Dear Mrs. A – March 2025
Dear Mrs. A,
Is it appropriate to ask your guests to remove their shoes when entering your home?
– Castle Valley Clean Freak
Dear Clean Freak,
Oh, you’ve asked the hard question, and Mrs. A. will do her best to guide you. Removing shoes can certainly help keep the home much cleaner by reducing the amount of dirt and moisture tracked in––not to mention tracking in gives concern for germs, chemicals and allergens. Also, there are certain cultures where this is a standard ask. Many Asian countries adhere to this tradition.
But can we talk about the feelings of the guest? Is there a way to ask your guests to remove their shoes and have them feel welcome and not feel like they are in an airport security line?
The answer may be different when considering inviting a friend or two over to watch the game versus a formal cocktail party.
One of the things you can do is give advanced warning. Your request should be light, something simple like, “We have a no-shoes policy here at our house, so please bring your favorite slippers or comfy socks.” Have a few pairs of clean, fuzzy socks on hand for guests to borrow if they don’t want to be barefoot.
Prepare for pushback: although it would be ungrateful for your guest to refuse your request, it can happen.
If you plan to keep guests from wearing shoes inside, it may help to keep your party small—it would be impractical to ask a large group of people to remove their shoes, much less store them. And keep the party simple; if your event is more formal, guests may be reluctant to take off shoes that are part of their attire. Maybe host the event elsewhere so that guests can keep their shoes on.
Some polls state that it is not polite to ask people to remove their shoes and the comfort of the guest supersedes the host’s preference for no shoes. On the other hand, from the perspective of the guest, it is important to respect your host’s wishes.
Good Luck and Big Love, Mrs. A.
