Outdoor shoes inside

Taking shoes off is a new thing. Never thought of in my parent’s generation. I wouldn’t dream of asking a guest to remove their shoes, but actually most do anyway. I am aware of this new trend so I always ask when entering somebody’s home ‘should I take my shoes off?’ And am happy to comply either way - but I do tend to think ahead these days and wear shoes that are easy to slip off, and wear socks. I wouldn’t fancy people’s bare feet on my sitting room carpet personally.

It was never a 'thing! in my family, so I never ask anyone to take their shoes off, though people do if they're at all wet or muddy.
But then I'd never want the sort of very pale carpets that you have to be constantly anxious about. Our house is for people to feel comfortable in, it's not a shrine to immaculate decor and zealous hygiene.

Most people we know automatically remove their shoes when they visit. The exceptions are two rather well padded females and I think they find it difficult to bend over their tummies to get their shoes on and off.

Indeed it is not a new thing Esther at least in rural areas. My grandfather would have got the edge of grannies tongue if he’d trailed mud from the farm into her house.

SueH49 me too and I do tell people not to take their shoes off, but prefer it if they do anyway.
I would take my indoor shoes with me if I thought I needed to.

It's not age or weight, either, I've been wearing some kind of them since I was a child.

EllaKeat are you one of the Durrell clan?

I always feel slightly embarrassed when people take their shoes off before coming in to my flat.
I'm not sure why, I vaguely feel I must be 'showing off', somehow.

Diabetics are not supposed to take their shoes off!

Not quite true.

Diabetics are advised not to walk about in bare feet in case of injury as, in some cases, it can lead to infection.

Being diabetic, I always take slippers with me when I visit.
It's my responsibiity to look after my feet, not that of my hostess.
Diabetes shouldn't be used as an excuse for bad manners!

We have disposable slippers available for guests but they rarely use them.

people take their shoes of in my front hall which has wipeable laminate. dont like shoes on my carpet, goodness knows what you have walked through before coming in, the streets round here are covered in piles of dog poop.
Could you pop a wee heater in the kitchen for next time perhaps.
I have visited friends who keep "hotel slippers" at their door ready for guests to put on when they remove their shoes

I think halls of people who want shoes off should include a grab bar, at the very least.

We have new wooden floors so I have recently bought disposable slippers in case anybody visits wearing high heels, as I don’t want dents in the wood. I would only ask guests to remove shoes if they were wearing stilettos, which is highly unlikely to happen.

I have to wear shoes to support my dodgy feet, and I would refuse to remove them if asked - but nobody ever has. I would make sure shoes are clean, and I would remove muddy wellies if I had them.

Otherwise this whole new thing about removing shoes (and it Is new to me) seems absurdly prissy. If you worry about carpets, don’t get pale carpets. Nobody should be so houseproud they value their floors above their guests’ comfort. All very Hyacinth Bouquet.

I think if anyone offered me overshoes I would probably be incredulous, unless they live in a stately home of great historical significance. I accepted I had to wear them in a magnifent Russian palace I visited as a tourist. Not in the houses of friends, though

Much cleaner to take them off!

DC and GC always remove their shoes as they enter the house, we do too. I like to keep the carpets clean as children spend a lot of time sitting and playing on the floor.
My sisters and their DHs never remove theirs when visiting, even when they see the rest of the family doing it and even tell me they won't be doing so.
One of my sisters wears very high heeled shoes which cause indentations on uncarpeted areas, I wouldn't dream of spoiling someone elses floor, why is it okay to spoil mine ?

I never ask people to remove their shoes but most do - we have light oak flooring and cream carpet. Even mist work people do without asking. As you asked them, of course they should remove their shoes. Having said that they are obviously making a point so I would grin and bear it. While directing them to the kitchen.

I have new cream carpets all the way through our bungalow.
All our friends and children have always taken their shoes off even before the new carpets were laid. If workmen come in I ask them to remove their shoes, although most offer or put shoe covers on. I have a a large basket in the hallway next to the front door full of shoe covers and slippers acquired in spas and hotels! I suppose it depends on how much money you have. I can’t afford to keep replacing carpets. To date no one has refused and no one has ever been offended.
It’s your house do what suits you!

I would never ask visitors to take off their shoes but I do have washable floors. If it was wet outside I would ask them to wipe their feet on the way in. I take slippers to my sons house when I baby sit but was never asked to, why not buy a few pairs of the cheap hotel style slip on slippers if you are so worried.

I was brought up to take my shoes off. Never would go into anyone else's sitting room with shoes on unless it was minging!!
Seems very strange to be so rude and stubborn.
Keep a few pairs of old slippers by the door, they can choose! Your house your rules.

Re a donkey in the house, a cousin of dh regularly had the children's pony in the kitchen, helping himself to any apples in the fruit bowl!
That cousin would never have been remotely fussed about a bit of dirt or germs - she had 4 perfectly healthy dcs.

I have never been able to understand why people have cream carpets. So not practical.

I hate having to take my shoes off and think it's rude of people to expect it. I have arthritic feet and walking barefoot is painful. There's also the issue of bending down and getting up again to tie laces or do up zips. If it's a special occasion and you are wearing nice shoes and then expected to exchange for bare feet or slippers seems really weird to me. Slippers and bare feet are for pyjamas and bedtime only.
I wear indoor shoes at home. If I was visiting someone who insisted on shoes off, I would take my indoor shoes with me. Estate agents nowadays sometimes insist on it but it makes viewing difficult for me.

Do you ask ladies to remove their lipstick before drinking from your cups/glasses? When you go to other people's houses, do you insist on removing your own shoes?

When asked to remove my shoes, I always ask for a seat in order to comply. If they bring out a dining chair, I ask for a lower one. (I refuse to stand like a stork or bent over double fiddling with my buckles or laces in their draughty hallway.)

I find that those who are so precious about germs and dirt and what-not being brought indoors have no qualms whatsoever in spreading out all over a hotel room where goodness knows what has been rubbed into the carpet from other people's outdoor footwear.

I've never been asked to take my shoes off in someone's house nor would I ask it in my house. I find it rather odd. What if some official comes to the house? A police officer for example. You wouldn't say take off your shoes.

Why on earth would you not take your shoes off at the door. Why on earth would you want the filth from the streets tramped through your house? . Pavements are contaminated with dirt and worse, and unless you have a very relaxed outlook on cleanliness, you need to get your shoes off at the door.
Yes: carpets can be cleaned, but why make work for yourself when your guests should show consideration towards your home.
Visiting tradespeople should have overshoes with them, if not, keep some on hand, or put down newspaper for them to walk on.
Always ask home owners if they want shoes off. Take slippers with you when visiting in case.
It's really not that tricky to be polite!

We have indoor shoes and change. I have friends who also ban outdoor shoes in the house and keep a selection of old slippers / slipper socks for guests to wear.