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I have never asked any one to take off their shoes. Of course when I lived up north if it was snowing or raining I would but as a general rule, I don't.
I would never impose any such demand on someone I invited to my home as a guest! We hope our visitors behave with decorum, but since when is it accepted etiquette to tell them how they should behave? Do you greet dinner guests at the door and say, "Where's the wine?"
That said, if I enter a home where it's obvious the family's shoes are left at the door, of course I offer to take mine off, too, just as I would if I were in Japan or somewhere else where it's the custom. And I don't think it's a problem to ask tradespeople to cover up.
But if someone is so concerned about the condition of their wall-to-wall carpeting that they can't relax with shod visitors in their home, they shouldn't be inviting anyone. And considering what some people's feet look like, I'd rather clean up their dust than stare at their bunions and toenails.
My wife hates when people wear their shoes in our house. Her reason is "their shoes walk on public restroom floors, 'nuff said." I guess she has a point.
I personally think that some people are too anal. Would you ask someone to take their pants off before they sit? You don't know where they've been sitting.
Although, when I visit an Indian (Asian) home, it is their culture to remove your shoes. I always ask first.
I read somewhere that 80-90% of the dirt in a home's floor is from shoes/outside.
Personally, if I had a lot of carpet, I'd think about asking. But I have hardwood floors which are fairly easy to clean. Also, I am a big fan of doormats and carpets for the foyer. I like the thick, bristly doormats (a really big demi-lune one) to scrape against shoes and I prefer wool carpets in the foyer.
I would be fine if they did take off their shoes, but I do not ask that they do. I feel it is more important that my guests feel comfortable. It's not very time-consuming to sweep or vaccuum.
I personally think that some people are too anal. Would you ask someone to take their pants off before they sit? You don't know where they've been sitting.
That's funny.
People that are anal about shoes need a shoe placed anally.
Some of this is peasant thinking; having something nice the peasant is afraid to use it. Thus carpet runners, furniture covers, taking off shoes and other forms of behavior that betray social insecurity. Whereas the noble (in sprit if not in wealth) just use things; thus the threadbare carpets seen in the houses of old money.
I always love the opportunity to show off my top of the line Hanes socks. Always new, fresh and clean. Oh, what a feeling! As far as workers entering your home, paper rolled out on the floor just tears and crumples and skids, plastic makes the floor like an ice rink and no shoes on makes ladder work painful and very unsafe. One more thing: the blue (or any other color but white) booties will stain your carpets and floors, especially if they get the slightest bit damp.
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