A wonderful question: I believe the etiquette gurus state that if one does require/ask guests to remove their shoes upon entering their house, they must provide the courtesy of clean slippers for each guest. That said, here is my opinion as an etiquette aficionado:
Kathryn Ann’s Rules:angel1:
Although I would never ask someone to remove his or her shoes upon entering my abode, the following may be of some help:
HOSTS: If you do require this, please provide slippers for each guest. They can be disposable, paper like slippers for large crowds. Please know that however, that many people are quite put off and embarrassed by this custom of removing shoes at the door.
Please consider also, those using canes or otherwise challenged. :getholy:They may need you to help them off and on with their shoes. Are you willing to do that?:dts:
GUESTS: **“When in Rome,” is the rule here. **(if you notice a great stack of the host’s shoes as you enter the house, (or have been previously informed that this is the custom in the house) you should politely demure to their preference that the guests remove their shoes.
You do not have to return to the household, where the state of the carpet/floors, or allergy challenges are more important than the comfort of their guests.:tiphat: Hardwood floors are an interesting cure to this dilemma, easily dust mopped, in need of fewer accoutrements such as foaming soap machines, and in general are easier to keep clean. Imagine that.
** To those :slapfight:who are vigorously opposed
to taking off their shoes upon entering a house:**
Remember please that we are enlightened now about allergies. There are situations where children or other residents of the home may require a more pristine environment than that which we are used to. Elderly people on oxygen, those who must avoid crowds, etc. :stretcher:
Although I would never require this of any guest, I would, as a guest, defer to this on the grounds that this is a way of life for many people, and a tradition for people moving here from other cultures. There are embassies where this is the custom: temporary homes of visiting heads of state, royalty from the Far East, etc. Would we want to offend them by refusing to defer to their preferences? Perhaps an attitude of joviality will rule the day. Remember the movie,* Barefoot in the Park? *It’s sometimes fun to try something new. One wonders what the rule will be in Heaven…!
But again, hosts, please remember that when requiring this of any guest, you should, in theory, provide the courtesy of slippers of some kind, whether regular or disposable, to those who do not wish to parade around your pristine environment in socks or hosiery that may humble them for one reason or another. (Holes in the toes. perspiration and other obvious problems.)
We are all called to peace, so let’s try to think of one another’s reactions to our rules and also to our reactions to them.:heaven:
Many blessings,
Kathryn Ann
