is this too rude?

when we get our new floors into our new house, we would like any visitors to take their shoes off before entering the house.

I was thinking of getting a personalised door mat made up with

"be kind to our floor please leave your shoes at the door"

we will have a covered shoe rack for ppl to place their shoes in

do you think this is too rude and OTT to ask ppl to take their shoes off?

I am the sort of person that takes my shoes off when visiting anyones home and we don't wear shoes inside our current house either.

any suggestions? would you be put off by this?

That sounds like a very polite way of asking. The alternative is to verbally invite people to take their shoes off at the door which is what most of my friends do.

I just moved into our own place and we have polished floors, i love them and i tell visitors to take their shoes off i dont care, my house, my rules. Although one of my friends has ocd and she cant not wear shoes so she brings some slippers. I appreciate this and i let her know. Just dont look too hard at the floors cause you'll see the scratches!

I don't think it's rude at all.. i think it's actually quite a polite way to do it.
I would LOVE to ask ppl to take their shoes off and we don't even have special floors, it's just cos i am over filthy carpets and being the only one to clean them.

Not rude at all hun, I think it is a great idea!

I don't think it's rude at all...actually I think it's rude for people NOT to take their shoes off when they visit other people's houses, unless the host says don't worry about it... I was brought up with not being allowed to wear shoes inside so maybe it's just because of that...I wear shoes occasionally inside but mostly leave them in the spare room at the front of the house.
I would never just walk into someone else's house with my shoes still on!

I don't think it's rude at all. I always ask when going to other peoples houses

I always automatically remove my shoes when visiting people unless they say to leave them on.
I've seen little signs next to doors asking people to take their shoes off. I don't think it's rude at all to ask and your idea sounds great :D

I don't think it's rude at all. The sign is a very nice way of putting it. I've been to peoples houses who simply has signs near the front door that say "Please remove shoes before entering"

Another thing is Maybe remind people of this when they are coming over and give them the option to bring slippers or socks. I hate walking around someone's house in bare feet (sorry but true) and find it really uncomfortable when I don't know. I often keep a pair of slippers in the car for this reason, but sometimes I've been caught out.

It's definitely not rude though!

I dont think it is rude at all, i always take my shoes off at other peoples house.

I went to someones house that had a rack for shoes and another rack that contained loads of cheap slippers and you could wear some slippers if you needed to wear shoes. i loved this idea (athough i could see that this might gross some people out!)

love the matt idea - might have to do that myself - i hate people wearing shoes inside, i have polished floors and i am the cleaner and muddy footprints are just not cool!

Do it!

I often ask people if I can take my shoes off in their house. I hate shoes. Well, no, I love shoes, I really love shoes, but I also really really love being barefoot.

What we do is ask them to put on some nice slippers before entering the house (we bought a few pairs from the bargain shops)

No I don't think it's rude at all... I find though, that almost anyone that comes to our house will take their shoes off before they come in without me saying anything anyway... depending if I have just done the floors I usually tell them just to leave them on.

I hate when people enter my house with their shoes on. It's so rude! One day my in-laws came over just after I mopped the whole place. It was raining outside and without any thought they just walked through my house leaving muddy footprints everywhere!!! I was soo peeved. Some people are just thick, so I think a friendly reminder is necessary! If they can't appreciate the fact that you would like to keep your floors clean, you can always say that you don't want them dragging in dirt from the outside, because your DS spends a lot of time on the floor playing. You can always buy some cheap slippers from IKEA (only $2.95 a pair) for guests who want their feet covered (PS: Don't use the same pair for all guests, that could be icky!). Good Luck!

Gosh not rude at all. I had a friend who just had a sign with a similar thing in the window at the front door. Was good to know, otherwise I ask anyway.
I have learnt if I know the floor is tiles or something and it's cold wear shoes that I have to wear socks with!!!! it can be very cold on tiles with no shoes on.

No, it is not rude.
It's a nice way to let people know, as not everyone will have the same preference at their home so if you don't tell them they won't know.

I take mine off normally after a friend from high schools mum yelled at ne one day for wearing my shoes inside, even though no one had asked me not to so I had no idea that his was her preference.

Nope not rude.
I too always take my shoes off when I get to someone's house (that is if I'm wearing shoes!) even if they tell me it's fine to leave them on... I think it's rude to leave them on.
We have just moved into a rental property and everyone takes their shoes off when they visit, except for the in-laws!! What p***es me off about that is you aren't allowed to wear shoes in their house... What the!?!?!

thanks everyone. I too was brought up not to wear shoes in the house, however, my mum now wears shoes EVERYWHERE she doesn't take them off, so don't know how that works lol

I LOVE the idea of the slippers and I will definately be doing this (of course a new pair for every person).

Thanks so much for all your replies, now i just have to find where to get my front door mat made :)

Not rude at all. We dont wear shoes at all inside, and ask or remove at other peoples places.

I hate wearing shoes, take any opportunity to remove them! I like the idea of the slippers though, I know you can get washable ones?
Funnily enough, my DH was always "no shoes inside" and then it's like he gave up, now he wears his big runners all the time, and the sole is bigger than his foot so my toes are always getting squished...

I am on the opposite point of view to everyone here. I always wear shoes inside my own house - unless they are wet, but I have outside shoes that I change at the door. I get embarrassed if I haven't remembered to wear shoes that don't smell when I go to a friends who wants you to take your shoes off. What do you do then? Also I feel it's kind of pointless getting dressed up to go to a party at someone's house then to walk around bare foot, the shoes make the outfit!

I don't think its rude either. The thing Ausgirl, if you've got floorboards, and someone comes in with high heels on, then the floor ends up with all these nice little heels marks all over them (indented into the floor, so you can't get them out of course). Not having a go, no way!

I always ask when I go to to someone else's place, even if I have been there before.

How's this for funny: the two boys (usually the Man more often) takes his boots off at the front door (usually inside already though), and leaves them just inside the door. Which is grouse, as they're usually covered in oil/grease and dirt. BUT, then in the mornings, as he's about to leave for work, he goes and picks them up, and sits at the table (which is on the carpet), then walks (with his shoes ON) around the table to the lounge (on cream coloured carpet) to say goodbye to Steph. Thus, traipsing dirt and grease all over the bleeting carpet! For me to clean! URGH!