Americans Wearing Shoes Indoors? One Comment Sparked a Heated Debate Online
It’s funny how one Reddit post can spark a huge debate across the internet. This time, it all started when a European woman shared a cultural difference she noticed after moving to the United States.
In a viral post on the r/StupidQuestions subreddit, she called out how common it is for Americans to wear their shoes inside the house. Of course, not every American does this — but according to her, it happens way more often than she expected.
“As a person who moved to the US, it’s baffling to see people stroll around their homes in sneakers or even boots! I can’t help but think about all the dirt, germs, and unidentified outside substances that must be getting tracked all over their floors,” OP wrote.
“I grew up in a place where you immediately take off your shoes at the door. Sometimes, you switch to house slippers; sometimes, you just roam around in socks. But I’ve seen people in the US flop onto their couches in the same shoes they wore in the street. It never ceases to amaze me.”
This is definitely one of those things that depends on each household. Plus, it’s hard to ignore how TV shows and movies have shaped this perception — characters almost never stop to take off their shoes at the door, even though many people do in real life.
In some cultures, though, removing your shoes is the norm. In many Asian countries, it’s seen as both respectful and hygienic. Similarly, certain European countries also follow this practice as a sign of respect when entering someone’s home.
At the end of the day, this isn’t a universal habit across American households. According to a 2021 YouGov report, about 31% of Americans always take off their shoes when they come home, while another 26% said they sometimes do.
So, it’s definitely not uncommon — but it really depends on factors like age, region, and family traditions. Still, the Reddit post sparked a huge conversation, with many users jumping in to share their thoughts.
Some even felt like this was just another example of social media taking shots at Americans over cultural differences.
“There is a long social media tradition of a.) noticing that Americans do something different than your own country; b.) jumping to the conclusion that ONLY Americans do it.
The funniest was when Australians were like, ‘did you know Americans don’t cook pasta in a tea kettle?!?!?’ and everyone else in the world was like, ‘what are you talking about?'”
“The south, Appalachia, Northeast, Midwest, Pacific Northwest, Southwest, etc., all have different cultures, norms, and laws. They might be more similar than, like, France vs. Slovakia, but they’re definitely not the same. The US is big and diverse.”
“Some people do wear them around the house, some take them off at the door.”
“However, NO ONE will put their shoes on the bed or couch. I’ve seen foreigners insist that we do because they’ve seen it on TV when it’s really just for the convenience of the actors.”
“It’s not an American thing and this is coming from another European. People all over the world wear their shoes indoors, people all over the world refuse to wear shoes indoors. Don’t get me wrong, it can definitely be a cultural thing that causes the majority of the population to act that way (Japan, for example), but no matter where you are on Earth, you’re going to meet people that do and don’t wear shoes indoors.”
“So true. It can be regional and also generational. I grew up with shoes everywhere and we didn’t give it a second thought. 30 years ago, when we had kids, we made the change to shoes off at the door (in Oklahoma, there’s lots of red dirt). My dad never understood it and kept his shoes on. I didn’t make a big deal of it.”
“We take our shoes off, we’re just not anal about doing it right away.”
“Typically I get home and I walk through the house to the back porch to let my pets out, then I play with the pets for 15 minutes in the backyard. After that when I come inside I’ll take my shoes off. If I have groceries or stuff I’ll put those away before taking my shoes off. When I have guests over, we’re going back and forth between the deck, kitchen, and living room, so people keep their shoes on until we bring the party completely inside. I think it’s more of a yard vs. not-yard thing. America has more space, and more Americans have backyards than other places. I find that people with yards tend to be more lenient and do not care. People who live in apartments, it’s shoes off right away.”
–u/Circle_Breaker
However, there are plenty of people who agree that they didn’t grow up removing their shoes at the door:
“That’s a good point. As a kid, I had a friend from Massachusetts and I always thought it was weird they made you take your shoes off in the house,” wrote u/False_Mushroom_8962.
That comment exemplified the regional differences across the country, especially since others from Massachusetts revealed they were also taught to wear shoes inside the house.
“I’m from MA and my dad tries to insist I wear shoes in the house because of the risk of foot injuries…that risk is so low!! Shoes absolutely don’t belong in the house.”
–u/corn_dog_ate_the_cob
“Also from Massachusetts and also had a dad insist we wear shoes to avoid splinters and stubbed toes, haha. Is this a Mass dad thing? (He also kept our thermostat at like 50 degrees so we kept our shoes on for warmth).”
–u/ABurdenToMyParents27
Ultimately, the core of the argument surrounded whether this was, indeed, a solid practice. Some felt as though their shoes drag in dirt and germs from outside into their homes. Others believe that the ground is dirty anyway, so why bother taking off your shoes if you’re going to clean the floor regardless?
“This is far less common than you might think. On my end, I don’t know anyone that actively wears their shoes inside of their house outside of the entryway/kitchen.”
“I’m Asian, and used to get shit on for the no shoes in the house thing. It was very, very uncommon to see people take their shoes off in the house in the ’80s and ’90s, even traveling abroad to Europe. Around the ’00s, I started to notice that some non-Asian households doing this. It seems like our customs have spread, but no one attributes this to us.”
“Uhhh, that’s a household-to-household thing. In my house, you do not wear shoes beyond the foyer; it’s disgusting.”
“I get that the bottoms of our shoes are dirty, and they get dirt, germs, and whatever on the floor, but…like…that’s the floor. I have to clean it regularly anyway. It’s not like I’m eating off it.”
“I don’t take my shoes off and on if I’m going to be in and out several times within a few minutes.
Another reason we sometimes wear shoes in the house is that the broom was modernized in 1797. Then, in 1893, we got the mop. Then, in 1901 and 1907, we got the vacuum.”
“It’s a simple difference in customs, and an opportunity to be more tolerant of those differences. Everyone thinks they way they do things is right and true and sensible.”
“Frankly, non-shoe-wearers could tone down the judgmental way you talk about this.
Personally, I am used to having solid shoes on my feet most of the time. I feel supported and safe, and whatever is on the floor is not getting at me. It is more comfortable, AND it is what I am used to, from having grown up that way.
Further, I live in a house with children and cats, so any yuck on the floor is just as likely to be internally generated, not tracked in from outside. We sweep, vacuum, and clean the floors as needed.
Also, if you believe shoes are prisons and shoe-wearing indoor spaces are understood to be filthy, how on earth do you manage to survive at work, in shops, and at a theater or restaurant?”
It’s clear this debate hits a nerve, mostly because of the big assumptions people make about American households. But now we’re curious — what’s it like where you’re from? Do you wear shoes inside your house, or is that a total no-go? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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