought their own plastic slipovers but as for visitors wearing them - no!

There must be a few Hyacinth Buckets around.

Ive got washable flooring all downstairs so im not as bothered i guess but i do like people to remove them if theyre going up the carpeted stairs& landing area, but thats for germs sake,(or anything they may have unknowingly trod on ?) but the thing that angers me is,that although everyone seems to comply with this 'unspoken' rule in the homes of my elder children,(we all file in& we all just remove shoes)hardly any of them seems to think it counts in my house just because im their parent! (middle daughters family do,but thats because their so used to doing it i guess,its automatic)even the older one of my last 2 'children' at home(21&16) doesnt if he can get away with it,youngest takes them off when he gets in,but leaves them scattered where hes left them,but at least hes complied?Even housing association workmen just trudge upstairs in big boots,& when i asked some to remove them claim their not supposed to for health& safety reasons.They are supposed to carry shoe covers,but most of them cant be bothered.A couple of the younger workmen go get some if you ask tthem to.Its so annoying though,especially the family's attitude.

quizqueen
I choose carpet colour for myself not for who might visit.
I have mats placed at my front door where I would expect visitors be courteous and use this facility.Failure to do so then into my tiled kitchen where a quick mop over the tiles takes but minutes after they have left.Hopefully they get the message before their next visit as once again it will be the kitchen.

My friends and family are more precious than my carpets!

If they take off their shoes, fine, and I would insist that the DGC take off their shoes if they've been playing in the garden but otherwise just vacuum/clean when they've gone.

As others have said, slippers or plastic slip overs are not a good look with a party dress or smart outfit. Why do people get cream carpets downstairs? They are really only suitable for bedrooms where slippers or bare feet are acceptable. Asking visitors to remove their shoes when they visit is a relatively new phenomenon, some people are far too house proud (probably the same posters who wash their towels after every use and change their sheets more than once a week.)

I agree Notanan. There is definitely a moral dimension to this discussion. I am a hard floor goat but not a carpet sheep.