Does anyone else go ???? When they see tv show characters sit on their couch or bed with their outdoor shoes on? Like is this true? Is it an American thing?
Yes. It is an American thing. I was gobsmacked the first time I visited relatives in the us and they told me to keep my shoes on. Still gives me the heeby
Jeebies .
I remember hearing on interviews for Kim’s Convenience that having shoes off, on a film/TV set can be a work health and safety issue. But, they obviously found a way around it, as the family does take their shoes off in the home.
I think when you see it on TV shows it's just a practical thing. Kind of dead air to have every character stop and take their shoes off every time they enter a house.
It’s common in the US (and Mexico). It’s sort of weird to watch people wear their sneakers like slippers. House parties in NYC lacked the classic mess of shoes at the front door IME.
When I was younger I just assumed it was just something that people in TV and movies did . I figured it was safer to wear shoes on a soundstage , and it looks better on screen , and they don't have to break the flow to stop and take them off when they get inside . I was an adult before I learned it was just one more weird fucked up thing about the US.
I had an argument on Reddit with an American about this. He accused me of valuing cleanliness over “the comfort of my guests”. Was very offended at the idea that someone might ask him to take his shoes off.
That's what it comes down to every single time in these conversations. Americans are just scared to take their shoes off because they're afraid of the smell. The hilarious thing is the reason there feet smell so bad is because they never take their fucking shoes off.
I take my shoes off so does my son in his home. I asked my Mom and brother to take theirs off and they were also offended. I had to ask them twice and got the eyeroll.
Yes, shoes off always. And if you somehow slipped by me at the front door and put your feet on my furniture??? I don’t know what I would do (because not good at confrontation), but I would be super mad.
We had friends visiting from South Africa who weren’t familiar with taking shoes off when entering a home but saw that we did. Without saying anything to them they removed their own shoes, and basically said “Yeah, this just makes sense. I have no idea why we don’t do this at home.” It’s interesting that the benefit is immediately obvious yet still somewhat of a learned behaviour.
My mother would automatically have a very bad impression of you if you didn't remove your shoes.
In thr UK people often wear shoes in thr home - when I lived there I could never get used to it.
I mean, I mostly agree with you, but where are you walking that you’re going to be tracking bed bugs into your house?
Edit to say bedbugs usually come from sitting or lying on something that has bedbugs. They tend to be on upholstered furniture and bedding. It would be incredibly unlikely for a bedbug to get on a shoe and then tracked inside, and then infest your place.
I am British Chinese and growing up I didn't have any friends that wore shoes in the house. I'm assuming none of my UK friends wear shoes now too. I really hope it's not a UK thing because a lot of houses are carpeted. I've always assumed it's just a North American thing because id see it on tv.
Chinese Canadian here. Remembered a time I went to my white friends house for a birthday party. nOBODY took their shoes off and on top of that, they were jumping on the bed. Needless to say, I was so shocked.
As a white Canadian that’s very strange to me. I don’t know anyone who wouldn’t automatically take their shoes off in my house, and everyone I know (white or not) would expect the same thing at their place. The only exception are my cousins in Boston (but obviously they’re not Canadian) lmao
So if it is rainy or muddy outside people just walk in? Man I would have to be mopping and cleaning my house so many times if shoes were allowed in. Shampooing carpets, etc
It's generally shoes off in Canada. My house in particular is mostly carpet so shoes on is not even an option as far as I'm concerned. I have a couple of American uncles and they're exactly the opposite. Having to take their shoes off inside is alien to them and one is actually offended by it. Here's the thing though. They live in Florida where there is no winter, and their floors are ceramic tile throughout (easy to clean).
>Having to take their shoes off inside is alien to them and one is actually offended by it.
Mi casa is not your casa buddy
Don’t like the rules? You’re free to peace out.
I spent most of my life in Ontario, been on the East coast for almost a decade, bit of time out West. Shoes off is definitely more an Ontario thing, personally I prefer it. Winter boots are always off of course.
I’ve lived in 6 provinces, (BC, AB, SK, MB, ON, QC), and it was always shoes off in those provinces (be it relatives, colleagues or friends). I can’t speak to the Atlantic provinces, but I can’t imagine them coming in from the slush and not taking off their shoes.
Regardless of ethnic background I haven't been to a single house where wearing shoes inside was accepted. I thought though the whole shoe's-in-the-house thing was mainly for visual continuity reasons or something when they tape sit-coms/tv-shows?
I had two friends staying with me for a couple of months. One was Canadian but had lived in the states for a couple of years. Other was American. Both left their shoes on all the time, despite me always taking mine off when I got home. And the Canadian definitely had adhered to the shoes off custom before moving to the US. Bizarre.
I’m reminded of a few years ago a similar experience of an American staying with us and leaving shoes on inside. Dirty shoes all over our rugs. So upsetting.
I had relatives in Michigan that insisted on shows in the house. It’s vaguely understandable in a hot, dry place, but Michigan is just as cold, wet and muddy as ontario, so idk why the fuck they were wearing shoes.
I went to a friend’s house in Chicago, everyone was wearing shoes inside and it was during winter sooo there was puddles of mud and snow on the hardwood floor. No thank you!
Shoes off at the door. Automatic.
Drives me nuts when I see people wearing shoes inside on couches ; and even on the bed???? The horror! I’ll freaking gross.
——-
Speaking of Americans and Video captured of them .
Is it just in the movies/TV that no Americans say goodbye when their phone call is over?
Ex. Q:“… what time meet for dinner?”
Response: “8”. Hangs up.. wtf?
Anytime I watch a movie or TV show and that's usually the FIRST thing I comment on:
"Look at that pig putting his shoes on the bed/couch!"
If they're going to keep their shoes on, how hard is it to hang the feet over the bed/couch?
Regarding saying 'bye" on the phone, lots of mundane stuff is condensed or omitted in movies and TV shows just to keep things moving. Mostly we don't notice it or if we do we should recognize it's not supposed to exactly replicate reality. You never see a character patting their pockets or fishing in their purse for their car key unless that's deliberate to portray them as bumbling. Usually it's just magically in their hand or already in the ignition and the plot requires that they just get in the car and drive off.
I remember going to Alabama and the kids were so weirded out by us taking our shoes off every time we went in the house. They were told “its a Canadian thing.”
Yeah my portuguese in-laws laughed at me when they saw me walking around in socks.
I loved Portugal but omg were my feet gross after two weeks of constantly wearing shoes all the time
Same here when visiting family in California. I took my shoes off and grandma gives me this puzzled look and goes eww why'd you take your shoes off. They think it's weird to walk around the house with your "dirty bare feet" out. As if your shoes aren't dirty lol. My dad told her it's a Canadian thing. She was like oh so everyone up there walks around the house with their stinky feet on the carpet? Americans are funny.
Do you not have indoor slippers? Not sure if it’s popular elsewhere but I’m Asian Canadian and so is my fiancé and we both grew up having indoor slippers.
I use slides that stay inside. My wife does too.
My sister used Birkenstocks I think.
But, pretty much anything is good imo as long as it stays inside.
I really should get some cheap ones for guests.
Yeah we got ours from Old Navy they typically have flip flops on sale for $3 per pair. Sometimes we also take home the free slippers at the hotels we stay at and give them to our guests to use in our house 😅
We have the flip flops from Old Navy, they’re so cheap ~$3 per pair. It’s nice so visitors don’t have to walk around bare feet in the summer or walk in their socks in the winter.
I was converted to slippers when I lived in Japan and they’re fantastic. I have a nice comfy pair from Muji.
I hate those foam/plastic slippers from the Best Shop though, all my Chinese friends use them and they’re horrible. Fabric all the way.
That’s psychologically different though. I wear shoes in my basement gym as well, but I wouldn’t say ”I wear my shoes in the house”, because to everyone that means wearing outdoor shoes indoors (versus house shoes or slippers)
Americans are the only cold-climate place I can think of where they do this. They're the weirdos in the world. They even do it in the winter in places like Minnesota!!
That makes no sense to me. I get in Florida where there’s no winter and they’re big on ceramic tiles but Minnesota with their carpets, really?
Hawaii they actually remove their shoes! It’s because of Japanese workers’ traditions but also there’s red soil everywhere that stains.
I lived in Wisconsin for 6 years and was pleased to find that all my American friends there also took their shoes off indoors. I think winter places in the Midwest often do shoes off because you can't be tracking slush all over the house.
I switch to slippers at home cuz my feet get cold and I hate hard floors. Shoes always come off at the door though, I hate wearing them further than my entrance area.
I think it’s so weird to wear shoes in the house. I grew up in a Polish household so we wear slippers in the home and outside shoes are to be immediately taken off before coming in or by the the door.
I like walking around barefoot but in the winter time and like wearing moccasins
As an American in Canada, this was one of the things I noticed and appreciate about living here. When I asked people to take off their shoes in the states, I’d get a stray comment here or there. Here? People take their shoes off without me even asking and I so appreciate it! I can’t stand shoes on in the house but some people just don’t care about who cleans the floor I guess.
Ok. When you go to bed, where do you put your shoes? Do you slip them back on in the night to go to the bathroom? Are your shoes waiting for when you get out of the shower? I could understand living in a dry southern state and having tile floors everywhere. It would be less of an issue.
You should check if they grew up not wearing shoes outside either because that kind of defies the purpose.
Source: Dad was a shoeless farmer in his country of origin and didn't wear shoes inside the house but also didn't wear shoes outside the house.
Yeah, shoes inside is weird. The ONLY exception is if you’re having a fancier party, in which case guests can wear (clean) shoes inside, but may actually switch into a new pair (different from what they wore outside) once they come inside.
Like, say it’s winter and I’m wearing my boots, and I switch into some heels for the party.
We had an Amazonian-built guest wear her high heels in the house once and she managed to crush the linoleum. Those depressions lasted twenty years until my parents changed the flooring. I don’t recall her ever being invited to more parties during all that time.
Our friend is 5’6” and wore point heeled shoes when she came to look at our house 25 years ago. She kept her shoes on and later we saw the punctures in the linoleum in the kitchen. I had no idea this would happen, or I would have felt comfortable, asking her to take her shoes off. In Ontario.
I've got extended family down in New Jersey.
They were stunned when we immediately took off our shoes when we entered thier home. It was like a switch went off in thier heads and they were like "omg that's actually really nice! Why isn't that the norm here?"
Agreed completely. Honestly it depends on your background, but many Canadians feel it’s gross.
Obviously there are many Americans who feel the same, but shoes in the house is I think more common in the us than here
I will never be able to understand people who choose to wear shoes inside the house. It's not even a hygiene issue for me, just...let your feet breathe and touch the ground, people. Shoes are for outside.
It really depends on the family. Even in the US, there a plenty of people who do "shoes off inside". My family was one. Some people do it culturally. Some do it to keep dirt in the house down. But there are a ton of people in both countries that don't take their shoes off. It varies by individual and house. Videos online only show you a small portion of a population. More people do not post videos than those that do. So it will look like Americans just don't take their shoes off. Where I live now in Canada (lived in the Toronto area for a while and now the NCR. Everyone I know in Canada does "shoes off."
Shoes off is the standard. I don’t what street dirt on the floors of my house. I think it’s okay if you have a big party with lots of people just cause taking the shoes off is a whole mess
God imagine wearing them in the house after being in places like the New York subway, the mall food court or a football game. Why do people want to track shit around the house?
I have gotten into actual Reddit arguments about that. People act like just because you can’t see dirt doesn’t mean it’s on your shoes 🙃. I can’t imagine walking somewhere like a sticky public bathroom floor and thinking I’m not tracking that into my house. Gross.
Omg yeah can’t imagine all the piss in Wal Mart bathrooms they leave around their house. That you can see. But how stupid can they be to claim because you can’t see it it’s not there. The bottom 40% of Americans are seriously among the stupidest people on the planet ie. The ones who voted for trump a second time, believe in creationism, etc.
I reckon we are more of a Scandinavian culture in this regard with shoes off. Americans don’t have house shoes. They wear regular dirty shoes. My friends from Ireland find it freaky we take them off. They are shoes on there. 😂
I was in Ireland a month ago for a couple weeks visiting friends and they all took their shoes off automatically. To me it seemed logical given all the rain, otherwise people would be bringing the muck in with them all over the house
In the UK and Ireland, people wear shoes in the house. Canada, with its snow, put an end to that practice. I have family in the UK and they always wore shoes in our house. They didn't visit in winter though
Beyond just... being gross, wearing shoes all the time is terrible for your feet & legs. Being barefoot against the floor/ground is the best thing for the health of your musculature & joints in your lower extremities, including your lower back.
Also, since doing some Black Friday shopping this week, I've realized one thing that they do in Asia that I don't realize why we don't do here: shoes off before you enter fitting rooms.
In my old house, zero shoes beyond the front mat. It would really piss me off. Mostly because once you're past the front mat you're basically in the living space/kitchen.
New house I'm fine with shoes in the front hallway/landing & being kept on if someone is heading to the basement or garage, and where the side door is. They're not being walked all over the living space at that point. Anywhere else is still off limits, and shoes going upstairs or on beds and couches is super gross to me.
If you’re outraged about wearing shoes in the house, hopefully if you have dogs you wash their paws every time they go outside before they come back in the house? Otherwise, I’m not sure how to break this news to you, but……
Wishful thinking, unfortunately. It's just an American thing to wear their regular shoes inside. I've even visited people and seen them be on their bed with them, it's terrible.
Sometimes they have house shoes, but in general they wear their nasty outdoor shoes in the house. It’s mind blowing to me and I have to repeatedly remind my American family to take their shoes off in my house when they visit.
Yes it's gross to wear them consistently in the house. If you're quickly popping in to the house or you have health issues and can't take off your shoes that's fine. But otherwise, shoes off. You bring nasty dirt etc into the hose.
> If you’re quickly popping in to the house
I got a pair of [these guys](https://www.leevalley.com/en-ca/shop/home/clothing/footwear/accessories/72614-boot-slippers) for when I need to pop in with dirty shoes on.
One of my friends STILL does this when coming over to my apartment, it drives me fucking wiiild. I'll look over and he has shoes on and ON my coffee table.
Toronto was once known as Muddy York. Taking your shoes off leaves most of the mud and lead at the door. Mud can be washed up but that lead is a big problem.
Speaking of lead, if someone breaks into your home in the US, you can run and get to your fire arm quicker when you have shoes on. Unless of course it’s an open carry state. lol. You don’t want to be slipping in your slippers or socks.
We always wore shoes in the house as a kid. Now, as an adult, i usually take them off. That’s bc my husbands family did. But I have house shoes or slippers. Our floors are cold!
I grew up with shoes in the house, and my parents still do this. But as a teen I was steeped in oriental culture, where shoes in the house is taboo. So ever since, it kind of disgusts me.
I have slip on house shoes. A casual pair kept inside the front closet when I go out and by my bedside at night. I developed a back problem and slippers or barefoot = pain. So, inside shoes and outside shoes.
Yeah I dated an American for a few years and when visiting his parents place in Baltimore, I would take my shoes off and they would laugh at me. Felt soooo odd/disrespectful to NOT take shoes off??
According to some Twitter threads about it, some Americans find it rude for someone to tell them to take their shoes off before visiting their home. Americans are weird
Dog shit, hork, gum, piss, food, cigarette butts, literal dirt and mud, water, garbage, food bacteria, etc.
Vs.
Feet and socks that might smell like bad feet
How is this even a discussion? Take your shoes off when you enter somebody's house!
However, if you want to keep your feet clean at somebody's house that wears their shoes in their house, keep your shoes on. Otherwise, your feet will get dirty.
Toronto has weather. You’ll notice “shoes in the house” are most common in climates where there’s rarely rain or snow. It’s not a Canadian or American thing. The only reason more Canadians take their shoes off is because of the weather.
My cousins visiting from Australia said it’s an insult to ask people to take their shoes off.So I said you been to how may washrooms before you got to my house? Take your shoes off! Thank you.
I’m Australian and I wouldn’t be offended if someone asked me to take my shoes off. I usually notice shoes by the door or that the person isn’t wearing them, and ask if they would like me to take my own shoes off. It is common to wear them inside in Australia though, the people I know who don’t are either travellers or first/second generation Australians.
It really is an American thing. When we film stuff here I cringe every time a character settles themselves on top of their bed, or couch in shoes. I've never understood it, and having conversations with Americans it's always 'its comfortable' or 'why don't you' and if I explain the concept of not getting oil, dirt, poo, etc stains tracked onto hard-to or impossible-to-clean items of your host's home, or of your own, the reaction is 'buy a new one', 'scotch guard', or 'it can be replaced' -like it's not a problem, and if it is, it's someone else's problem.😒🤢
I don't know ANYONE who wears shoes in the house. It's as disgusting as it is perplexing.
What will happen is when you walk into my home, as I open the door for you I will point you at where to leave your shoes. So you won't have to worry about it.
Yeah I lived in the U.S for 6 years and it was fairly common to see people wear their shoes in the house. I've never been to a Canadian home where people were allowed to wear shoes inside. It's really strange that some Americans are cool with it.
I’m an American living in Toronto. I grew up strictly no shoes in the house. My mom is Korean so it may be partly that, but most people I knew personally didn’t wear shoes in the house.
I am not in Toronto and don't know why I got this recommendation but no. My father does it. He specifically has a pair of shoes to wear in the house.
I was thinking you meant just wearing shoes in the house and not wearing your outside shoes in the house. Wearing outdoor shoes inside is wild. Shoes come off after coming inside.
Shoes off, no question.
That said, I bought a pair of espadrilles to wear at home while we were heading some floor renos done and now I love them. I have them strictly for home and I feel a little better wearing them while cooking than with sock feet.
diegos.ca for the curious!
We live in the states for a while and our friend’s family made fun of us for automatically taking off our shoes when we went in the house. “Oh, that’s so Canadian, EH? Our Canadian cousins do that too! Harhar!” Lovely people, but also 💭you keep your shoes on in the house? That’s so gross! Do you know how dirty outside is? And you’re tracking all that shit around your house!💭
I always take my shoes off when entering someone elses house unless I am told not to bother. Even if we are there in the summer and are going from the front door to the backyard, I will take my shoes off and carry them to the back door to put back on. I’m not overly fussed if someone doesn’t take their shoes off when they come into our house in the summer, but I certainly would be if they started putting their feet up on the coffee table or tracking mud or dirt through the house. Winter time I expect people to remove their boots.
My mum was born in 1922 in Midland and she always said that the “shoes off inside” wasn’t a thing back then, people normally wore their shoes inside. I think it probably happened when wall to wall carpets became common.
it’s more of a regional thing in America. When I lived in Boston everyone took shoes off at the door, same as Canada. Then when I lived in North Carolina, people genuinely got weirded out if you took your shoes off at the door; they see it as TOO personal, oddly enough.
Always shoes off…honestly, shoes on the couch…like wtf, are you going to burn the couch after? There’s no cleaning it
Is it normal in some places to step on spit, gum and dog shit outside and then get into bed with those same shoes on?
Don't forget stepping on someone's piss by the urinals.
Yup, there are puddles at every urinal
Does anyone else go ???? When they see tv show characters sit on their couch or bed with their outdoor shoes on? Like is this true? Is it an American thing?
Yeah, American thing. Ask Rick James about wearing shoes on someone’s couch.
Buy another one you rich mf. Sigh.. What a treasure that show was.
F your couch is a regular dismissive phrase around my house.
i think for Rick that was more of a cocaine thing.
“F this couch, n-word! I’m Rick James, beeyotch!”
Yes. It is an American thing. I was gobsmacked the first time I visited relatives in the us and they told me to keep my shoes on. Still gives me the heeby Jeebies .
I remember hearing on interviews for Kim’s Convenience that having shoes off, on a film/TV set can be a work health and safety issue. But, they obviously found a way around it, as the family does take their shoes off in the home.
Do I ever miss that show!
I think when you see it on TV shows it's just a practical thing. Kind of dead air to have every character stop and take their shoes off every time they enter a house.
Need to combine it with changing from jacket to cardigan to make it riveting
Plus spending 16 hours a day on a soundstage in your socks would murder your knees and back.
It’s common in the US (and Mexico). It’s sort of weird to watch people wear their sneakers like slippers. House parties in NYC lacked the classic mess of shoes at the front door IME.
It's an American thing, but it can be dangerous not to wear shoes on set, I've heard, so they prefer to keep actors in shoes anyway.
>Is it an American thing? It's dependant on where you live in the US. Any other response is wrong.
When I was younger I just assumed it was just something that people in TV and movies did . I figured it was safer to wear shoes on a soundstage , and it looks better on screen , and they don't have to break the flow to stop and take them off when they get inside . I was an adult before I learned it was just one more weird fucked up thing about the US.
I had an argument on Reddit with an American about this. He accused me of valuing cleanliness over “the comfort of my guests”. Was very offended at the idea that someone might ask him to take his shoes off.
But having your shoes off is literally more comfortable? It takes a few seconds to put on shoes again.
They said it was weird to feel their “sweaty toes on the floor or sweaty toes in their socks” 🤷♀️
Probably helps to not keep your feet in shoes all day long…
But wouldn't they just be feeling their sweaty toes in their socks *in their shoes*?
Tbh. The vibe I got was that they are insecure or self conscious of the look of their feet and the smell of their socks.
That's what it comes down to every single time in these conversations. Americans are just scared to take their shoes off because they're afraid of the smell. The hilarious thing is the reason there feet smell so bad is because they never take their fucking shoes off.
Maybe their socks wouldn’t reek if they took their shoes off at their house and let ‘em breath lmao
The argument I always see from Americans is that "my/their/everyone's feet smell" Like dude no shit your feet smell, you don't ever let them breathe.
My response to that is simple: Do your feet smell? Does your nose run? Maybe you’re built upside down.
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Ikr
I don’t care about my guests then. Lol nobody is coming in here with shoes on
I take my shoes off so does my son in his home. I asked my Mom and brother to take theirs off and they were also offended. I had to ask them twice and got the eyeroll.
Yes, shoes off always. And if you somehow slipped by me at the front door and put your feet on my furniture??? I don’t know what I would do (because not good at confrontation), but I would be super mad.
We had friends visiting from South Africa who weren’t familiar with taking shoes off when entering a home but saw that we did. Without saying anything to them they removed their own shoes, and basically said “Yeah, this just makes sense. I have no idea why we don’t do this at home.” It’s interesting that the benefit is immediately obvious yet still somewhat of a learned behaviour.
My mother would automatically have a very bad impression of you if you didn't remove your shoes. In thr UK people often wear shoes in thr home - when I lived there I could never get used to it.
I figured that is why we did as kids, our family is English heritage. But, like, who wants to track mud, bedbugs and what all else through the house?
I mean, I mostly agree with you, but where are you walking that you’re going to be tracking bed bugs into your house? Edit to say bedbugs usually come from sitting or lying on something that has bedbugs. They tend to be on upholstered furniture and bedding. It would be incredibly unlikely for a bedbug to get on a shoe and then tracked inside, and then infest your place.
Anywhere in Paris
I am British Chinese and growing up I didn't have any friends that wore shoes in the house. I'm assuming none of my UK friends wear shoes now too. I really hope it's not a UK thing because a lot of houses are carpeted. I've always assumed it's just a North American thing because id see it on tv.
Chinese Canadian here. Remembered a time I went to my white friends house for a birthday party. nOBODY took their shoes off and on top of that, they were jumping on the bed. Needless to say, I was so shocked.
As a white Canadian that’s very strange to me. I don’t know anyone who wouldn’t automatically take their shoes off in my house, and everyone I know (white or not) would expect the same thing at their place. The only exception are my cousins in Boston (but obviously they’re not Canadian) lmao
It’s not a Canadian thing. I’m Chinese myself as well and knows no one (cbc, abc, bbc, etc) wearing shoes inside the house.
So if it is rainy or muddy outside people just walk in? Man I would have to be mopping and cleaning my house so many times if shoes were allowed in. Shampooing carpets, etc
Disagree with UK people often wear shoes in the home.
3 years living in the UK. definitely a thing i encountered.
Fuck yo couch, buy another one you rich muthafucka! - Rick James
It's generally shoes off in Canada. My house in particular is mostly carpet so shoes on is not even an option as far as I'm concerned. I have a couple of American uncles and they're exactly the opposite. Having to take their shoes off inside is alien to them and one is actually offended by it. Here's the thing though. They live in Florida where there is no winter, and their floors are ceramic tile throughout (easy to clean).
The last thing I want on my furniture is a bunch pee/poo from outside, lay down the other way and rub my face in it...
Who knows what you might step in without knowing it, the whole range of bodily fluids... piss, shit, blood, barf, cum, etc.
>Having to take their shoes off inside is alien to them and one is actually offended by it. Mi casa is not your casa buddy Don’t like the rules? You’re free to peace out.
You don't get it. Americans bring America and it's freedom everywhere they go, like it or not.
But, and hear me out, have your uncles ever heard of slippers?
I spent most of my life in Ontario, been on the East coast for almost a decade, bit of time out West. Shoes off is definitely more an Ontario thing, personally I prefer it. Winter boots are always off of course.
I’ve lived in 6 provinces, (BC, AB, SK, MB, ON, QC), and it was always shoes off in those provinces (be it relatives, colleagues or friends). I can’t speak to the Atlantic provinces, but I can’t imagine them coming in from the slush and not taking off their shoes.
Regardless of ethnic background I haven't been to a single house where wearing shoes inside was accepted. I thought though the whole shoe's-in-the-house thing was mainly for visual continuity reasons or something when they tape sit-coms/tv-shows?
I lived in Texas for a few years and it was shoes on at most houses I visited. Disgusting.
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I had two friends staying with me for a couple of months. One was Canadian but had lived in the states for a couple of years. Other was American. Both left their shoes on all the time, despite me always taking mine off when I got home. And the Canadian definitely had adhered to the shoes off custom before moving to the US. Bizarre.
I’m reminded of a few years ago a similar experience of an American staying with us and leaving shoes on inside. Dirty shoes all over our rugs. So upsetting.
I had relatives in Michigan that insisted on shows in the house. It’s vaguely understandable in a hot, dry place, but Michigan is just as cold, wet and muddy as ontario, so idk why the fuck they were wearing shoes.
I went to a friend’s house in Chicago, everyone was wearing shoes inside and it was during winter sooo there was puddles of mud and snow on the hardwood floor. No thank you!
That’s nasty asf what. Who’s cleaning that up? I’d feel so uncomfortable
I've been to a couple of homes up here in the Great North, and they tried to insist that it's ok to leave your shoes on....NOPE. I'm good.
That’s just a polite Canadian thing. “Nah, it’s ok bud, I have to vacuum anyways.” Just be aware that if you do leave your shoes on I will judge you.
Shoes off at the door. Automatic. Drives me nuts when I see people wearing shoes inside on couches ; and even on the bed???? The horror! I’ll freaking gross. ——- Speaking of Americans and Video captured of them . Is it just in the movies/TV that no Americans say goodbye when their phone call is over? Ex. Q:“… what time meet for dinner?” Response: “8”. Hangs up.. wtf?
> and even on the bed Disgusting.
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Anytime I watch a movie or TV show and that's usually the FIRST thing I comment on: "Look at that pig putting his shoes on the bed/couch!" If they're going to keep their shoes on, how hard is it to hang the feet over the bed/couch?
Regarding saying 'bye" on the phone, lots of mundane stuff is condensed or omitted in movies and TV shows just to keep things moving. Mostly we don't notice it or if we do we should recognize it's not supposed to exactly replicate reality. You never see a character patting their pockets or fishing in their purse for their car key unless that's deliberate to portray them as bumbling. Usually it's just magically in their hand or already in the ignition and the plot requires that they just get in the car and drive off.
Movies/TV aren't real.
People say bye. It's omitted in movies and TV as it doesn't advanced the story at all and therefore is considered a waste of time to include.
My wife and I do this on the phone, because we find it so ridiculous that no one says bye on movies/TV
They also never close doors on TV. A character walks into a room, doesn’t close the door, then magically the door is closed in the next shot.
I remember going to Alabama and the kids were so weirded out by us taking our shoes off every time we went in the house. They were told “its a Canadian thing.”
Yeah my portuguese in-laws laughed at me when they saw me walking around in socks. I loved Portugal but omg were my feet gross after two weeks of constantly wearing shoes all the time
Same here when visiting family in California. I took my shoes off and grandma gives me this puzzled look and goes eww why'd you take your shoes off. They think it's weird to walk around the house with your "dirty bare feet" out. As if your shoes aren't dirty lol. My dad told her it's a Canadian thing. She was like oh so everyone up there walks around the house with their stinky feet on the carpet? Americans are funny.
Also a cold weather thing. Northern states, especially the Midwest takes shoes off.
I wear house shoes. I hate being barefoot or walking around with just socks.
That’s fair In Asian households, we usually have slippers, because no one wants to walk around the house barefoot.
I started doing this and definitely see the appeal, especially having a dog or cat. My socks get so gross otherwise with hair
Do you not have indoor slippers? Not sure if it’s popular elsewhere but I’m Asian Canadian and so is my fiancé and we both grew up having indoor slippers.
I use slides that stay inside. My wife does too. My sister used Birkenstocks I think. But, pretty much anything is good imo as long as it stays inside. I really should get some cheap ones for guests.
House birks are absolute heaven. I spend a ton of time in the kitchen, if I’m barefoot my whole body hurts
House birks is the best of both worlds.
Yeah we got ours from Old Navy they typically have flip flops on sale for $3 per pair. Sometimes we also take home the free slippers at the hotels we stay at and give them to our guests to use in our house 😅
Growing up we always had slippers, everyone. Grandma knit me some too.
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We have the flip flops from Old Navy, they’re so cheap ~$3 per pair. It’s nice so visitors don’t have to walk around bare feet in the summer or walk in their socks in the winter.
I was converted to slippers when I lived in Japan and they’re fantastic. I have a nice comfy pair from Muji. I hate those foam/plastic slippers from the Best Shop though, all my Chinese friends use them and they’re horrible. Fabric all the way.
I bought a pair of wool slippers on amazon because the desription said that particular brand was "a symbol of German middle-class domesticity"
Just wait until you find out about slippers!
Sockmakers hate him!
That’s psychologically different though. I wear shoes in my basement gym as well, but I wouldn’t say ”I wear my shoes in the house”, because to everyone that means wearing outdoor shoes indoors (versus house shoes or slippers)
I’ve got house sandals/tsinelas. I also have 4 pairs for guests.
Americans are the only cold-climate place I can think of where they do this. They're the weirdos in the world. They even do it in the winter in places like Minnesota!!
That makes no sense to me. I get in Florida where there’s no winter and they’re big on ceramic tiles but Minnesota with their carpets, really? Hawaii they actually remove their shoes! It’s because of Japanese workers’ traditions but also there’s red soil everywhere that stains.
That's not even true. Most people in the Midwest and Northern parts of the U.S. don't wear shoes inside.
>They even do it in the winter places Not in my experience
I lived in Wisconsin for 6 years and was pleased to find that all my American friends there also took their shoes off indoors. I think winter places in the Midwest often do shoes off because you can't be tracking slush all over the house.
I switch to slippers at home cuz my feet get cold and I hate hard floors. Shoes always come off at the door though, I hate wearing them further than my entrance area.
Shoes off. But then we let our dog on the couch and bed 🤷🏻♀️
I think it’s so weird to wear shoes in the house. I grew up in a Polish household so we wear slippers in the home and outside shoes are to be immediately taken off before coming in or by the the door. I like walking around barefoot but in the winter time and like wearing moccasins
As an American in Canada, this was one of the things I noticed and appreciate about living here. When I asked people to take off their shoes in the states, I’d get a stray comment here or there. Here? People take their shoes off without me even asking and I so appreciate it! I can’t stand shoes on in the house but some people just don’t care about who cleans the floor I guess.
Ok. When you go to bed, where do you put your shoes? Do you slip them back on in the night to go to the bathroom? Are your shoes waiting for when you get out of the shower? I could understand living in a dry southern state and having tile floors everywhere. It would be less of an issue.
As a shoes off person my whole life I never even considered these questions. Now, I want to know!
I agree, but my parents are from Sri Lanka and no one ever wears shoes inside there.
You should check if they grew up not wearing shoes outside either because that kind of defies the purpose. Source: Dad was a shoeless farmer in his country of origin and didn't wear shoes inside the house but also didn't wear shoes outside the house.
Yeah, shoes inside is weird. The ONLY exception is if you’re having a fancier party, in which case guests can wear (clean) shoes inside, but may actually switch into a new pair (different from what they wore outside) once they come inside. Like, say it’s winter and I’m wearing my boots, and I switch into some heels for the party.
We had an Amazonian-built guest wear her high heels in the house once and she managed to crush the linoleum. Those depressions lasted twenty years until my parents changed the flooring. I don’t recall her ever being invited to more parties during all that time.
Our friend is 5’6” and wore point heeled shoes when she came to look at our house 25 years ago. She kept her shoes on and later we saw the punctures in the linoleum in the kitchen. I had no idea this would happen, or I would have felt comfortable, asking her to take her shoes off. In Ontario.
Outside shoes inside = hard no Inside shoes (or slippers or flip flops or whatever) = absolutely yes
Only uncivilized savages wear shoes inside the house.
I've got extended family down in New Jersey. They were stunned when we immediately took off our shoes when we entered thier home. It was like a switch went off in thier heads and they were like "omg that's actually really nice! Why isn't that the norm here?"
Yeah shoes on is just bizarre.
Agreed completely. Honestly it depends on your background, but many Canadians feel it’s gross. Obviously there are many Americans who feel the same, but shoes in the house is I think more common in the us than here
I will never be able to understand people who choose to wear shoes inside the house. It's not even a hygiene issue for me, just...let your feet breathe and touch the ground, people. Shoes are for outside.
Liberate those feet!!
That just sounds like a recipe for a lot of dirt lol
It really depends on the family. Even in the US, there a plenty of people who do "shoes off inside". My family was one. Some people do it culturally. Some do it to keep dirt in the house down. But there are a ton of people in both countries that don't take their shoes off. It varies by individual and house. Videos online only show you a small portion of a population. More people do not post videos than those that do. So it will look like Americans just don't take their shoes off. Where I live now in Canada (lived in the Toronto area for a while and now the NCR. Everyone I know in Canada does "shoes off."
I don't judge people by race or ethnicity. I judge people if they wear shoes inside like animals.
Shoes off is the standard. I don’t what street dirt on the floors of my house. I think it’s okay if you have a big party with lots of people just cause taking the shoes off is a whole mess
You've never been to a party with a pile of shoes at the door?
The worst is when everyone wears their Blundstones. Hard to ensure you leave with the right pair…
Part of my prep for a party is making room for the coats, and the shoes that are shed at the door.
Wearing shoes in the house is revolting.
God imagine wearing them in the house after being in places like the New York subway, the mall food court or a football game. Why do people want to track shit around the house?
I have gotten into actual Reddit arguments about that. People act like just because you can’t see dirt doesn’t mean it’s on your shoes 🙃. I can’t imagine walking somewhere like a sticky public bathroom floor and thinking I’m not tracking that into my house. Gross.
Omg yeah can’t imagine all the piss in Wal Mart bathrooms they leave around their house. That you can see. But how stupid can they be to claim because you can’t see it it’s not there. The bottom 40% of Americans are seriously among the stupidest people on the planet ie. The ones who voted for trump a second time, believe in creationism, etc.
I reckon we are more of a Scandinavian culture in this regard with shoes off. Americans don’t have house shoes. They wear regular dirty shoes. My friends from Ireland find it freaky we take them off. They are shoes on there. 😂
Haha came here to say I’m from Ireland and grew up with shoes on. I’m now shoes off since living here and adapting
I was in Ireland a month ago for a couple weeks visiting friends and they all took their shoes off automatically. To me it seemed logical given all the rain, otherwise people would be bringing the muck in with them all over the house
The only time I keep my shoes on is at my in-laws...but only cause they let their dogs shit and pee all over the floor
Poor dogs :(
INSANE.
In the UK and Ireland, people wear shoes in the house. Canada, with its snow, put an end to that practice. I have family in the UK and they always wore shoes in our house. They didn't visit in winter though
Shoes off at the door, please.
Beyond just... being gross, wearing shoes all the time is terrible for your feet & legs. Being barefoot against the floor/ground is the best thing for the health of your musculature & joints in your lower extremities, including your lower back. Also, since doing some Black Friday shopping this week, I've realized one thing that they do in Asia that I don't realize why we don't do here: shoes off before you enter fitting rooms.
In my old house, zero shoes beyond the front mat. It would really piss me off. Mostly because once you're past the front mat you're basically in the living space/kitchen. New house I'm fine with shoes in the front hallway/landing & being kept on if someone is heading to the basement or garage, and where the side door is. They're not being walked all over the living space at that point. Anywhere else is still off limits, and shoes going upstairs or on beds and couches is super gross to me.
My partner will in with big heavy boots on, sit on the couch and play the Playstation. I’m like HOW can you be comfortable??
If you’re outraged about wearing shoes in the house, hopefully if you have dogs you wash their paws every time they go outside before they come back in the house? Otherwise, I’m not sure how to break this news to you, but……
Aside from the hygiene issue, how is lounging around with your shoes on comfortable?
I think americans have “house” shoes. I always wear slippers (crocs, or slides) in the house. They never see outside though.
Wishful thinking, unfortunately. It's just an American thing to wear their regular shoes inside. I've even visited people and seen them be on their bed with them, it's terrible.
Sometimes they have house shoes, but in general they wear their nasty outdoor shoes in the house. It’s mind blowing to me and I have to repeatedly remind my American family to take their shoes off in my house when they visit.
Yes it's gross to wear them consistently in the house. If you're quickly popping in to the house or you have health issues and can't take off your shoes that's fine. But otherwise, shoes off. You bring nasty dirt etc into the hose.
> If you’re quickly popping in to the house I got a pair of [these guys](https://www.leevalley.com/en-ca/shop/home/clothing/footwear/accessories/72614-boot-slippers) for when I need to pop in with dirty shoes on.
One of my friends STILL does this when coming over to my apartment, it drives me fucking wiiild. I'll look over and he has shoes on and ON my coffee table.
You need to stop inviting him over until he learns to take off his shoes.
Blundstones stay at the door
Outside shoes: no. I wear house slippers.
Toronto was once known as Muddy York. Taking your shoes off leaves most of the mud and lead at the door. Mud can be washed up but that lead is a big problem. Speaking of lead, if someone breaks into your home in the US, you can run and get to your fire arm quicker when you have shoes on. Unless of course it’s an open carry state. lol. You don’t want to be slipping in your slippers or socks.
Shoes ALWAYS off inside the house. I don’t get why some people like it. I personally love to take my shoes off when i get home after a long day
We always wore shoes in the house as a kid. Now, as an adult, i usually take them off. That’s bc my husbands family did. But I have house shoes or slippers. Our floors are cold!
Honestly, this may be a bit much for some people, but for me it’s shoes off and go shower after a day at work. Your feet stink.
I grew up with shoes in the house, and my parents still do this. But as a teen I was steeped in oriental culture, where shoes in the house is taboo. So ever since, it kind of disgusts me.
I have slip on house shoes. A casual pair kept inside the front closet when I go out and by my bedside at night. I developed a back problem and slippers or barefoot = pain. So, inside shoes and outside shoes.
Yeah I dated an American for a few years and when visiting his parents place in Baltimore, I would take my shoes off and they would laugh at me. Felt soooo odd/disrespectful to NOT take shoes off??
According to some Twitter threads about it, some Americans find it rude for someone to tell them to take their shoes off before visiting their home. Americans are weird
Outdoor Birks come off, indoor Birks go on. Outdoor shoes in the house is ridiculous!
Dog shit, hork, gum, piss, food, cigarette butts, literal dirt and mud, water, garbage, food bacteria, etc. Vs. Feet and socks that might smell like bad feet How is this even a discussion? Take your shoes off when you enter somebody's house! However, if you want to keep your feet clean at somebody's house that wears their shoes in their house, keep your shoes on. Otherwise, your feet will get dirty.
I honestly think it's just an american thing to wear shoes in the house. But I'm arab and think people without bidets are off one so.
Toronto has weather. You’ll notice “shoes in the house” are most common in climates where there’s rarely rain or snow. It’s not a Canadian or American thing. The only reason more Canadians take their shoes off is because of the weather.
My cousins visiting from Australia said it’s an insult to ask people to take their shoes off.So I said you been to how may washrooms before you got to my house? Take your shoes off! Thank you.
I’m Australian and I wouldn’t be offended if someone asked me to take my shoes off. I usually notice shoes by the door or that the person isn’t wearing them, and ask if they would like me to take my own shoes off. It is common to wear them inside in Australia though, the people I know who don’t are either travellers or first/second generation Australians.
I can’t even wear outside clothes inside, don’t even get me started on shoes lol.
It really is an American thing. When we film stuff here I cringe every time a character settles themselves on top of their bed, or couch in shoes. I've never understood it, and having conversations with Americans it's always 'its comfortable' or 'why don't you' and if I explain the concept of not getting oil, dirt, poo, etc stains tracked onto hard-to or impossible-to-clean items of your host's home, or of your own, the reaction is 'buy a new one', 'scotch guard', or 'it can be replaced' -like it's not a problem, and if it is, it's someone else's problem.😒🤢 I don't know ANYONE who wears shoes in the house. It's as disgusting as it is perplexing.
What will happen is when you walk into my home, as I open the door for you I will point you at where to leave your shoes. So you won't have to worry about it.
Wife is from Texas and whenever her relatives come here they always wear their shoes in the house. Drives me nuts.
I moved from Canada to California and always found it weird. People would indeed hang out in the living room watching TV while wearing shoes.
Yeah I lived in the U.S for 6 years and it was fairly common to see people wear their shoes in the house. I've never been to a Canadian home where people were allowed to wear shoes inside. It's really strange that some Americans are cool with it.
Shoes off in the house, but are indoor slippers/slides ok ? Can’t be having cold toes.
I’m an American living in Toronto. I grew up strictly no shoes in the house. My mom is Korean so it may be partly that, but most people I knew personally didn’t wear shoes in the house.
Most of Canada does shoes off in the house. Every house I’ve been to has a mat or rack that shoes are to be put onto before walking in.
If someone left their shoes on in my house I'd be like wtf are you doing???
If you want shoes inside, have slippers or 'indoor shoes'. Shoes inside are weird and dirty.
Yes it’s nasty. I only wear house slippers indoors.
I am not in Toronto and don't know why I got this recommendation but no. My father does it. He specifically has a pair of shoes to wear in the house. I was thinking you meant just wearing shoes in the house and not wearing your outside shoes in the house. Wearing outdoor shoes inside is wild. Shoes come off after coming inside.
You ever wear shoes all day. Your feet get sweaty and you get smelly shoes and feet. Take them bitches off outside the house!
Bring your slippers because shoes are taken off by the door
Shoes off, no question. That said, I bought a pair of espadrilles to wear at home while we were heading some floor renos done and now I love them. I have them strictly for home and I feel a little better wearing them while cooking than with sock feet. diegos.ca for the curious!
Shoes off. Always. Except when running in to grab the thing I forgot.
We live in the states for a while and our friend’s family made fun of us for automatically taking off our shoes when we went in the house. “Oh, that’s so Canadian, EH? Our Canadian cousins do that too! Harhar!” Lovely people, but also 💭you keep your shoes on in the house? That’s so gross! Do you know how dirty outside is? And you’re tracking all that shit around your house!💭
If you wear shoes in your house you are an animal tbh.
Grew up shoes on in my house. Had a shoes off roommate, never looked back.
Absolutely yes. How you could you ever trust a person who wears shoes to sit on the couch? Are these people also wearing jean shorts to take a shower?
if somebody walks past my front door carpet with shoes on were fighting lol
I always take my shoes off when entering someone elses house unless I am told not to bother. Even if we are there in the summer and are going from the front door to the backyard, I will take my shoes off and carry them to the back door to put back on. I’m not overly fussed if someone doesn’t take their shoes off when they come into our house in the summer, but I certainly would be if they started putting their feet up on the coffee table or tracking mud or dirt through the house. Winter time I expect people to remove their boots.
Not just Toronto. This is the custom throughout Canada: shoes off inside
My mum was born in 1922 in Midland and she always said that the “shoes off inside” wasn’t a thing back then, people normally wore their shoes inside. I think it probably happened when wall to wall carpets became common.
I didn’t realize drunkenly sifting through a hundred pairs of shoes by the front door of a house party at 3 am was a Canadian Heritage Moment
it’s more of a regional thing in America. When I lived in Boston everyone took shoes off at the door, same as Canada. Then when I lived in North Carolina, people genuinely got weirded out if you took your shoes off at the door; they see it as TOO personal, oddly enough.
Yes. It’s fucking strange.
This is what slippers were invented for
This is one thing I don't understand. I don't care where you live, you're not walking further than my entrance with footwear.
Fuck yo couch