5 Reasons to Take Off Your Shoes

Do you remove your shoes before entering your home? Some people forbid shoes in their homes, while others consider being asked to remove their shoes nothing short of offensive. I have friends with Please Remove Shoes Before Entering signs brazenly taped to their doors, while I have other friends who’d prefer to stay out of someone’s no-shoes-allowed home rather than be required to expose their socks.

Much of it has to do with cultural tradition. In many places across the globe removing shoes before entering is a deeply ingrained practice. As a kid growing up in southern California, I always entered the house in socks. Although not because we had a rule about shoes, rather, my preferred style of footwear had wheels attached and roller skates were tricky on the carpet. But somehow I evolved, over time, into an adult who doesn’t wear shoes inside. For me it started off as a matter of comfort, but upon further reflection it has become reinforced by a number of other factors.

Here are five reasons for removing shoes before entering:

1. Comfort. I wear sensible shoes (mostly? sometimes?) but no matter how comfortable my shoes are, my feet are always happier outside of them. I want to be comfortable at home. I want to take off my shoes as soon as I walk in, the same way I might want to take off a pair of tight jeans. My home is my haven, it’s hard to relax in your sanctuary wearing knee-high boots.

2. Toxins. An EPA study, reported in Environmental Science & Technology provided the first proof that pesticides can be tracked into residences on shoes. People and pets who walk on pesticide-treated lawns can pick up pesticides like the herbicide 2,4-D, for up to a week after application, the study showed. The study found that “track-in” exposures of pesticides may exceed those from the best-known source–pesticide residues on non-organic fresh fruits and vegetables. Another study showed that 98 percent of lead dust found in homes is tracked in from outside as well.

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Read more: Allergies, General Health, Home, Household Hints

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Joe R.

3:36PM PDT on Mar 28, 2012

Always had to remove my shoes as a kid and have done it ever since.

send a green star

Cheryl B.

5:36AM PDT on Oct 25, 2011

yes, most of us remove our shoes

5:35AM PDT on Oct 25, 2011

yes

Michele W.

10:28AM PDT on Aug 23, 2011

Thank you

Teresa W.

5:07AM PDT on Aug 22, 2011

I like walking barefoot. :-)

Margie B.

1:08AM PDT on Aug 18, 2011

I wear slippers in my home for comfort and also for all the reasons mentioned in the article.

I do also expect my friends and relatives to respect my home to remove shoes and they do.

Also, I have a problem with others, like as when I have to hire someone to do work in my home.
I do ask most of the time for them to remove their shoes. Once in a while I will let it slide, but I do look down at their shoes to check them out. I do make it obvious that I am looking at their feet. I have had a couple of workers ask me if I want them to remove their shoes. Of Course I Say Very Nicely, "Yes, Would You Please - Thank You" and SMILE Sweetly

Debbie L.

8:19AM PDT on Jul 31, 2011

Thanks, I do agree with all the reasons to remove shoes in the house :)

Past Member .

8:46PM PDT on Jul 27, 2011

I feel faint when people track over my rug in their shoes, but I don't feel like I can ask maintenance guys, professionals, and just about anyone else to shed their shoes because I'm freaking out. My scratchy rug isn't a great spot to settle my bare feet, but maybe someday I'll either get a steam cleaner or a backbone.

Ruth R.

11:04PM PDT on Jul 26, 2011

Great -- after the carpet and floors get cleaned and (sterilized?)

Naomi B.

7:40AM PDT on Jul 25, 2011

We take off our shoes when we get inside all the time but mainly for comfort and if it's been snowing or raining it just makes sense. The only shoes we insist on people removing are stilletos when they go upstairs because they ruin our lovely wood floors. But we also provide slippers if our friends want :)