Why don’t Americans take shoes off inside the house?

[Anonymous]

I can't walk barefoot with all my foot problems, so I would not come in if I had to take my shoes off.

[Anonymous]

We do. I live in DC and have family and friends all over the country. Everyone I know takes their shoes off upon entering the house.

[Anonymous]

I’m a shoes on indoors person. Floors are floors. We don’t eat off them or sit on them. We have furniture for that.

In some countries, people would eat, sleep, and prepare food all in the same small space, and shoe removal was customary.

It was never really a consideration for most US families.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I grew up in SW Michigan and had family in Dallas TX. No one ever took their shoes off upon entering the house. Including my grandfather who was in the oil business and occasionally went out into the fields in his cowboy boots. It just wasn't done. When we visited houses where you had to take your shoes off it felt weird. Especially if someone wasn't wearing socks and their feet were bare and showing. Weird and awkward. Almost obscene lol.

I now take my shoes off when I get home, but more for reasons of comfort. If I am going out again within an hour or so I don't take them off and would never ask guests to do so. I really don't worry about dirt on the floors. I never suffered any ramifications of dirt on the floors, even with having shoes on in house my whole life, so -- I don't get some people's obsession with this.

Yes to the bold! It is really uncomfortable and a bit embarrassing. DH doesn't leave the bedroom with out his shoes on, lol.

Embarrassed by bare feet or socks? (Which don’t have to be either nasty or sweaty) How Victorian!
The idea that this is “gauche” or actually even using that word is itself gauche.
Of course outdoor shoes off. For those who prefer to wear shoes for comfort, wear indoor shoes. Guests can do what they want, of course.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am white and American and we have a no shoes household and I think it’s absolutely crazy how many people, especially boomers, wear shoes in the house! I’m with you, OP!

Yes, Boomers are the worst people in the world, we know you hate your parents.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would never ask guests to my home to remove their shoes. I realize in Asian cultures this is much more engrained than here. But if you do this, I’d offer to buy them shoes they would normally wear that are kept only inside your house. No slippers, which are a tripling hazard for some people.

I wear shoes inside. I prefer to take them off bc yes it’s cleaner. But I am not worried about germs being in my floor. It’s a floor. I’m not eating off it. We clean the regularly. It’s just not a big deal for me, even though I know it’s cleaner to not wear them.

I have never ever had to ask someone to remove shoes in my home. Everyone always does.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I grew up in SW Michigan and had family in Dallas TX. No one ever took their shoes off upon entering the house. Including my grandfather who was in the oil business and occasionally went out into the fields in his cowboy boots. It just wasn't done. When we visited houses where you had to take your shoes off it felt weird. Especially if someone wasn't wearing socks and their feet were bare and showing. Weird and awkward. Almost obscene lol.

I now take my shoes off when I get home, but more for reasons of comfort. If I am going out again within an hour or so I don't take them off and would never ask guests to do so. I really don't worry about dirt on the floors. I never suffered any ramifications of dirt on the floors, even with having shoes on in house my whole life, so -- I don't get some people's obsession with this.

Yes to the bold! It is really uncomfortable and a bit embarrassing. DH doesn't leave the bedroom with out his shoes on, lol.

I wonder where this weird foot shaming thing that you people have came from. I'm American as can be, my mom was active in DAR, and we've always been a shoes off family.

[Anonymous]

I do find it entertaining how defensive shoes on people get on this website. I wonder if there are people who start this thread every month or two just to see how riled up they can get these people, LOL!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Blue blood easterners in the business and professional classes would think it exceptionally gauche to remove shoes and walk around a house in barefeet or in sweaty socks.

+1 This is how we get Athletes feet fungus from one another.

[Anonymous]

If you have fallen arches or plantar fasciitis, then you need supportive shoes on. Walking barefoot on hardwoods exasperates the problem.

[Anonymous]

I think shoes off/on needs its own forum!

[Anonymous]

I'm swedish and we always take out shoes off indoors too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I grew up in SW Michigan and had family in Dallas TX. No one ever took their shoes off upon entering the house. Including my grandfather who was in the oil business and occasionally went out into the fields in his cowboy boots. It just wasn't done. When we visited houses where you had to take your shoes off it felt weird. Especially if someone wasn't wearing socks and their feet were bare and showing. Weird and awkward. Almost obscene lol.

I now take my shoes off when I get home, but more for reasons of comfort. If I am going out again within an hour or so I don't take them off and would never ask guests to do so. I really don't worry about dirt on the floors. I never suffered any ramifications of dirt on the floors, even with having shoes on in house my whole life, so -- I don't get some people's obsession with this.

Has anyone?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I grew up in SW Michigan and had family in Dallas TX. No one ever took their shoes off upon entering the house. Including my grandfather who was in the oil business and occasionally went out into the fields in his cowboy boots. It just wasn't done. When we visited houses where you had to take your shoes off it felt weird. Especially if someone wasn't wearing socks and their feet were bare and showing. Weird and awkward. Almost obscene lol.

I now take my shoes off when I get home, but more for reasons of comfort. If I am going out again within an hour or so I don't take them off and would never ask guests to do so. I really don't worry about dirt on the floors. I never suffered any ramifications of dirt on the floors, even with having shoes on in house my whole life, so -- I don't get some people's obsession with this.

Has anyone?

Well there’s a theory that people suffer from things being TOO clean (allergies) so you could argue it’s hurting not helping. That said we mostly are shoes off indoors but are not wildly strict - guests can do what they want; if we forget a thing we run back in for it with shoes on; carrying things in/out from the car repeatedly - shoes stay on.

[Anonymous]

Eww you walk around barefoot?