Do you ask people to take shoes off when you invite them over?

Question

I have a no shoes policy in my home since we just got new carpet and floors installed, and we have a dirt driveway and paths that lead to the house. My kids seem to be on board with the idea. My question is how do you ask guests? Do you ask them when you invite them over or at the door? What do you do about the kids and their friends, and your guests in your own home? If you are having people over is it something I should mention in the invitation printed or verbal?

Answer 1

I used to think that the shoes off rule was a bit odd, but now that I see the benefits I have definitely changed my viewpoint 180 degrees. After having new carpet put in my house we became a shoes off home. At first I wasn't sure how I was going to like taking my shoes off every time I came in the house, but it has become second nature that I would feel weird wearing shoes indoors. To answer your question you need to discuss the rule change with your kids. For us it just took a few weeks of actually removing our shoes for it to become a habit. We decided that whoever invites someone over would be responsible for telling their friends to take off shoes. So if my kids have friends over they usually just tell their friends, that our house is a no shoes home. Same goes for me I agreed that my friends would do the same.



When I invite people to my home I always try to let people know in advance when I can. Most of the time the people that visit are close friends who come by often so after the first visit they just know that my house is a no shoes home. If I am inviting people over for the first time I casually bring up the no shoes thing as part of the invitation. I have used the line "just park in the driveway and come to the side door, no one ever uses the front door, because there is not much room to take off your shoes." Sometimes people will ask "you don't wear shoes in the house?" Which gives me the opportunity to explain that everyone leaves their shoes at the door in our home.



I have had large gatherings at my home and everyone has taken off their shoes too. The first time I had a parents committee meet at my house I just added the no shoes request in the directions. I said where our house is located and "almost forgot to mention to everyone, wear your best socks to our house. Yes...I am one of those people who asks everyone to take off their shoes." I got a few laughs, but no one went past my front door in anything but their socks.



Good luck with the shoes off rule, it is by far the best decision I have made in my

Answer 2

I never ask anyone to remove their shoes before coming into my home. However, I have been in homes where this was required, and the owners had a collection of slippers for people to wear. I wasn't too happy to put my feet in slippers that other people have worn, but then remembered that what we do when we go shoe and slipper shopping!



As long as you ask your visitors with a smile everything should be okay, and not take umbrage.

Answer 3

So you put in new floors and carpet, yet left your house surrounded by dirt - and expect your guests to compensate for that by doing something that they may not be comfortable with. Yeah, that makes perfect sense.



When guests come to my home, my first priority is their comfort - not my floors. As a host, it is paramount that I make my guests feel welcome, and not a nuisance.



So to answer your question - tell them ahead of time, so they can decline the invitation if they don't want to remove their shoes. And don't insult people by putting slippers out for them. They're not home, and they're not invalids.

Answer 4

I have a shoes off rule in our house too. I have found it is best to let people know before you invite them over that they will have to take off their shoes. I just had a small gathering for some people from kid's school who I am friendly with this past weekend. As part of the invitation to come to my house I included directions to our house in an e-mail. As part of the e-mail I just added a line that said "when you arrive use the door by the garage, there is a large rug in the mudroom, just leave your shoes there and come on in."

Answer 5

I think it's very rude to tell your guests they have to remove their shoes. There is no nice or polite way to turn into a rude request into a polite request.



If that is your policy, by all means let everybody know in advance. If I got an invite like that I would immediately throw it in the trash. I won't be coming. But you would be happy: one less person to "ruin" your precious floors. (p.s. The floor was made to walk on!)

Answer 6

Yes I ask them at the door. Asking before hand makes it seem like you are making too big a deal out of this. Also, I have never had a person tell me no when I ask them to take off their shoes. As for your kids friends just do they same thing and ask at the door

Answer 7

You definitely need to warn people in advance if possible.I have someone coming to my house later to work on my website and I have asked him to bring slippers with him.

It's a good idea to give people slippers to wear that they can take away with them.

For workmen, get shoe covers. Not all of them will take their shoes off.

Most people here remove their shoes, but not everyone does. So for those who don't do it, just try and make their stay as comfortable as possible.

Answer 8

If you want guests to remove shoes you simply ask politely that they do so. Perhaps have slippers available for those that aren't comfortable in socks or barefoot. You also need to decide what to do with a guest who refuses.



I don't have a no-shoes-in-the-house rule myself, but I am always barefoot at home.



While I don't make guests remove footwear, when they see my bare feet most go ahead & shed shoes. Some ask if I want them to, & I reply that it's their choice.

Answer 9

I don't invite anybody but they keep coming :( and when they come I am so annoyed by their stupid talks about weather sports and politics that I do not care about shoes . I just want them to stop talking about things that I have no control over . If only somebody would come and talk to me about some smart and interesting business idea I would kneel down and wash their feet .

Answer 10

Since it's an automatic habit where I live, I've never had to ask. If it isn't in your area, I think you should to mention it in advance so that they can bring some slippers or clean shoes to change if they're not comfortable being barefoot. It would be nice if you were able to provide some, too.

Answer 11

Please, please tell people way beforehand that you don't want them to wear shoes.



That way, people who are diabetic and are not supposed to go barefoot/wear socks will know they should not come to your house. (Diabetics can lose feeling in their feet, step on a sharp object and not feel it; the next thing that happens is it gets infected and they lose a foot or leg). Also other people, such as myself, have to wear shoes with very expensive orthotics that only fit in the Nikes I have to wear. It is done to prevent plantar fasciitis from flaring up, which takes forever for me to recover from, not to mention spending money on medication and steroid shots. To avoid this, I don't go barefoot.



Anybody who should not go barefoot, or wear socks, or wear slippers, for medical reasons should not come to your house. So tell everyone about your no shoe policy when you invite them, not when they get to the door.

Answer 12

It's the custom and rule in every household in Asian countries such as Japan and Korea !

Answer 13

Yes, that what we do when we invite people over :)