Do Americans take their shoes off in their home?

18 comments

1. Some do, some don’t.

2. I generally do but its not some hard and fast rule. If I’m visiting people I/others generally keep shoes on.

3. Some do, some don’t. Americans encompass people from all backgrounds who have different feelings on the issue.

4. I do because I just don’t like wearing shoes. I wouldn’t demand a guest do, though.

5. You’re going to get a couple moderate answers like “some do, some don’t, depends a lot on the climate.”

   Then you’re going to get HUNDREDS of pick-me Americans trying to impress Europeans, saying keeping your shoes on is *disgusting* and *barbaric* and they would throw their own mother out for asking to keep her orthopedic boots on.

6. It varies. Some do, some don’t.

7. I do.

8. I take them off. Always. Personal habit ig. I’d probably request someone else take theirs off too in my house.

9. You will get split answers on this. We always do unless we are in and out. I always will in other people’s homes as well

10. Yes. Why would anyone want to wear shoes in their home?

11. As a general rule we take them off in my house. But it isn’t a hard and fast rule and we don’t demand others do it.

    Growing up we didn’t unless your shoes were wet/dirty.

12. I take my shoes off as soon as I’m in my house because I see it as the beginning of unwinding from the day, but it does depend on the household I think, and possibly the region.

13. Technically, no. But you sure as hell are not coming into my room with dirty shoes.

14. No. I don’t think anybody I’ve ever met has asked me to take my shoes off in their home either. Short of having stuff attached to my soles, like mud or snow, or having to walk on white carpeting, it wouldn’t even cross my mind to do so. And why would I want your smelly socks or potentially fungus-y feet touching my carpet?

    This feels like one of those weird questions like “do you crumple the toilet paper in your hand or do you fold it like a bedsheet before wiping your ass?” The people who do it one way are only vaguely aware that other people behave completely differently.

15. I grew up where my mom didn’t think I was fully dressed for the day unless I had shoes on – this was mostly for elementary school (via homeschooling) when I was growing up. She said it was to protect my feet. The rule melted away over the years.

16. I do, because my Mom started mandating it at her house when I lived with her and went on hikes that got them dirty. So the habit has carried over. And I do like not tracking dirt in.

    Before that I only did it at some other people’s houses. Pretty sure my at least one of my Silent gen White grandmas would find it too informal (as well as a bit gross) to have people walking around her house in their socks. And most households I knew that required you to take your shoes off had at least one Asian-American person. So growing up I saw it as an Asian thing, not a “traditional American” thing. Now I’ve heard it’s apparently traditional in parts of America that get more mud.

    Edit: does anyone else see a generational divide in this?

17. Yes! I’m wearing my house slippers now. I learned this when I was in Iceland back in the 80’s

18. Personally I do. I think it’s gross to wear outside shoes in the house when I get home I switch to indoor slippers and I request all guests to remove their shoes when they visit.