I grew up in Canada and wearing shoes in the house was absolutely NOT common practice. Perhaps because of the snow? Or possibly just good manners. When I moved to NY, I realized how common it is for people to wear their outdoor shoes in their homes. It may be ignorant of me, but I just assume shoes in the house is part of American culture. I've been living here for over 6 years now and I still take my shoes off the instant I get in the door. I'm always shocked when a friend says "don't worry about taking off your shoes..." I hate the thought of tracking the outside in.

We've never worn shoes in our house. If we lived in the country, I'm not sure I would care as much. But we walk through all sorts of yucky stuff in the city...urine, chemicals leaking from cars, garbage....ew. Not exactly what I'd like my baby to be crawling through on the carpet.

I agree tartanfrog!

Northern Europe = Canada

Shoes are taken off at the door. We like to keep our floors clean.

I think it is terribly rude to require your guests to remove their shoes.

I think it is terribly rude to walk into other people's homes without asking for permission to keep your shoes on.

It all boils down to regional differences.

We do not have a rule about it at all. But I almost always take my shoes off at the door. I prefer to be barefoot and I also live pretty close to Canada (see tartanfrog's comment) so tracking in the weather is an issue a lot of the year.

We wear shoes inside the house if we want. Normally I wear slippers, but that's just for comfort. Personally, I hate being asked to remove my shoes unless I'm someplace where it's culturally the norm, and I don't consider New York to be one of those places. (As I was raised here.) When I traveled in the Middle East, I removed my shoes with no problem. Here, I consider shoes to be part of my outfit, also, I do sometimes have sweaty, smelly feet and I've sometimes demurred coming into someone's home if I thought I would have to remove my shoes. If you can't handle the dirt my shoes will bring into your house, then don't ask me in. To me, it's not the best way to make a guest feel comfortable, and that's what we're supposed to do with our guests. Because I'm not comfortable without my shoes outside of my home.

I live in Canada, its very snowy here now, so taking off shoes is a no-brainer. Spring and fall are also messy, but on a hot dry summer day if someone strode in in their flip-flops I wouldn't bee too upset (providing they were not covered in yuck)

I never ask guests to remove their shoes. For some reason I find it somewhat rude to require guests to remove their shoes. If I am hosting a gathering, I expect to clean up before and after. Besides, that's what floors are for! If the weather is particularly nasty, I appreciate guests leaving wet boots by the door (and sometimes I bring a change of shoes with me as well) but I would never demand that a guest walk around my house in stocking feet. That just seems odd.

Ditto to Pencils' comments.

Although I did attend a party once with a nice compromise -- hosts asked us to remove our shoes at the door, but also had a basket full of inexpensive, hotel-type slippers for guests to wear so we didn't feel as "naked." Plus, I got a free pair of slippers out of it. Ha!

(BTW, the slippers were new, not used.)

It's more of an unspoken rule. If we are in for the day, or night...the shoes end up next to the front door and the cozy socks come out. - Even for the kid.

Shoes off in our house. We take them off in the garage and put them on a little shelf out there. I admit, it is usually a shoe pile, but we try.

It's my understanding from non-American friends, that we seem to be the exception in wearing shoes in the house.

I also think there is a difference between wearing nice shoes to let's say a party vs sneakers/everyday shoes to a playdate or something. I almost always remove my shoes at someone elses house. Sometimes folks will say "Oh, don't worry about it." but more often than not, it is appreciated.

We don't worry about taking our shoes off unless we know there's something on them we don't want to track around the house. I take my dog walking shoes off as soon as I'm inside, as they tend to be extra dirty. We clean our floors regularly, so it doesn't cause any problems.

I'd never require guests to take off their shoes at a party at my house... Shoes are part of an outfit & parties require cleaning up afterward no matter what. And I'd feel awkward walking around someone's house in just my socks or bare feet if I'm not really close to them/comfortable there.

Actually, removing shoes has been scientifically proven to reduce the amount of contaminants in the home. Personally, I had been toying with the idea but after reading about a study done by the EPA (see below) we've instituted the policy in our home. I do feel bad asking guests to do it, but most people are cool with it.

"In 1991 the EPA conducted a study called the “Door Mat Study” that measured the amount of lead dust that was in homes. The study found that in homes where there was a doormat at the entrance and where shoes were NOT worn, there was a marked reduction (about 60%) of lead dust and other chemicals in the home. Not only that, but in homes where shoes are removed, there is a reduction in allergens and bacteria being tracked into the house."

from http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art29826.asp

It's not such a huge deal here in Florida. Most people wear sandals year-round and it's pretty easy to just slip them off at the door. We keep a basket there for this exact purpose and we make no attempt to hide it. So it's pretty clear to anyone who comes over that we are a barefoot-indoors kind of family but I wouldn't dream of actually asking anyone to comply unless they were going to be with us for a couple of days. Some people are really uncomfortable taking their shoes off and I dont want to put a simple dinner or party guest in an uncomfortable position.

We moved to Sweden three years ago and quickly adopted the local custom of no shoes in the house. Now it seems strange to see American TV shows in which people are wearing shoes inside. We plan to continue the no-shoe rule when we move back to the States.

Shoes off as soon as you walk into the house, but another Canadian here.

My 3 year old insists on taking her shoes off everywhere we go, visiting family in NYC to her it was weird to wear shoes in the house.

I have excellent door mats at all my doors, both inside and outside the doors. I wouldn't dream of asking my guests to remove their shoes.

I would of course, take my shoes off at someone else's house if asked, but I mostly likely would never be a guest in their house again.

hawaiian style: no shoes in the house! i think it's rude when people come over, see the shoes at the door and see us walking around without shoes, and then continue to cruise around the house in their dirty shoes! i don't understand that.

Compromise - we don't wear shoes in the house, but we don't care at all if guests wear them. The whole point of no shoes is comfort and a little easier upkeep cleaning the floors - guests aren't here 24/7, so it's no big deal to clean up what little they might track in. You usually have to clean up after a fun party anyway.

We have always taken off shoes in the house and have always insisted that guests do the same-- even at parties. We have lived in urban U.S. settings our entire life (NYC, Chicago, DC, Seattle) and the idea of tracking the outside in is particular disturbing when you see it all in such copious amounts. In addition, as a medical professional, there is no amount of cleaning/excellent door mats (not sure what that even means!) that are appropriate to make up for the pollution shoes bring into a house. I definitely understand why one might be uncomfortable at a dinner party; all my invitations remind people of our no-shoes rule and make a joke about cute socks or a pedicure.

We live up north and I find that most people automatically take their shoes off when they see ours near the door, especially in the winter. I never ask others to take their shoes off, but I can't help but feel that it is rude when they don't. I have small children (and light colored rugs and floors) and really don't appreciate the crud that comes in on shoes being spread through our home. I used to keep wipes near the door for our dogs paws, but have since given that up. Does anyone else consider cleaning their pets' feet when they come inside?

The first thing you see when you enter my house is a bench with a shoe rack and a basket with multiple pairs of slippers. Here it is normal to take off your shoes when you enter, and you do so especially if it someone else's home. It would be very rude not to do so, and no one would be offended if reminded by the host to take off the shoes.

I'm European and Canadian, and so am totally with tartanfrog.

In our house it has always been shoes-off. In our home in Canada we have wood floors that could be easily damaged by grit and high heels, and here, we were given a house with wall-to-wall in most rooms.

Frankly, find it disgusting to wear outside shoes inside. You'd be surprised how often you walk over something disgusting, like dried up dog pee and diesel dust, without realizing... It is rude to track that into someone's house.

The only exception to that rule is when the floors are stone or tile, as they tend to be in Switzerland, France, Italy and Spain. Marble floors are relatively impervious in comparison or wood or carpet, mopping them is quick and easy, and walking about without shoes is uncomfortable.

When I moved from UT to MI, I was surprised that no one around here wears shoes in their houses, and they expect visitors to remove shoes as well. It took some getting used to, but now it annoys me when people leave their shoes on. I also carry a small pair of slippers in my purse when I am going to peoples houses. When we visit Utah, we all drive my mom crazy leaving a pile of shoes by her front door.

We have a compromise like Kaete. I find that when just one or two people come over, they usually see our shoes by the door and offer to remove theirs, but when a lot of people come over, all leave theirs on. When I visit a no-shoes-inside house I feel a little weird walking around barefoot or in socks but I totally understand why they are doing it.

wasn't it on this blog that said something like a green thing to do is to remove shoes at the door and reduce lead in the house by 50%?

i'm korean, so i grew up with no a no shoe policy at home. i don't expect my guests to do that although most of them usually do when they see that i'm wearing no shoes.

Here we go again. It always amazes how uptight some people are about being polite when it involves any tiny bit of personal sacrifice. When you visit another country, do you insist they do everything YOUR way? That would be stupid. If you visit someone's house, if they request you remove your shoes, go with it. You are a guest. If it turns you off that much, leave. I’m sure your host won't miss someone who makes a "stink" about taking off their shoes.

I think it is terribly rude to require your guests to remove their shoes.

I don't require it, but when they see new carpet, they just do it without flinching, and secondly, it's a very common cultural practice for ME not to wear outdoor shoes indoors. Chinese people offer guests and visitors house shoes (slippers) to wear. It's rude in some cultures to wear your dirty shoes all over someone's house. Please keep in mind that we are not all of one culture.

I completely agree with JustPuked. I don't understand why it is such a big deal for some people. I don't want my crawling baby ingesting lead and god knows what else for the sake of their shoe comfort. I grew up with the no shoe policy, and implement it in my home. It's just sanitary!

Oh, I found a bicultural solution. I'm going to make a sign and put it at the door for my visitors:

We are a half-Chinese household, so take off one shoe please but feel free to leave the other on.

People wear their shoes in the house? Why?

I'm Canadian, and it's not so much a rule to take your shoes off, it's just what everyone does. Seriously, I didn't realize that not everyone did this.. and I've spent a lot of time in the US.

I like shoeless homes, but - nobody ever mentions this - frankly it makes no sense at all with our dog. It's impractical to stop her from tracking in sand and grass bits, so there is no point in us bothering. We're barefoot inside usually, anyway, being flip-flop people, but it's something I've tossed off the worry list. When I come to your house, I'll take off my shoes and enjoy your white carpeting!

we live at the beach. no shoes on inside... or for that matter outside. nothing my vacuum and no-rez carpet cleaning can't deal with.

I don't have to ask guests to take off their shoes because I, like many others here, am Canadian. It's a non-issue because it's just not done.

My in-laws are from Ireland, and don't take off their shoes in the house. They all thought it was very funny that I insisted on doing so when I went into their house, and that they would find my sneakers tucked into odd corners of the house during the day. I just. . . couldn't not take them off.

When they came visiting, though, I let them keep their shoes on. It's no skin off my nose: they're my freakin' inlaws. Everybody else, I don't need to ask because that's just what's done, here.

stickyricemama - hee, hee! You should totally print that up, sell it on Etsy and make a million bucks!

Carrie

p.s. I didn't realize we had so many Canadian readers here - holla!

i'm american and i have absolutely no qualms about taking off my shoes in *anyone's* home, regardless of where they're from or what is considered the cultural norm. personally, it makes no sense to me to wear shoes in the house and doing so just makes a mess, more noise and as mommy2aya pointed out, is possibly harmful.

we don't wear shoes at home but i admit that it can be uncomfortable to ask guests to remove theirs. luckily most of our friends are highly conscientious and notice the shoes by the door and remove theirs naturally. for parties, we just clean thoroughly afterward.

I grew up with outdoor and indoor shoes, a very Asian concept. When guests visit, I let them do what they are most comfortable with and if they choose to remove their shoes, there is a basket of slippers to keep their feet warm.

I never realized this was a cultural thing! I thought that people wearing shoes on American TV was just a quirk like seperate beds in couples' bedrooms.

Being a Canadian with a European background I take my shoes off. On the other hand, I would never request it of a guest but would definately remember if they didn't!

One year when I was growing up, my mom ripped up all the "dusty rose" plush that was wall to wall in our house. She couldn't make a decision on a new carpet and we went a whole summer traipsing through the house on the plywood floors in our sandals, not getting yelled at for coming in wet from the sprinkler or tracking in the just-cut grass. It was great! Very freeing, and made the house seem like an extension of outdoors.

We wear our shoes inside all the time. We live in a 900sq.ft. condo with laminate floors. There is no porch or designated doorway area. You just walk right into the living space...so I guess we have become accustomed to just walking right on in. I admit our floors are probably really dirty. I find myself excusing it with the mantra "god made dirt-dirt don't hurt!" and I'm not the god lovin type...but it seems to fit. What I think I mean is-exposing the little one to dirt on the floor and some germs is not all that bad. I mean, he eats the stuff when we play outside anyway. I'm hearing ya though on the amount of dirt and how I'm probably not realising how gross is actually is...

In a month we move to a townhouse with carpeting...and I've really been wondering about this no-shoe-inside rule. Leaving the cheapie slippers at the door for guests? I like that idea! But if it is a holiday party? Well, duh! I'm from Canada too, so you wear your snowboots and bring your heels. The shoes form the outfit and must be worn. I simply cannot not go around in stocking toe without shoes, looking all short and frumpy at a party! I will never forget what happened to Carrie on SATC when her Manolos were stolen from a "no-shoe" household's party. Sadness.

do y'all make elderly people take off their shoes too? hmmmn.

I'm from Spain, it's normal to wear shoes in the house although some people shuffle around in bedroom slippers. It would be considered extremely rude to require guests to take their shoes off. Clearly a cultural thing.

I'd love to see an entry here with a round-up of inexpensive but attractive shoe racks . . .

Barbara S., my elderly grandparents have shoe-free homes also. But we're all Canadian, so that's just the way we do things.

I also have that policy at my house...we wear slippers inside as we have a dog as well. So we try to keep our feet away from all the dog hair and dust and such.
I have a question. I know there are some websites that sell slippers for visitors and shoe covers... anyone know what I'm talking about? That's what I"m looking for.

Canadian here. We always take our shoes off at home and do the same at others homes.
Even in the summer I will often kick off my flip flops if I'm running into the house.
My grandpa doesn't wear shoes in the house, my grandma has indoor shoes that she puts on when she gets here. It is better for her back not to be barefoot, yet it's better for her asthma to not track all that crap into her house...

I cannot even imagine sitting down to relax on my couch and having my shoes on. It would just feel so weird!

Scottish here, and if I didn't request that people remove their shoes at the door my carpets would be sodden. It rains so much here that it is simply impractical for shoes to be worn past the entry hall.

"I think it is terribly rude to walk into other people's homes without asking for permission to keep your shoes on." -Anna

I agree totally. You want your guest to feel comfortable but they're not above house rules. What if your guest wanted to smoke around babies? (or smoke at all?) Surely they'll understand.

Our house rules are: Shoes off at the door, tucked in closet. For nearly every visit. But at parties we allow shoes because we scrub down the house afterward anyway.

Canadian living in Scotland.Yes just like Vonnie,shoes off in the entrance hall. We wear slippers, and also guests are encouraged to bring a pair simply because its just so cold here,especially in the evenings, for most of the year.

I grew up with a shoes-off policy and we implement it in our home. I also automatically take my shoes off when visiting other people's homes as well, it's more comfortable for me and I don't feel like I'm tracking filth and muck all over their house. It's more than just dirt, too. Chemicals used in landscaping (pesticides, fertilizers) are toxic, and the thought of spreading that residue around on my shoes is yucky.

I've started a no-shoe policy after moving to NYC. After being here a couple of weeks, helping my 3 year old up the steps from the subway platform, something on the step under her foot caught my eye. Looking closer, I realized it was the outline of a dead rat that had been pounded completely flat! That day we started the no-shoes-in-the-apartment rule. I don't usually worry about guests keeping their shoes on or not, but we have a crawling baby, and I think most people can understand that her health comes before their comfort. Also, it is amazing how quickly we have adapted to the change. In 6 months time, it now feels completely unnatural to wear shoes in the house.

I appreciate the keeping the floor clean and free of contaminants but I find it rude to require guests to remove their shoes. I may not want your household contaminants on my socks or bare feet (I am desperately allergic to some things). I also do not want to put on some gamy previously worn indoor slippers that have been used by who knows who. Perhaps the answer is the old time drawing room for guests; they are invited that far in and no further, with their dirty shoes on. It just feels rude and I feel dirty when asked to strip off my shoes. Does anything else need to go because I probably rode the subway to your place and held on to a handrail and brushed against the wall with my clothing as well?

We are in Maine and live near the beach and in a 120 year old home, with children. Cultrually, here it is as in Canada, nearly everyone removes or is asked to remove their outdoor shoes. Nearly everyone travels with a pair of slippers. Lead contamination is a concern, especially since Maine has the oldest housing stock in the country, which means there is lead (from long-ago leaded gasoline and paint) in the soil.

We have however, provided a basket of homemade wool slippers in a variety of sizes for our guests to use, if they choose.

In a home with children or pets, shoes also cause injury when tails and little fingers or toes get stepped on. Shoes are noisy, dirty, covered in snow, rain, mud, sand, dirt, or other contaminates. I don't see what is so unreasonable about removing shoes.

Oh and yes, even the elderly remove their shoes. Obviously if someone requires shoes for health or mobility, they are welcome to wear them.

I'm Asian-American and grew up with a "no shoes indoors" policy. Before I had a baby, I didn't care whether guests removed their shoes or not, though most did when they saw the shoe rack in the foyer and noticed my bare feet. Now that I have a baby crawling all over the place, I'm a little more strict about the policy. I do warn people before they come over though, so they're not caught off guard with holey socks or stinky toes. My housekeeper also removes her shoes before cleaning. The one exception to the rule -- if I have a plumber or handyman coming over to fix something, I don't ask them to remove their shoes. I just clean the floors after they're done working.

We have a "no shoes indoors" policy also. Our only problem is that a huge, ugly pile of shoes (and whatever was stuck to them) tends to accumulate by the front door. Has anyone got a good solution for storing shoes out of sight / out of the way once they're kicked off inside the door?

In our fully Asian household here in PDX, we have a no-shoes indoor policy too. We both grew up taking shoes off when we go into anyone's house (this is in Taiwan)... most of the time, hosts provide slippers for indoor use. We don't expect repair/contractor people to take off their shoes, so we offer them shoe covers while they're working inside. When we first moved into our house (owned by ppl who wore shoes inside), it took FOREVER to keep sweeping and vacuuming the wood floors with all the dirt, sand and other things that was tracked inside. Now, all we do to clean the floors is weekly dry-mopping and wet-moppings. No dirt or sand or gravel.

People who come over frequently take off their shoes because they know it is my preference. However, I'm not a stickler about it when occasional visitors come over. It's not that big of a deal.

I agree with tartanfrog and others -- wearing shoes in the house seems to be a very American thing. Just be aware that it's considered rude almost everywhere else.

Like many people here, I am also Canadian (seriously, can we get an AT Canada now?) and have always taken my shoes off at the door. I never really put much stock into why I did it, but the weather seems likely. Indoor shoes weren't unusual (usually flats or slippers) and it seems to be a pretty standard expectation to wear clean socks or bring shoes that have not been worn outdoors with you. I've lived in a lot of places around the globe and even in some US cities I've lived in it has been the norm (or maybe they were placating me?) (I'm going to have to make a few calls).

I've also never had to ask someone to take off their shoes either, it's just something people do. Although if I did ask someone to remove their shoes, and they didn't come back as a result, I wouldn't consider it a loss (to be at odds over shoes seems....petty and ridiculous).

@madrid22

Yes, there's more. I have two very small children, so especially if you took the subway in and held onto the handrail, make a stop at the sink and wash your hands in hot water with soap. And if you're a cigarette smoker, take off your coat.

We grew up wearing no shoes in the house. I have this debate a lot with friends. All I can say is, "where have your shoes been?" Kind of nasty when you think about your shoes trucking through dirty streets or public bathrooms, and then bringing that all into your house. Maybe it's just me, but I like keeping my floors clean. If you don't want to come in and take your shoes off, then you and your urine and poo shoes can stay outside.

Shoes off or indoor shoes. I love clogs and easy to slip on shoes. So I keep a pair for indoors, which I use primarily in the kitchen because of the tile floor and the occasional mess that gets missed and stepped in during cooking, I am a very messy cook. Guest always seem to remove theirs because they see we do. German upbringing, so house shoes it was.

I live in Germany and it's definately a shoes-off policy here. It took a bit to get used to, but now I love the habit as a way of slowing the spread of dirt and more in the house!

I grew up in Hawaii and because there is a lot of Asian influence there, EVERYONE takes their shoes off before entering a home...it's become Hawaiian custom too. It's a sign of respect as well cleanliness. I still do it here in CA and, to me, it makes for a cleaner home. In hawaii, we have this crazy volcanic red dirt that stains everything, so it really is quite a functional rule.