Outdoor shoes inside

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.

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.

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.

And for pudding123? Buy some shoe covers & next time they come if they wont remove shoes,hand them the shoe covers.

Hi I always take shoes off and have a pair of slippers at my daughter's and they all take shoes off why would you walk around house in shoes when people spot dogs mess and god knows what else you will transfer on your floors yuk.

I'm with you, AUDUN! Working farm, old wooden floors, here. Over the years we've had collies and kittens, chickens, colts and kids wandering through here. Even a calf in a bath (don't ask!) I'll take anything this little farm has to offer but I'll be damned if I'm going to haul down on all fours and scrub street dirt off these crooked planks! I'm old! Kids all grown and work anywhere from crime scenes to concert halls...with all the attendant public grime. Now I also have a 93 year old disabled husband with Alzheimer's to look after. On a good day...maybe a visiting baby. Rule has always been boots/shoes off at the door. Basket of handknit house slippers by the door. Don't mess with Granny!

My late DM used to think that shoes-off-indoors was definitely a class thing. The more middle/upper you were, the less you’d give two hoots.

IMO it’s just a mite different now, though, when so many people are that much more obsessed with hygiene/germs. I’m sometimes amazed at people on MN who e.g. wash all towels after just one use, whose dcs must have clean pyjamas every single night, you name it.

I keep the 'complimentary' slippers from spas etc then give them a wash/ dry for the family to use,but as most of family have bigger feet than me they dont usually bother.i should tell them to bring some in future

Yeah,& I'm surprised at my 21 yr olds cavalier attitude,as he's usually a bit of a germaphobe,which is why i started the shoes off rule on the carpeted areas in first place

I'm Canadian and we take our shoes off, rain, shine or snow. To trample into someone's house as if it were a barn is disgusting. Your comfort and health in your home is more important than a guest's feelings. A guest is coming to your house. They should consider YOU. Your house means your rules. I am shocked by people wearing feces encrusted outdoor shoes indoors. People step in dog pee and poo on the streets and go into public toilets with pee on the floors. Horrific!
Why should I clean my tiles floors because you decided not to remove your shoes? I don't care how clean they appear to be...they aren't! Would you lie in bed with your shoes on? No? That's because they are dirty....

Oh, and we have washable hard floors. I do not care about guest's feelings if they don't care about mine. I shouldn't have to compromise my health and that of my family because someone is being lazy, dirty and selfish.

Its colder in canada anyway grannytotwins,so they are probably used it

Sadly vacuuming does not remove bacteria...

Hyacinth Bouquet was not posh at all! That was the point. She was trying very hard to be, but she didn’t know how. Being excessively fussy about housework etc. is the very opposite of upper class.

I always take my shoes off. Unlike those that choose to keep them on because they don’t want to be uncomfortable or they think it’s rude to be asked to take them off; I think it’s rude to keep them on when you have walked outside and unknowingly walked through dirt, wet and even urine, to then walk that kind of stuff through someone’s house and carpets.

The BiL may have had a foot odor problem that would have embarrassed him if he took his shoes off. Can I just say that I would never choose a cream carpet for a room that is in communal use for this very reason, and to save arguments over taking off shoes. All my carpeting is chosen specially to disguise the odd insult.

Faeces encrusted shoes!

I've heard it all now

I've never asked anyone to remove their shoes and I never will

I honestly don't want to see guests in slippers, plastic covers or socks

Bizarre

In Canada it reaches 40 degrees in the summer. Winter 40 below. We take off our shoes to not track in salt from the streets, snow and general dirt. Plus, the influx of immigrants and integration has made people more conscious of foot and floor hygiene. Why would people want to keep their feet in shoes all day anyway?

I myself have very bad ostearthritis,so cant stand on one leg to remove or put on shoes anymore, i dont use it as an excuse though,i just lean on the banister to do one at a time,or sit down on stairs to do them. i used to keep my own spare flipflops at one of my adult kids home,but they kept getting lost or chewed by the dogs i now either take some with me or just have stockinged feet.

Maybe OP could put a small box in the hall with a couple of spare prs of hotel/spa slippers,plus a few prs of the plastic overshoes,AND,a can of odour eaters foot spray too,and casually say" some visitors have found the spray refreshing after a long journey" then quietly leave them to it while you put the kettle on

And to warm kitchen up,put oven on half an hour before they arrive,itl be cosy before you know it& maybe use that oven heat to bake some sustenance for when they arrive,so its not wasted heat,sausage rolls or mince pies etc are warm& welcoming

Do the people who offer slippers wash them after each use?

Isn't it a bit rude to offer foot deodorant?

This thread is becoming more and more hilarious

It is indeed one of the funniest threads I’ve ever read - sometimes intentionally, but mostly not. It’s hard to tell sometimes.

I think Muslims always do it.

Even worse is if someone takes their shoes OFF in my house......so I say DONT....as I seem to pick up toenail infections

I always take wipes/tissues to clean off anything if visiting.