I’m an immigrant and in my home country it’s typical to take your shoes off in someone’s home. I’m also a bit of a germaphobe, so suffice it to say it makes me extremely uncomfortable when people walk around my flat with shoes on.
When I have friends over, I have no problem just asking them to take their shoes off and none of them seem to mind this. But for handymen, people working for my letting agent, etc this feels like a bit much to ask.
I’ve thought about buying some [disposable shoe covers](https://imgur.com/MRB0Rtj) and asking people coming in to put them on. I know this would be unusual but I’m not sure if people might have a problem with it/be weirded out, or if I’m just overthinking it.
32 comments
Sounds like a perfect solution, I can’t see anyone minding that.
No, usually they have some in their vans to put on, they would have been given them by their employer so they don’t make a mess.
[deleted]
No issue to be honest once I had to use shoe covers on a building site as the client had polished marble flooring and the client wanted it to be kept clean
Honestly – yes, it is a bit weird, but any reasonable person won’t have too much of an issue with it.
You will find a lot of germaphobes brought up in the UK insist that shoes are kept on in a house so the germs and smell from people’s feet don’t get around their home. That’s just what half of us were taught and the other half taught that general outside germs were worse than personal people germs. Obviously the way my Mum taught me was the only correct way, and everyone believes the same.
Workmen meet both kinds of people many times a day and won’t be bothered either way.
It’s what we do (both of us are UK born and bred).
Yeah, I generally do it now. Never had a problem with it. Some tradespeople bring their own these days. Only case where they wouldn’t was when delivering a new washing machine – said they’re too slippy to wear when carrying heavy things upstairs, which is pretty fair.
I’ve wondered this. They probably have to keep their footwear on for safety reasons, so shoe covers seem like a good solution.
Some do anyway. Last time I had sky and virgin around, and a local electrician, they all put them on from their own supply before I even said anything – company policy at least for sky.
Most tradies will be used to wearing these occasionally, shouldn’t be an issue.
Used to be a handyman. These are a fair solution. They won’t take their shoes off as many wear steel toe shoes.
Sure! Offer away! I’m an electrician and would happily put on ones from you if mine break while in the house. Saves me going back and grabbing more from the vehicle
Some tradespeople I’ve hired have used shoe covers without being asked so I think it’s fine for you to ask. They’ll understand you don’t want to get your floors dirty and it might make it easier for them to avoid doing so.
I was asked to wear this at a house viewing instead of taking my shoes off – it was super slippery on the carpet and I fell the entire length of their stairs.
But you’re in a flat so that shouldn’t be an issue.
I’ve noticed more workmen doing this on their own recently, so would be surprised if it were a problem. Should be fine so long as your polite abount it.
I don’t think it’s weird personally but I’m also a germaphobe. I used to ask my landlord to take his shoes off if he was coming into my room to do work.
Was it awkward? Yes
But did it give me peace of mind? Yes
I think the shoe covers are a great idea, and will be picking some up for future visitors.
All the workmen/contractors who have been to our house removed their shoes without being asked.
Offer them along with a bribe of the preferred beverage and biscuit.
My partner is a telecoms engineer and they actually have boot covers for this reason. I don’t think it’s weird at all.
I work in peoples homes – I never take my shoes off but carry shoe covers because I don’t want to stand on strangers carpets (gross) or injure my feet (H&S concerns). No one should have an issue if you provide your own
When I went to view the house I now own, the previous occupants asked I put some of these on as they were worried about dirt, didn’t bother me at all to wear them, thought they may just want to keep the place tidy, fair enough.
However, turns out they weren’t needed. Upon moving in carpets were filthy, like for the first 3 weeks of vacuum daily and keep pulling more and more crap out of the carpets. Even washing the carpets didn’t get it all up!
I would have thought any tradesmen worth their salt would be glad to be offered a solution which meant they could keep their shoes on but didn’t mess up your floors. Some will even have their own.
Not at all, though generally it’s best to offer them as an alternative to taking shoes off at the door.
The only people who won’t oblige you would be police and other emergency services . They arn’t about to take shoes off or wear slippery covers over them for obvious reasons. If practical, they should gladly wipe their boots on a mat if asked politely.
As an ex-tradie, not at all. I used to wear them as a rule because I didn’t want to get my mucky boots all over someone else’s floor. When you’ve had to pay to have someone’s carpet cleaned because you tracked mud across it, you don’t want to do it twice!
It isn’t technically permissible for someone working in your home to take their safety boots off as wearing them will be a required part of the RAMS (risk assessment and method statement) for the job. Most trades will carry shoe covers anyway, but in case they don’t it’s good to have your own.
We used to carry them in our vans, we wore them if our boots were messy and also if the customer requested them.
On many sites they were a requirement too for second fix/remedial works.
No one will mind wearing them if you ask. Maybe be prepared that they may forget every now and then though.
As a tradesman I’ve been asked to wear these a few times which is fine as long as you can appreciate that if I am going up and down a ladder into your loft or walking on your uncarpeted floor in the kitchen/hallway/whatever I won’t be wearing them. Particularly if I am carrying your expensive new boiler at the time, I need all the grip on my feet that I can get.
I also tend to put a lot of dust sheets down where I’m working and my routes from the front door to my work area so I don’t really think shoe covers are required but I absolutely respect your right to ask me to wear them whilst I’m in your home and will do as requested as long as it doesn’t put me or anyone else in any danger at all.
Shoe covers are a suitable middle ground for everyone. I had an inspector come in and he said that he doesn’t remove his shoes, as he once stepped in glass in someone’s home, but he always wears shoe covers for hygiene.
It bothered me so much when I had my washing machine replaced and the guy brought it in on a trolley thingy that of course brought in dirt on it’s wheels but nothing I could do about it except hoover as soon as he was done and gone.
If you had one of these people would find using it too much fun to object.
>Automatic Shoe Cover Dispenser https://amzn.eu/d/3gda0l6
A lot of the trades I use bring shoe covers themselves. I can’t see anyone taking offense.
Not at all. I’m baffled to see tradesman saying it is tbh, I’m a tradesman in the uk, and if I’m working in a property that is fully furnished and living in, I always ask if I should take my shoes off! Wearing what you are suggesting would be a lot easier then having to take them off tbh
Most ppl would not mind but if the have to go up a ladder they may have to remove them for safety.