Am I being too fussy

My husband has swollen feet and it is an ordeal getting his shoes on. We were asked to remove our shoes before entering a friends caravan and I could see it embarrassed him. To be fair that's the only time we've been asked to remove our shoes.

I agree with you. I never ask people to take their shoes off....

Shoe protectors are very cheap on Amazon, about £8:per 100, you could keep a stock in perhaps?

I think it’s best to provide slippers/ socks and a seat if you want visitors to take off their shoes?

Some people aren’t as flexible to undo laces and take off shoes.

They may be embarrassed that they have smelly feet or might have diabetes and prefer to wear their own shoes to protect their feet.

(We don’t have any carpets, just wooden floors which are comfortable to walk on)

I find that most tradesmen offer to take their shoes off, as do many friends. I wouldn’t expect a friend to do it unless it was muddy and wet.

So much depends on the cleanliness of floors and feet concerned! I have a friend who likes shoes removed but her floors are so dirty I don't like putting my socks on them, let alone bare feet! As for someone else's slippers - no thanks!

I used to have flip flop style slippers for guests to slip on in different colours. Washable too.

I had carpets in my last house. We have wooden flooring here, except on the stairs, and I much prefer it. So quick and easy to clean. Whenever carpets are shampooed the dirt in the water is horrifying. I won’t have them again.

It's seems to be such an individual emotive preference. Although it doesn't particularly bother me if guests keep their shoes on, I always offer to remove mine if visiting. It just seems respectful to do so. The first thing I do when I return from anywhere is get my slippers on. But in the summer I just love to be barefoot.

I dislike carpets as well. After seeing the dirt I clean from my tiled floors I wouldn’t like to think of that ingrained in carpets. I do have rugs but generally inexpensive ones which can be replaced easily.
I don't ask visitors to take off their shoes but I respect the wishes of others if I am a guest in their home.

Germanshepherdsmum

I wouldn’t fancy being handed slippers that others had worn.

Nor would I! Especially people I’d never met!

Totally agree with you ! I take my slippers to most family & friends homes! Who wants muddy dirty outdoor filth brought into your home. My pet hate is even worse when outdoor shoes are worn in the bathroom! Where you go after a shower barefoot!I must be obsessed!

I agree with whoever said that the comfort of my guests is far more important to me than the fitted hall carpet! It has been down now for over forty years, it is a very easy colour warm and friendly - yes - it was very expensive at the time but has lasted through 3 children growing up plus all their friends visiting, our parties, their parties, and now grandchildren marching through- still looks good - hardly any wear, and we have it cleaned and washed now and again!

Like many others we have laminate floors in our downstairs as we have four dogs in our household!

I automatically remove my outdoor shoes in my friends houses who have carpets.

I’m on the fence as to whether you’re too fussy 😂😂😂😂

I wouldn’t fancy being handed slippers that others had worn.

So many people don't even wipe their feet on the mat! I now don't have any carpets. Laminate is easy to clean and doesn't look dirty unless there's been a huge amount of dirt brought in.

I wouldn't have room, but I think having a set of slippers for guests is a really nice idea. Our carers used to remove their shoes but now they have rubber "brothel creepers" where the rubber come off on the bathroom tiles, giving me extra work, what with damp towels left on the bed and things like that.

It’s your home so it’s your rules I don’t have a problem taking my shoes off I respect other people’s wishes

Your home, but it's a bit much, provide shoe protectors. Just as well you didn't live in my home, the boys would go fishing in the estuary, and come home filthy and stinking but it didn't bother me, it is a home, not a house, it's what makes the world go round.

Granny Ivy I think you’ve got a serious problem

PS Bare feet in a house where there are dogs? No thank you.

When visiting German friends, in the UK or in Germany, I know that it's their custom to remove shoes.
But I don't do it gladly; I don't like having cold feet, I don't like my outfit being unbalanced by the lack of shoes, I actually feel infantilised without my shoes on.
I don't expect people coming into my house to take their shoes off, nor would I expect to be asked to remove shoes in most houses.
On the other hand, if it's muddy, they would of course remove boots/shoes, as I would when entering another's house.

I hate unshod feet on my floors. Fungal toenails, athletes foot, plantar warts, stinky feet. I’ve always wondered why people think bare feet are more hygienic. I’d ask people to use the doormat, as we used to, years ago.

I think so. I live in London and neither ask people to take off shoes or do so myself in other people's houses.

It's your home so your rules, do what makes you feel comfortable.
I never ask anyone to remove their shoes simply because l have hard floors, rugs downstairs plus a rather large dog.
Tradesmen are usually pretty good though and wipe their feet.