We don't do shoes on the carpet either, and our family and friends who come over regularly know and don't have to have to be told. If we're hosting a birthday party for one of our kids or some other gathering where people who aren't usually guest in our home the rule is foregone for that day. I'm not going to ask people I've invited into my home, some I may barely know, to undress at the door even if it's just shoes. Doing so lacks all hospitality, IMO.
Whenever I have new guests over to our house I try to mention the shoes off rule as part of the invitation if I can. I had some parents and kids on my daughter's team over recently after a game. When I extended the invite I casually brought up the fact that our house was shoe free. I gave directions to the house and said "when you get there just come to the side door by the garage, we never use the front door because their is no room leave your shoes." One person asked "should we take our shoes off in your house?" So I just said "oh sorry I forgot to mention it, we normally just take our shoes off before coming in the house so I hope everyone doesn't mind doing the same."
With people who just pop in or come by without a formal invite, usually just walking through the door together is enough of a clue to remove their shoes. I had a friend over after work the other day and we came into the house together. I unlocked the door walked in to our breezeway and took off my shoes then opened the house door. My friend asked "do you want me to take off my shoes." I told her "yes that would be great we do the no shoes in the house thing.
Put a cubby by the door with slippers your guests can wear. Ask them as soon as they come to your door to please remove their shoes and take a pair of slippers. You can buy disposable ones like they use in hospitals--or buy a package of those cheap slipper socks. Be prepared for some resistance from some people. But insist on it, if that's how you want to run your home. Do not EVER expect a guest to provide his or her own slippers, or to run around barefoot or in their stocking feet. That's not polite. If that's your rule, and you want to stick to it, then you must provide them with an alternative to their shoes. You could also tell people ahead of time that you have this rule and that slippers will be provided.
It absolutely makes sense to take off one's shoes. People don't even think what's on the bottoms of their shoes - dog pee, spit, gasoline spills at the gas station, etc.
Homeowners then walk around barefoot, get it on their feet and onto their bed sheets.
Most I know are fine with taking off their shoes but some don't appreciate it. Provide a bench to sit on and booties to put over their shoes so they are not forced to be barefoot or in socks that can be slippery - dangerous for elderly.
I've been to $1+ Million homes that have shoes at the front door in a huge foyer and no place to sit down to take off one's shoes - so guests are leaning up against a wall or on the stairs untying shoes or pulling off tight boots - really clueless for the owners to not provide a comfortable place to sit down.
Must admit I agree with Ranger4402 on this. Granted, I don't have pale carpets or wood floors, but I do have new flooring. I have a mat in the hall by the front door where people can wipe their shoes. Unless shoes are super wet, it should be fine. And the sweaty sock thing is too true, Yuck!!
I just tell people in advance about the shoes-off rule, so they can wear good socks or bring their own slippers. Also, have a place for people to put shoes when they come inside and answer the door in your stocking feet. Don't wear slippers. People are more likely to remember that your house is no-shoes if they see you are in your socks.
Warn everyone ahead of time and then supply an area for them to remove their shoes right inside the door.
Warn everyone ahead of time and then supply an area for them to remove their shoes right inside the door.
There are socks by the front door and you just ask guests to take off their shoes and offer them socks if they want them. That's it. A lot of people feel this way.
I just moved into a new house with my family and a few years back at our old home started a shoes off rule in the house. I want to continue the practice in our new home too. I am going to be having people over and am not sure how to handle new guests like the neighbors and other people in the area I am meeting at work, etc. How do you handle shoes off rules in your home?
Warn everyone ahead of time and then supply an area for them to remove their shoes right inside the door.
Warn everyone ahead of time and then supply an area for them to remove their shoes right inside the door.
If I am asked to remove my shoes when invited to enter someone's house, I simply say, "there must have been some mistake" and just turn and walk away. Game over.
It depends on the practice prevailing at your place. In India, we remove the shoe before entering the house. This is custom. It is also depending on the weather. Anyhow in your place you have to handle it without hurting them
Warn everyone ahead of time and then supply an area for them to remove their shoes right inside the door.
No
No that's bad manners
No
No that's bad manners
Yes
No
No
Yes
The shoes can stay on, but the clothes gotta go.
no i never say that !!!
no i never say that !!!
no i never say that !!!
The shoes can stay on, but the clothes gotta go.
no i never say that !!!
This is not normally an American custom. There are mixed feeling about removing ones shoes to enter another person's house. It would be better if your guest would know well in advance. Most people have common courtesy and respect and would not have much of a problem.
Of course you are gonna have those with great objections and raise a big fuss.
When I lived in California, one of my friends had a note posted n the door to remove your shoes. Her mother was the only I saw that did not go along with the program.
Most kids are not bothered, especially girls as they normally kick off their shoes any way.
You will get a mixed message, so as those that object to your policy, you would need to be able to handle each situation.
I hope this has been of some benefit to you, good luck.
"FIGHT ON"
