Is it common for Americans to not take their shoes off when entering a house?

Morkai · 12 months

I'm Australian, and it's not a cultural requirement that I've found, it really does depend on whose house it is and their tendencies/expectations more than my own habits.

WorldFlavor · 12 months

My Korean elementary school students have asked if Americans take their shoes off when the go to bed.

myfeetstink · 12 months

[deleted]

audioofbeing · 12 months

I wonder how much of this is geographical preference. Grew up in the South and never, ever took my shoes off indoors, but having moved away for a while I got into the habit of leaving them by the front door. Family thinks I'm weird now.

cypher_zero · 12 months

It's a regional thing and personal preference. Up north, we tend to take off shoes due to habit of doing it during the winter because of snow and tacking that stuff in. If you live somewhere where it doesn't snow or get super muddy or whatever, then you'd be less likely to take your shoes off at the front door.

junkit33 · 12 months

I've seen it both ways. The split seems pretty even. I take them off as a habit, but I don't require the same for people entering my house.

effieokay · 12 months

It's pretty common in Texas.

DrDebG · 12 months

Years ago, I had an accident involving stepping on a sewing needle that had dropped into shag carpet in my bedroom. Every single physician or nurse I met that day asked, "Why weren't you wearing shoes?"

It struck me horribly, weirdly funny that saying, "I had just gotten out of bed!" didn't seem to be enough of an answer.

mariannemao · 12 months

I think it's very odd to use outdoor shoes inside. It seems unhygienic. We have a dog that makes the apartement dirty, wouldn't want us to do the same. Here in Norway it is considered rude to wear shoes inside, and I've never experienced people doing this. I expect drier weather is a reason many Americans do it.

FIN9450 · 12 months

Had a friend who's dad would make us take our shoes off upon entering their home. I remember thinking that was weird but now that I look back, they always had nice carpet.

NoApollonia · 12 months

It depends on the family and the region - the States is very diverse.

In my home, it's shoes off. I live in a second floor apartment that has a lot of carpet. So it's shoes off because of the fact I am trying to not ruin the carpet before whenever I move and because the shoes would be loud to the downstairs neighbors. I won't force you to take off your shoes, but I will ask and will probably be giving you the evil eye as you walk around if you don't. Those who absolutely refuse don't tend to be invited into my home again.

MissFegg · 12 months

Here, Here, Here and finally here

Fazwatboog · 12 months

It's not only Japan. In many European countries you take your shoes off when entering someone's home. Same for Thailand and many other Asian nations. When I returned to the States, what put me off was how people wore shoes lying on the couch or on their beds, or had carpeting that didn't benefit from footwear. Also, it seems a little strange that people would want to wear shoes all the time

p8ntslinger · 12 months

When I was a kid here in Mississippi, I hardly ever WORE my shoes outside. I probably spent half the day or more with no shoes on, indoors or out.

astraelly · 12 months

Taiwanese-American here, and I can probably count on one hand the number of Asian-American families I know that don't enforce a no-shoes policy indoors. You visit someone's home, you leave your shoes inside the front door, and your host offers you slippers. The thought of dirt and dust from the street being tracked all over my house, near my furniture, makes me intensely uncomfortable.

However, I know very few non-Asian families who require it. I usually defer to my hosts, but I take my shoes off in homes by default... Unless it's a house party or something because I'd really rather not step in puddles of mixed drinks, beer, etc.

ta1901 · 12 months

It's very common for ~~Americans~~ me and the people I know in Michigan to wear clean shoes indoors during the summer. But not during the winter or wet months, because it would track mud into the house.

QEDomelets · 12 months

I think it depends on the family. I know people (and some are family members) who ask that you remove your shoes at the door. Some won't ask, but it's obvious that no one else wears shoes beyond the door. And others don't care either way.

Those of my family members who have a no shoes past the door rule are usually sooooper fastidious about having a clean house - shampooing the carpet every week, separate dining room that no one is allowed to go into unless it's a formal dinner, no feet on the couch, wipes the kitchen sink with a paper towel after doing dishes to avoid streaks, etc.

rchaseio · 12 months

I'd guess about half do/half don't. Most Americans are receptive to being asked to take shoes off, the more perceptive ones notice shoes near the doorway and take them off without being asked.

My mom is Japanese, so I had no choice when growing up. Personally, I can't even imagine walking in all the filth of a city street and bringing that into a home.

fab11 · 12 months

I believe the house is strictly a shoes off place, I live in Illinois.

splittybus · 12 months

I take my shoes off by the front door, then I put on flippy floppys to walk around the house.

ChollaIsNotDildo · 12 months

My wife's from the Middle East and we take off our shoes when we come into the house, like her family does. Growing up in the Midwest and California, we never did that. But I prefer not wearing shoes in the house.

Stembio · 12 months

I moved from Hawaii to California, and was very confused by people keeping their shoes on. In Hawaii it is terribly rude to leave your shoes on in someone else's house. Large Asian population and all. However, in California, it appears to be a matter of preference. Most people with hardwood floors don't really care. People with carpets prefer shoe removal. I personally enforce a shoes off policy in my home, because it keeps the floors cleaner.

steady-state · 12 months

Wow I'm shocked at how many people report indoor shoe habits. FREE THE FEET!

Faqit · 12 months

yeah... I've always found it weird when people don't take their shoes off at home. It's downright disgusting, the shoes have been to lots of places, namely shitastic bathrooms/outdoors. I'm also Asian so it might be a culture thing.

sillyhatday · 12 months

I knew OP was Canadian the moment I saw the title. When I was in CA people flipped out about that. For me growing up taking your shoes off in someone's home was getting too at home in someone else's domain. I'm familiar with it now but I only do it when prompted. I certianly understand it. Americans vary on this.

alosia · 12 months

depends on the house. i prefer to keep my shoes on but if i walk in a house and they say take your shoes off, i do it. if they dont say anything, i keep them on

MrCamilla · 12 months

I dont see why you would want to wear shoes inside. The floors would get incredibly dirty, especially if you have rugs or have your feet on your furniture. I live in Sweden and its very rude to keep your shoes on inside. No one does this

platipress · 12 months

When I'm in my house, I walk into my room, then take my shoes off, only putting my shoes back on when I need to leave the house again. I know a few people who have plantar fasciitis who pretty much step into their shoes when they get out of bed, and wear them until they go to sleep.

tomaka · 12 months

We're Canadian, and I can always tell when my mother is watching those American "House Hunting" shows when she starts raging at the television. It drives her nuts that these people will visit the homes of other people and walk around inside with their shoes on. And don't get me started on when they decide to "try out" the bathtub by getting in it with their shoes on.

[deleted] · 12 months

Canadian here. I've always taken them off as soon as I step inside. It's just a politeness thing so you don't get any muck on their floors or carpeting. I assumed everyone did this.

scotty5x5 · 12 months

Never gave it a thought ,we and everyone we know keep their shoes on. Not sure if it is socio-economic or frontier mentality or no good place to store shoes or not as many fussy old women as some places. If wet or muddy then of course they come off.

Earth_bound_misfit · 12 months

If its carpet, yes. Hardwood flooring, probably no.

iTCHed · 12 months

As a Finnish man, who doesn't like cleaning floors every week, I will murder you if you don't take your shoes off at the door. I walk barefoot here and I don't want shit on my feet.

aaronify · 12 months

Since it seems not many Americans have directly answered your question, I would say as a rule that yes, we wear shoes indoors. There are source-culture biases (immigrants bringing their values) which prefer to take them off, and in some areas weather patterns dictate the prudence of removing soaking or muddy footwear, but other than that I grew up not ever realizing that some people did remove their shoes since it was so uncommon.

rexmex · 12 months

Asian here,living in the US since 6 years. Its not just Japanese, its an asian thing which also has spiritual context (which I dont clearly remember now). I think its just sound logic to not soil the floor/carpet with the outside dirt. I always take off shoes even if I visit an American house and they are surprised :| Most Americans who are exposed to international cultures are very polite though and ask if we would prefer them to leave shoes outside!

[deleted] · 12 months

As an Australian I only ever take my shoes off if asked to, if I know my shoes are dirty (e.g. it's raining outside), or if the house is particularly clean or has white carpet etc (in which case I would ask first too).

It seems more common here for people to be offended if you take off your shoes in their presence than for people to want you to take them off (especially if you're not wearing socks, as is common in summer).

And then I moved to Canada... I accidentally offended so many people! They didn't know that I didn't know and it took an embarrassingly long time for someone to take me aside and point out that I should take my shoes off when entering someone's house. Oh how we laughed... :/ -insert SAP comic here-

Projectr13b · 12 months

Most people I know don't take off their shoes indoors and if they do, it's more of a comfort thing based on the individual. I've known a few people that required shoe removal before coming in, but not often.

emperorOfTheUniverse · 12 months

Up north you canucks (and northern US'ers) probably take your shoes off because of the snow, rain, etc. It's almost always muddy or wet to some degree probably for most of the year.

Down south here though it's dry and warm. No reason to take shoes off if they aren't dirty.

cokevirgin · 12 months

What's even worse is jumping onto a bed with shoes on!!

Whenever I see that in movies, it bugs the heck out of me. I can't imagine anyone doing that in real life.

UnlikelyParticipant · 12 months

Cartoon characters started wearing shoes in 1943 as a mild protest against the shoe rationing rule enacted in 1943 as a result of America's involvement in WWII. Shoemakers sponsored many of the cartoon studios at the time before the war, but that all changed when they were asked to make shoes--at reduced profit--for the war effort. The protest actually resulted in Americans growing up to believe that wearing shoes all the time was the norm. Prior to this era, and especially after the Depression, Americans rarely wore shoes when they didn't need to (I.e. in their homes), so it's a pretty interesting history.

nyancat89 · 12 months

Ill be honest and say that wearing shoes in the house is pretty common but I met a few famalies that asked for your shoes to be removed. In my house we just take of our shoes to be comfortable but its no big deal if we wear shoes around the house.

Though I always thought it would be nice to have everyone remove their shoes. I bet my feet would get a hell of a lot less dirty when I walk around barefoot

mastigia · 12 months

I lived in Canada for a bit (US born) and one of the most sensible things I noticed you guys do is take off your shoes inside. I had never seen that before and thought it was a great idea so I do it now. I actually remember being a kid and being told to put on my shoes so I didn't get my dirty socks on the carpet, wtf haha.

noo8 · 12 months

half chinese, half white here.

the white side of my family never takes their shoes off. the chinese side, never wears their shoes in the house, ever.

i tend to side with the latter. your shoes are like magnets to attract dirt, poop, pesticides, and other assorted goodness as you walk around the world. no need to bring that in your house.

Also, who the hell doesn't like to be barefoot and let your feet be free?

SURPRISE_TENTACLES · 12 months

I'm Asian.

Yes. Fucking white people getting my floors dirty.

Fat_Old_Broad · 12 months

Yes. A lot of people will take their shoes off at home, but generally we wear shoes around the house, especially someone else's house.

zeejay11 · 12 months

We have no shoes in the house rule...

mightysnuffles · 12 months

I take my shoes off on most occasions. It's more comfortable, and its polite as you are not making a mess when you are a guest.

No_Easy_Buckets · 12 months

Yes we assume eachothers feet reek.

edcross · 12 months

I spent a week in japan. Done it ever since. It keeps the floor so much cleaner.

It seems to be more common nowadays. I'm actually surprised when I enter a house that doesn't do it.

BenDunno · 12 months

Slippers. Why wear shoes indoors when you can wear something twice as comfortable?

tenduril · 12 months

My dad never takes his shoes off in the house. He makes SO MUCH FREAKING NOISE just walking around. No, it is pretty normal to have shoes off in a house, even if it's someone elses. At least in my experience

Flincher14 · 12 months

I always take off my shoes unless I'm with someone at a place I haven't been and they don't take off their shoes.

IVEGOTA-D-H-D-WHOOO · 12 months

Completely depends on the rules of who lives there. I usually know, but if I'm unsure I just ask.

heisenberg149 · 12 months

I take my shoes off unless I'm walking through the house to go to the backyard. I always take them off at another person's house though.

[deleted] · 12 months

My wife is from the South, she despises taking her shoes off. I'm from the north, I despise not taking my shoes off. My wife; however, has realized the practicality when involving children, and my children are informed to take their shoes off.

It comes down to practical history Australians and Southern Americans, wear boots, these are a pain to take off. Meanwhile, Northern American, and Northern Europeans are more likely to have nicer kept interiors (stay out of the cold) and it is easier to keep house that way. Asians tend to not have big furniture, they keep all of their stuff low to the ground and that's where they sleep, so keep those dirty shoes off our things.

derrick81787 · 12 months

I think that older people are more likely to take their shoes off when entering a house. As a kid, I remember my mom and my friends' moms forcing me to take off my shoes when I entered the house. I usually do so now because I feel rude if I don't.

It seems, at least to me, that people younger than me don't do this so much, and many people my age don't even do this. It used to be considered rude not to take off your shoes, but now it's more socially acceptable for some reason. There's nothing really wrong with that I guess, but it's odd that something like that changes.

After reading some of the other responses, maybe it's also a geographical thing. My experience has all been more or less in the same geographical area, though.

roadkill845 · 12 months

its entirely based on the person, i hate having people walk around my house with shoes on and i hate wearing shoes so i take em off when at someones house . but some of my friends wear them around the house all the time and it confuses the hell out of me

Young_Sam_Vimes · 12 months

Is it weird that I despise wearing shoes indoors but positively cannot sleep if not wearing socks?

Sterculius · 12 months

Its common in my house and my mother's house. I've found it's not so much a cultural thing as it is a personal preference thing. My family has always taken their shoes off when at home, because it's more comfortable and makes sense to not just stomp around tracking dirt everywhere. We also automatically take our shoes off at other people's homes as well, unless they explicitly state that they're fine with us leaving them on.

Fogram · 12 months

I remove my shoes as soon as I get in the door and feel uncomfortable when people wear their shoes in my apartment but I feel bad asking them to take off their shoes. I am an American and I wasn't taught to be that way, I just have issues with cleaning the carpet more than I have to. lol.

Nostromo26 · 12 months

Growing up, we never wore shoes in the house. My parents never minded if guests kept their shoes on, but most would follow suit and take them off.

Nowadays, I can't stand wearing shoes inside. It's so uncomfortable. As soon as I get home from work I take off my shoes and change into clean, dry socks, so I don't have to worry about my feet stinking the place up.

cmcmulli · 12 months

I find leaving your shoes on in someones house is bad etiquette and rude. (Canadian here). In my place I ask everyone to take off their shoes/boots when they walk in, but it's implied to take off your shoes so I rarely have to remind people!

CaptainAction · 12 months

Some people I know tend to leave their shoes on indoors, but I have never been one to do so. I can't walk indoors with my shoes on without feeling weird.

red25 · 12 months

It depends on the house I'm going to. If it's in the rich part of town where my grandmother lives, shoes on 24/7 otherwise it'd be "rude". However one of my friend's moms pretty much makes us takes off our shoes before we start walking all over the carpet.

Hiddencamper · 12 months

No shoes in my house.

a6stringronin · 12 months

I grew up in a Japanese-American household. To put it simply, it was take off your shoes or die.

beetnemesis · 12 months

Depends on the region- actually, depends on the house.

In my experience, actually, it depends on whether you have white carpets or not.

A_WILD_ABRA_APPEARED · 12 months

Not where I'm from (NJ suburbs).

[deleted] · 12 months

I grew up in Hawaii. There is a heavy Asian influence on the islands and in most homes it is customary to remove your shoes before you enter house. I developed a habit of taking off my shoes anytime I walk through the threshold. Now that I live on the mainland, people get a kick out of it almost every time I do this, but I figure it's better to err on the side of caution.

Zanki · 12 months

I live in the UK, my mum wears shoes in the house. I used to until I kept getting in trouble for my mum treading crap into the house. I stopped wearing the shoes inside and I still got in trouble for it until I made her realise that I wasn't wearing shoes inside.

I now don't like people wearing shoes in my house. I always ask them to take them off when they come inside. I wouldn't ask if my place was messy, but because it's fairly clean I always make sure no one treds anything inside.

WittyUsername816 · 12 months

I, as a rule, take my shoes off when entering a house, particularly one that isn't mine, but occasionally the family will tell me not to bother.

I think it's nice to take your shoes off in someone's house, just to avoid making a mess, plus, I'm just more comfortable without shoes.

Most of the people that I know have people take off their shoes when entering their household, but a few don't.

OakReadErryday · 12 months

I live with my half Korean girlfriend and it's the rule in our apartment. Now when I go over to other people's houses and they don't have that rule, I feel like I'm doing something wrong. Especially if they have carpets.

dietcokerules · 12 months

i never wear my shoes indoors. one of the first things i do is take them off. i go in my backyard barefoot as well.

batmanmilktruck · 12 months

its not even a regional thing, it depends house to house. many homes, like mine just don't care. however many homes do care. especially if the area has a lot of mud or snow.

Mighty-Fisch · 12 months

The most polite thing to do is to ask. Its simply personal preference.

crcmrc · 12 months

I have a shoes off at the door rule in my house. I have a young daughter who will eat anything off of the floor and if you drag in dog crap well you're gonna have a bad time. I only know one other family that does this and they have little ones as well and just moved into a new home which is why they started doing that at their house.

spwncar · 12 months

Personally, I deem it bad etiquette to not take off my shoes when in the house. I usually only wear slip-on shoes, however. I know a lot of people that don't care though.

fidg3ty · 12 months

I live in the US and while growing up we wore shoes around the house, mostly because the carpet was already horrible and if you didn't wear shoes your feet turned black. I have my own family now and we take our shoes off when we come inside, keeps the floor clean. People find it strange when we ask them to take off their shoes but it's second nature now, a few friends/family have started doing the same thing at their homes.

Incognetus · 12 months

I do at times. But I hate wearing things on my feet.

whitehaitian · 12 months

really depends on the house / people living there. some people are pretty strict about it some dont give a shit.

rx_tacos · 12 months

It depends.

joeingo · 12 months

My family all takes our shoes off. As do all my friends. The only times we don't follow this rule is during parties and open houses when there are a lot of people.

CEgirl · 12 months

I almost always remove my shoes when entering anyone's house, unless specifically told "oh, you can leave them on!" meaning that the host might be uncomfortable with me in my socks or whatever. A good rule of thumb is to look at the host's feet and copy them.

ModernTenshi04 · 12 months

Most people will ask you to take your shoes off when you enter their home if they care about that sort of thing, and others will let you choose.

When I'm entering someone's home for the first time, I typically ask if they want me to take my shoes off or not.

alreadytakenistaken · 12 months

I honestly ask almost everywhere I go. Usually they are left on.

lumina_oculorum · 12 months

I'm in Southern California and live in an Asian household. We take our shoes off and leave them by the door or carry them to our rooms. I thought it was only an Asian thing since many of my non-Asian childhood friends used to call us weird for having all of our shoes at the door. Now, I have friends of different racial and cultural backgrounds who prefer to leave shoes by the door so now I know it's not just an Asian thing. In fact, it has become a rarity to go into a home where they keep their outdoor shoes on.

RightInYourFace · 12 months

Brazilians do not do that at all.

audreyality · 12 months

It's common at houses where the occupants keep the floors clean for guests that know the family better than just acquaintances to remove their shoes when coming inside. It's more comfortable and tracks less dirt around.

Location: Pacific NW

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