I have just had new carpet fitted in my hallway and living room and we agreed to a shoe ban.?

Question

But tt's really awkward getting people to take their shoes off when they walk through the door! I've spent quite a lot of money on a nice new carpet and I don't want dirty shoes walked all over it. I ask my friends to take off their shoes and they're fine with it but my boyfriend's not so bothered. And the man wanted to come in and read the gas meter and I sent him away as I didn't see how I could ask him to take off his shoes!!! What do you think??

Thank you for your answers. I'm glad to see the majority agree and it's not just me overreacting!! What I mainly object to is that on the streets there's all sorts of nasty stuff - vomit, spit, old food, etc, and I don't want my carpet to come in contact with that especially when I come out the shower all clean. I don't want to be walking on yucky carpet!

Answer 1

I had exactly the same problem i stupidly got a WHITE! carpet last year which was absolutely gorge and i too made everyone take their shoes off. It worked at first but then people just nipped in and out without taking them off, then there was the workmen who were just having none of it and eventually my white carpet became a dirty grey carpet, hence my new wooden flooring! not as cosy, but easier to keep clean!

Answer 2

When I was in the locksmith business, Ihad one regular customer who provided surgical shoe covers to workmen, meter readers, etc. They are cheap, and a reasonable solution for working people who must enter the house.

Imagine if the meter reader had to take off and put on his shoes hundreds of times a day! He'd never get his work done. And he is probably not permitted to work without steel toed boots, anyway. OSHA and insurance issues would apply in the case of a working person with unprotected feet.

Because I owned my own business and wanted the work, Il kept a pair of clean moccasins in my van and changed them at the door. I didn't want to risk dropping a hammer or something on my toes. But I charged by the hour and you better believe that the customer payed dearly for every wasted minute. Some people were so anal about their carpets that clean slippers weren't good enough.; I just let them find someone else to install their locks. If a customer is that unreasonable, I didn't want to work for them anyway.

As many have said, it's your house and floors. Just be aware that if someone stubs his unshod toe, you're going to lose that carpet in the lawsuit.

Answer 3

Keep something to hand in case workmen need to come in, eg an old throw, scatter rug etc, or even a cut off from the good carpet you have had laid. It's useful to keep an off-cut for this reason and also to test any cleaning fluid on - just in case something gets spilt you have the test cut-off to show you what to use.

B/f is an awkward case - did he contribute towards the carpet? does he think you are being excessive - or is he just a little less thoughtful towards material things? He might genuinely just need a little prod - like strip him off when he comes in lol!

Answer 4

Light carpet can be practical. I would reccomend you stick to your rules. Make a habbit of saying it to everyone who comes in, when they see your carpet they'll understand. I would reccomend coir matting / coconut matting for your entrance, fitted 1 metre or more into the hall, wall to wall fitted, would act as a reminder for people to take their shoes off, it also acts as a good shoe wiper as its bristles take the dirt and moisture from the shoes as its walked on.. You can buy it from your local carpet shop. They look very nice and are very hardy and practical. Coir matting will save you money in the long term from having to replace your hallway carpet.. 100% reccomended.

need to know more; email [e-mail]

Answer 5

We always take our shoes off, as well as any guests that come over. They know it's the rule around here. The occasional outsider like the meter guy shouldn't enough to mess up a carpet unless it's obvious his shoes are muddy or really really dirty. And if it is that obvious he shouldn't mind taking them off.

Answer 6

I think that you are right in wanting this no shoe ban but if you have someone that needs to come in and you dont want to ask them to take their shoes off i would go out and buy some of those desposible boot things and tell them please put these on this is new carpet. They should understand

Answer 7

If you are expecting guests and are too embarrassed to ask them to remove their shoes get a few rugs or even better buy some of the carpet and have them trimmed around the edges to make runners and it won't be as noticeable when you put the, down. then you can roll them up and store them when it's just you and your boyfriend in!

Answer 8

We have the same rule (my 2 year old enforces it :-) When I worked for a Cable TV company, the installers were trained to take their shoes off when entering a customre's property, so the metre reader may not have been offended. The only people we don't ask to do it are our parents, because it doesn't feel right to get old people to sit in their socks!

Answer 9

I have foot problems and it is very painful for me to walk without my shoes on. I will not take my shoes off in order to come inside a friend's or relative's house. If they ask me to take off my shoes I refuse and skip the visit. For me it is just not worth the pain.

Answer 10

Most people offer to take their shoes off if you don't have yours on. Nothing wrong with asking them politely. No one wears shoes in my house and no one is offended.