The Etiquette of Asking Guests to Take Off Their Shoes In Your Home

The weather outside is nasty, and you want to keep a mud-free home for you, your family, and your guests to appreciate. Or, you simply don’t want shoes worn in the house to keep from collecting dirt, germs, or any number of other reasons. In some cultures, it’s the norm for guests to remove their shoes before entering the home as it can be seen as a sign of disrespect for guests to enter without leaving their shoes at the door. Regardless of your motives, what is the etiquette of asking guests to take off their shoes in your home?

According to a survey conducted by YouGovAmerica, most Americans take their shoes off at home but have a difficult time asking their guests to do the same. Is it an “age thing”? “Fifty percent of the general public say they would never ask guests to take off their shoes, but for those over 55, that percentage goes up to 64%. Meanwhile, 64% of millennials say they sometimes ask guests to remove their shoes.”

When it comes to implementing a “No Shoes” rule in your home, here is what you need to know:

Prepare Your Guests in Advance

If you plan to ask your guests to leave their shoes at the door, it shouldn’t come as a surprise when you greet them. Let your guests know in advance that you have a child with severe allergies and are trying to keep your home as debris-free as possible. Or, you can offer that you simply prefer a shoe-free home and want them to be aware before they arrive. The first words your guests should NOT hear when you open the door: “Would you mind taking off your shoes?” A lengthy excuse is not necessary but your guests should not be surprised at your request.

Offer a Stress-Free Experience

Have a designated area for your guests to take off and leave their shoes. Set out a basket with new, warm, colorful socks if they forget or find themselves unprepared. Some people may decline, but others will welcome the cozy treat. Who doesn’t love a free gift?

Vacuum and Mop Your Floor Before Your Guests Arrive

If you expect your guests to walk around in bare feet, or in socks, make sure your floor is squeaky clean. Your guests don’t want to see or feel grains of sticky granola or clumps of hair stuck to the bottom of their clean socks. Expectations of keeping a clean floor go both ways.

Let Your Guests Keep the Socks

Under no circumstances should you ask for the socks back at the end of the night. Someone wrote in and shared that they were invited to a no-shoe event, given a pair of clean socks, and then asked to leave them in a basket at the door when they left the party. They mentioned that it was a “cold ending to a warm and engaging event.”

A Few Other Uncomfortable Requests

With entertaining etiquette in mind, we thought it may also be helpful to include a few reminders for guests as well.

As a guest in someone’s home, the following questions may come across as impolite.

• Can I bring my pet?
• Can I bring my new boyfriend/girlfriend?
• Will you be serving a specific liquor?
• Who’s on the guest list?
• Can I spend the night if it gets too late?

For more information about working with Diane, America’s “Go to” social and professional (manners) skills authority, please visit The Protocol School of Texas. 

You may also like Houseguest Etiquette: Tips on Being a Gracious Guest. See what Diane is up to by following her on Instagram and Facebook. Find etiquette inspiration on her Pinterest account and keep up with her latest tweets. For more of Diane’s etiquette tips, refer to her posts on Inc. and HuffPost.