"Please remove your shoes at the door."

Has anyone ever asked you to do this? It may be something you've never been asked to do. Or you were asked and pleasantly complied. Or you were asked and thought it was rude. People have strong feelings about this topic, one way or the other!  

Why would someone have a no-shoe rule?

In many countries (Canada, Denmark, Austria, Norway) and Asia and in some U.S. states, such as Alaska, it is the custom to take your shoes off at the door. Many people would not even think of wearing shoes in someone's home. They may even bring their own slippers along. On the other hand, many people recoil at the thought of being asked to remove their shoes.  

 

Good reasons to asks people to "please take off your shoes."

 

Dirt & Filth

You've walked around in who-knows-what and you enter someone's home wearing shoes that may look clean, but still carry grime. No matter how you may scrape and scrub your shoes or boots, they are not completely clean. You carry this dirt and grime into someone's home. Maybe they have little children who play on the floor, or they have newly refinished floors or new carpet. If they have made it clear that they have a no-shoe rule, who are you to clod through their house with your shoes on? What could you have walked through that day? Gasoline, oil, people's spit, fertilized lawns, cigarette butts, animal droppings, antifreeze – yuck! You wouldn't want to have that tracked through your own home, would you? (However, this may not be a valid reason if you have a pet dog or cat, as they can track in just as much on their paws.)

 

Pesticides

Even the EPA sees the advantage of removing your shoes. There's a government publication about pesticides that includes this: "To prevent tracking pesticides inside, remove or rinse your boots or shoes before entering your home."

 

Germs

This goes along with dirt, filth and pesticides. You may have been to a gas station or convenience store bathroom where someone has "missed" and now you have stepped in urine and are tracking it on your shoes. Perhaps you stepped in poop somewhere without knowing it. This is extremely unsanitary and not something you want to bring inside.

 

New Carpet or Newly Finished Wood Floors

This isn't a choice of caring more about your floors than you care about your guests. This is about your home and how you maintain it. Guests should respect the hard work and money you put into your home. What if someone walked in with a pebble in the tread of their shoe, or wore stiletto heels? Either one of these could scratch hardwood floors. It's just being courteous to respect the homeowner's property.

 

Remove Your Shoes At The Door Decals

Let others know that you would appreciate them removing their shoes in your home.