Do Americans take off their shoes in the hallway?

Question

I am Romanian, and in our country, we always take off our shoes when we enter a home.
But I've seen a lot of American movies where none of the characters did that when they arrive at someone's place. Is that the general rule in America? And do you find the unshod lifestyle to be weird?

This is actually a question open to all nationalities. Do people in your country have this ritual of removing shoes inside?

Answer 1

No, we never do unless asked to by the host. No we are used to it by now, the Japanese do it too.

Answer 2

Well, We have always owned homes that are larger than 2000 square feet w/ large yards so there isn't a "HALLWAY".
I guess if you live in an apartment. You might but apartments in the states are substantially larger than what is offered in Romania.
From what I have seen the kitchens often have miniature refridgerators like the ones my kids keep in their bedrooms. They also don't have room for large dining tables and or an Island. The bathrooms often have barely enough room for a toilet and a shower in the same place no matter how nice the shower may be.
I find this to be very weird.
There's usually an entrance room to the House that has the coat closet and such.
We did take our shoes off once when our home had hard wood floors and we didn't want to mess the finish up.
Another home was located where there was heavy winter weather and rainy weather and we didn't want to ruin the carpet but generally homes in those areas have what are called "mudrooms" that you enter and remove such items in.

Answer 3

I am American and I always always take off my shoes when I enter my home. My kids and and husband are required to do the same. When guests come over they have to take off their shoes as well. Many of my friends have this rule in their homes. Whenever any one of us has a party there is always 30 pairs of shoes piled up at the door of the house and everyone just walks around in socks. My kids have many friends that have the rule as well for just kids. I think it is a good rule and everyone should take off their shoes before entering someones home.

Answer 4

The movies aren't always an accurate portrayal of real life. In some areas of the United States, it's common to remove shoes. Like Minnesota, for example. In other areas, not so much. Personally, I can't keep my shoes on at home. I don't leave them in the hallway, but they come off at the door. I like walking in my stocking feet as much as possible.

Answer 5

Where I used to live in Canada, we generally took off our shoes when entering a home. But where I currently live in the U.S., we do not do that. It depends on the culture of the area. I don't find it to be weird, and I thought that it made a lot of sense in Canada in the wintertime, when our footwear had a lot of snow and mud on it. Some people in the States will want you to take off your shoes and they will have a little sign by the door or some indication. But it's not the general practice in my area.

Answer 6

It depends on the time of the year. In the spring and the summer, if you're not tracking anything in, you can go inside while still wearing shoes.

However, in wet weather or snowy weather, most people will remove their shoes at the door, or at very least wipe the bottom of the shoes down on a mat.

Also, if you were playing in mud, you're obviously going to remove your shoes, or risk the homeowner's scorn for eternity.

Answer 7

There is a good number of American households where your supposed to take off your shoes when you go in. It depends on the family. I believe having guests over is not as "usual" as it is in friendlier places like Europe and stuff. I don't think it's slobbish or inpolite, like most people like to say, but just different and in a way, just easier if your only going to be in your house for a little bit or don't have time to take them off and put them back on. Why's it not okay to make fun of other culture's customs, but when it comes to Americans people can say all the mean things they want? Seems kind of hypocritical to me.

Answer 8

It's not a mainstream custom in the UK, although some households may favour it. I'm English but live in Russia now and it's the biggest faux-pas you can make if you don't remove your shoes at the doors and wear the slippers they give you. I've got into the habit now of not wearing shoes inside and I think it's normal.

Answer 9

im from India, and here, u are expected by society to take ur shoes off... even if there is no carpet!
i think its basic manners, anywhere in the world. why bring any mud or soil into someone else's house? lets keep the house clean, since we're not gonna clean it up

Answer 10

I am Ukrainian and we take the shoes off. In US it was weird just going on in my shoes. There's less dust and the ground is weirdly compressed. I guess it has to do with the general climate too.

Answer 11

i'm from Germany and we oftentimes placed on "houseshoes" or slippers interior the abode to maintain the carpets sparkling (and since the flooring are oftentimes chilly). If we had a appropriate dinner visitor, it could be unthinkable to ask them to take their footwear off, or to placed on houseshoes esp. in the event that they are elegantly dressed.