OP's options are to ask her guests to take off their shoes and deal with the hassle of a massive pile of shoes and whiner guests like many of the PPs (including mimosa PP who sounds fun and I would totally show up to the cleats-and-ambrosia-salad party) or to deal with the hassle of cleaning the floor. Realistically, OP, you will be cleaning the floor anyway, so maybe consider being a gracious host, not giving people crap about their shoes, and just cleaning thoroughly since that's the job of hosting?

Canadian here. Most households are shoes off. It is polite to ask at the door what the host prefers. Lots of dog poop in sidewalks etc. I don't understand why people aren't concerned esp if you have children playing on the floor. But even if you don't have kids, why would you want to track dog poop everywhere in your house?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are not a shoes off household, we let people do what they want and most kids take shoes off but adults leave theirs on.

Just ask your guests to wear different shoes than their boots. Some guests need shoes and no slippers are not shoes and boot covers are slippery.

My mom has had 2 hip replacements, my MIL is an amputee, and my father has balance issues. All these people need sturdy, stable, non-slip shoes to be safe. Some people need ankle support and perhaps that’s what the hiking boots are for. No adult guest owes you an explanation of their health issues, but you could ask that they wear sneakers or shoes with non-marking soles.

I will add that anyone who gets on their high horse about being a shoes off house but also has a cat or dog is a hypocrite. Do you clean your dog’s paws every time they come in? How about your can who walks in their litter box and then all over your house. Just as gross as whatever is on my shoes. I don’t eat off the floor and we sweep/roomba every other day and vacuum/wet mop once a week.

My dog only walks outside on leash and doesn't enter any public restrooms. And yes I do wipe her feet off each and every time she comes in.

But I also don't host large gatherings beyond our parents/siblings/nieces/nephews or 4-6 close friends, for a variety of reasons.

The entire world is a public restroom for squirrels, cats, rabbits, skunks, deer, raccoons. What about all the yard chemicals and cars leaking oil and other chemicals that run onto sidewalks and pavement when it rains? I promise your dog walks in way grosser and more toxic stuff than a public restroom that is mopped with cleaner 1-3x a day.

Someone may have already said it but what about a temporary floor covering like a rug or some kind of mylar in the place where you don't want them to scuff

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are not a shoes off household, we let people do what they want and most kids take shoes off but adults leave theirs on.

Just ask your guests to wear different shoes than their boots. Some guests need shoes and no slippers are not shoes and boot covers are slippery.

My mom has had 2 hip replacements, my MIL is an amputee, and my father has balance issues. All these people need sturdy, stable, non-slip shoes to be safe. Some people need ankle support and perhaps that’s what the hiking boots are for. No adult guest owes you an explanation of their health issues, but you could ask that they wear sneakers or shoes with non-marking soles.

I will add that anyone who gets on their high horse about being a shoes off house but also has a cat or dog is a hypocrite. Do you clean your dog’s paws every time they come in? How about your can who walks in their litter box and then all over your house. Just as gross as whatever is on my shoes. I don’t eat off the floor and we sweep/roomba every other day and vacuum/wet mop once a week.

Yes, I clean my dog’s paws every time he comes inside. I keep a towel in a basket by both doors and replace with a clean one every few days. And I don’t have a cat because the litter situation really bothers me and I hate going over to people’s houses and walking through tracked litter.

We are not a shoes off household, we let people do what they want and most kids take shoes off but adults leave theirs on.

Just ask your guests to wear different shoes than their boots. Some guests need shoes and no slippers are not shoes and boot covers are slippery.

My mom has had 2 hip replacements, my MIL is an amputee, and my father has balance issues. All these people need sturdy, stable, non-slip shoes to be safe. Some people need ankle support and perhaps that’s what the hiking boots are for. No adult guest owes you an explanation of their health issues, but you could ask that they wear sneakers or shoes with non-marking soles.

No one should wear hiking boots for ankle stability! Anyone needing ankle support should be wearing an ankle brace and, especially with chronic instability, custom orthotics.

My family has genetic, chronic instability in our ankles. My youngest has worn bilateral DAFOs since he was 15 months old. I've had 2 surgeries on one ankle and, in addition to a plate, have a syndesmosis tightrope running through my fibula/tibula to help stablize the ankle.

We are a no-shoes house because of allergies and, frankly, it's just dirty. Anyone coming to our house is informed and we either provide slippers/covers or guests bring house shoes to change in to. My own mother has a pair of house sneakers that she keeps at our house with a 2nd set of custom orthotics. We do make allowances for people who are in a walking boot or other assistive device.

https://hikersdaily.com/hiking-boots-ankle-support/
https://www.amazon.com/Med-Spec-264016-Stabilizer-X-Large/dp/B00TZTO19I/ref=asc_df_B00TZTO19I/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=309872231410&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=17302432486071351942&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9059726&hvtargid=pla-493787545097&psc=1
https://www.arthrex.io/resources/AN1-000037-en-US/syndesmosis-tightrope-xp-implant-system

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We take off our shoes inside but when I host a big gathering, I do not insist on shoes off. I just clean afterwards. I think leaving shoes off keeps the house much cleaner, but it is not like we are going to keel over if shoes are worn occasionally.

I have never had issues with scuff marks...are your floors very light OP? Are these boots terribly dirty?

THis. I have light floors, no stain only clearcoat. No scuff issues.

I have one pair of boots that scuff the floor like crazy. If I wear them around the kitchen for 5 minutes it’s covered in black marks.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you are going to make me take my shoes off, you better tell me ahead of time. I sometimes wear shoes without socks and I don't want to walk barefoot on your gross floors.

Oh no! Their floors are PRISTINE and they absolutely must keep them that way at all costs!

This is what I don't get.... I don't eat food off the floor, or lick the floor? So why do I really care that there are people walking in shoes on them?

Germs!

Anonymous wrote:I wear Allbirds without socks. If you forced me to take off my shoes with no notice I can guarantee my stinky feet will clear the room.

Consider this your notice. If your feet stink that badly, maybe you should have that checked out.

When people see the pile of shoes at my door, they don't ask, they just do it. The only people who complain are my inlaws.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm trying to picture a large family gathering with 30+ pairs of shoes by the door and everyone walking around in bare feet.

Clearly you've never been to an Asian person's bbq party at their house.

You would be correct. But I have been to gatherings at their homes, and we didn't remove our shoes. My friends are Korean and grew up in the states, if that makes a difference.

Anonymous wrote:We take off our shoes inside but when I host a big gathering, I do not insist on shoes off. I just clean afterwards. I think leaving shoes off keeps the house much cleaner, but it is not like we are going to keel over if shoes are worn occasionally.

I have never had issues with scuff marks...are your floors very light OP? Are these boots terribly dirty?

THis. I have light floors, no stain only clearcoat. No scuff issues.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you are going to make me take my shoes off, you better tell me ahead of time. I sometimes wear shoes without socks and I don't want to walk barefoot on your gross floors.

Oh no! Their floors are PRISTINE and they absolutely must keep them that way at all costs!

This is what I don't get.... I don't eat food off the floor, or lick the floor? So why do I really care that there are people walking in shoes on them?

It’s a cultural thing in the US. Americans tend to keep their shoes on inside the home. I’ve lived in Europe, japan, and Canada, where no one keeps their shoes on because it’s considered disrespectful. I don’t think anyone in the US should be shamed for it, because over here it’s the norm. I think in other countries you just know to remove your shoes, but here it’s ok to ask someone. It’s your home!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you are going to make me take my shoes off, you better tell me ahead of time. I sometimes wear shoes without socks and I don't want to walk barefoot on your gross floors.

Oh no! Their floors are PRISTINE and they absolutely must keep them that way at all costs!

This is what I don't get.... I don't eat food off the floor, or lick the floor? So why do I really care that there are people walking in shoes on them?

*an entire

And entire Wikipedia devoted to taking off shoes in the home. Don’t come at me.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tradition_of_removing_shoes_in_the_home_and_houses_of_worship#Canada