Some people are great guests. Others, not so much. They notice the house rules & act like they didn’t. We asked our readers about what rules their guests ignore when visiting, and here are thirteen real examples people swear happen all the time.
Which ones have you seen someone pretend not to notice?
Shoes stay off past the entry rug
A couple of readers claimed there’s always one guest who pretends they didn’t notice everyone’s shoes off near the door. They’ll then walk straight across the carpet.
In fact, it’s gotten so bad that one reader said they actually keep a whole bench & basket of slippers ready for people to swap into. And yet someone still strolls in wearing sneakers because they needed to grab something.
Thermostat must remain at 72°F
Apparently, a sticky note that tells people to leave the thermostat alone is more of an invitation than a rule. A few readers mentioned guests who will bump it up a degree because they’re feeling uncomfortable, but it’s not their house to do so.
One person said their uncle claimed he didn’t change anything. Sure. Why did the display show 74°F twenty minutes later?
Coasters required on the live-edge table
One reader felt really annoyed about the guest who conveniently always forgets the coasters sitting right in front of them. The guests put the drinks down on the bare table, insisting the glass is dry now. It’s not.
In one case, a reader said they saw people drag the coaster closer afterward, like they definitely meant to use it the whole time.
Don’t feed the animals, even scraps
Hosts with pets said it’s an endless battle between them and their guests. “No people food” means literally that. Except, you know, when there’s a begging dog under the table, apparently, as one reader said their friend slipped a piece of bacon to the dog during breakfast.
They supposedly brushed it off by claiming that since it’s protein, it’s fine. Really?
No drinks outside the kitchen
People swear they’ve made this clear. Yet guests balance their mugs on the couch arm anyway, and one person admitted they’d found juice stains behind throw pillows. They didn’t bother asking who did it.
Another reader said their family members keep telling them that they’re “careful,” even though their actions show that they’re anything but.
Leave the decorative towels alone
Apparently, fancy towels are for looks, not hands, but nobody remembers that. Several readers told us they’ve tried hanging plain towels nearby & tying bows, even adding a tiny note.
But someone always walks out of the bathroom with damp hands and maybe a guilty smile.
No shoes on the furniture
Oh, this rule really annoys some readers. They’re tired of reminding guests to keep shoes off the couch, only to find that people have left sneaker marks on the ottoman.
It became bad enough that a few readers said they’ve stopped buying light-colored couches altogether. Why on Earth are people this inconsiderate when they’re at someone else’s house?
Keep volume down at night
The noise rule gets ignored practically every visit. One reader said each time there’s a party, someone always talks loudly in the kitchen at 1 a.m. or streams a show at a higher volume, without realizing how thin the walls are.
They simply don’t understand that other people don’t want to hear their noise.
Don’t rearrange furniture
Weirdly, some people get awfully creative with other people’s living rooms, and a few readers said they’ve found guests turning chairs sideways & moving plants.
They also saw that the coffee table was pushed across the rug. According to guests, it gives the room a “better flow.” But the hosts think it’s plain rude.
Don’t overload the trash can
You’d think telling someone not to overload the trash can would be a simple request. Apparently, asking someone to “take it out if it’s full” actually means that you should “cram it until it’s overflowing.”
Quite a few readers shared with us how annoyed they were. They hate seeing guests mash down garbage with their hands when the solution is oh-so-simple.
Wipe down the kitchen counters after you eat
A few people said this is the rule that never sticks. Someone makes a sandwich & eats it, then leaves the crumbs on the countertop like they clean themselves. They don’t.
In fact, one reader said they leave paper towels & spray right in the middle of the counter as a hint, but it just doesn’t work.
Don’t open closed doors or drawers
A guest goes wandering & opens a random door. They’ll peek in a drawer and claim they’re just curious, yet such behavior is so rude.
One of our readers said their friend accidentally walked straight into the main bedroom while looking for the bathroom. That’s despite the fact that they were told not to go wandering. Nobody means harm, but it’s awkward every time.
Turn off the bathroom fan when you’re done
So many readers said a rule like this one drives them nuts. They’ll tell guests politely to turn the fan off when they’re done, yet it never happens.
The worst offenders were those who left the fan running for hours after they left the bathroom. You wouldn’t do this in your own house, so why do it in someone else’s?
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