MAKING GUESTS TAKE SHOES OFF
With holiday parties fast approaching, I found this topic to be strangely relevant.
It all started in one of my Facebook mom groups, a question came up that sparked a lot of commenting and debate. It wasn’t about vaccinations, childcare, or even in-laws.
It was about whether or not you should have guests take their shoes off at your house for a party.
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The woman who started the topic was going to be hosting a party at her home and wanted her guests to take their shoes off for two reasons. One, she was going to have her floors and carpet cleaned before the party and two, her young children would be crawling around and she didn’t want them putting extra germy hands or toys in their mouths.
Imagine you’re invited to someone’s house for a party. You’re wearing cute boots and your favorite well-worn raggedy socks. You get to the house and to your surprise you’re told to remove your shoes at the door. Now for some people this may not be a big deal, but what if your socks had holes in them or you didn’t get that pedicure you planned on getting or you aren’t wearing any socks and your feet just aren’t cute? You know who I’m talking about.
People who were against the hostess making her guests take their shoes off argued that as a “good” hostess she should make her guests feel as comfortable as possible. She could mop the floors and vacuum again after the party was over. As far as the children crawling around the floor, they suggested having an area designated the shoe-free play area. Also, some guests might want to show off their footwear with their outfits and it would be unfair to make them take off their shoes.
People who were for guests taking their shoes off argued that it was the hostess’ house and therefore her choice. Why should she have to clean the floors AGAIN after the party when guests could easily just take their shoes off? What if she had light colored carpeting that was expensive to clean?
I love playing Devil’s advocate and could see both sides of the debate.
You’ll see the “solution” I came up with at the end of this post.
So, if you plan on having a party and want your guests to remove their shoes consider the following ways to go about doing that.
GIVE GUESTS A HEADS UP
Use text, email, or the invite to tell guests to bring socks or slippers because you don’t want them wearing shoes in your house.
I think this method can be a bit tacky, but it’s all about the wording.
PLACE A SIGN ON THE DOOR
You can have a makeshift sign placed at your entrance telling guests you would like them to leave their shoes at the door.
If you have guests and parties often, consider purchasing one of these hilarious signs. They say things like:
Since little fingers touch the floor, please remove your shoes at the door
Life is full of choices, remove your shoes or scrub the floor
Please remove your shoes and don’t take a better pair when you leave
Funny, yet effective.
OFFER SOCKS/SHOE GUARDS
These shoe covers are disposable and have an elastic band on them so they can fit various shoe sizes. They go right over a person’s shoe to prevent dirt from spreading. They are a good option because people don’t have to remove their shoes and they are easy to put on and take off.
WIN-WIN
Now my solution to this dilemma. Have these mop slipper shoe covers for your guests to wear. They come in 5 fun colors and you’ll clean your floors at the same time as having your guests over.
If you plan on having a holiday party at your home, know that you have a few options if you would like your guests to take their shoes off. Think about giving them a heads up on the invite, making it a silly sock party theme, or offering slippers/shoe covers.
If you’re attending a holiday party at someone else’s home be mindful that they might have a no-shoes policy. Wear cute socks OR pamper yourself for the holidays and get that pedicure you’ve been meaning to get. I know I will 🙂
I would have to say – Yay! I prefer to have guests take off shoes. I am happy to provide them clean house slippers if their like.
Guests take their shoes off at my house. They are simply used to it. If I am having a larger party I will bend the rule for the evening.
I do the same thing
In my house, I don’t care about people taking off their shoes, but I have been to many houses where that was their rule. It doesn’t bother me to do it, but it does kind of suck when it catches you off guard and you have two totally different socks on because that’s what was clean. I did that once.
lol I’ve had it happen too
I’m with you that I could go both ways on this issue. Those mop slipper shoe covers are so cute!
I love the funny socks idea! Clever, and no one gets offended!
I deal with this on a regular basis with real estate and showing homes. I have often seen people with cute little riddle signs posted at the door about removing shoes.
I could imagine. Especially when it rains or snows.
I like the sign at the door method.
I understand the reasoning behind a host asking guests to take their shores off, cleanliness, germs etc. but I think it is so awkward. I would personally never ask my guests to do that. I like the shoe cover idea.
I also prefer people to take their shoes off. I think it’s just good manners to do so. 🙂
Great ideas! I’ve even seen people who have a basket of house shoes/sandals for guests to use while inside their home. Not sure that I like the idea of wearing sandals that some other random person has worn, but it is definitely an idea.
Yea I don’t think I’d like wearing other people’s shoes either. Maybe if they bought cheap disposable sandals it would be better
I’m definitely for taking your shoes off at the door. We live on a farm and we just built a new house, so between those two combinations, I definitely appreciate it when people remove their shoes before walking in my new house.
We don’t have a farm, but we have chickens, 2 dogs, and 2 kids lol so it can get messy very fast. Taking off our shoes definitely helps
Love the shoe covers 🙂 Personally I make a point of bringing “ indoor” shoes to a party, and changing at the door. Just one person wearing snowy shoes inside ruins it for all those stocking-clad guests!
I never thought about that, but it’s a great idea. You come prepared and you’re comfortable
Love this post! We allow shoes in our home, we really thought about trying to change that once the baby was crawling- it was sooo hard to convert our habits! I don’t mind taking off my shoes at peoples houses! Probably because I prefer to be shoeless as much as possible!