Remove Your Shoes on Entering? 7 Reasons Why

Do you remove your shoes on entering your home? Many of us who are not culturally predisposed to this activity avoid thinking about it because we are conflicted about starting a daily routine that you would then need to impose on others.

There are many kinds of sanctuary this routine can bring, and here are seven:

Natural Style, Easy Grace
From Dutch homes of the 15th century, where it was not permissible to set foot in a room without first removing one’s shoes, to removing shoes at the front door in most Asian homes as a mark of respect to the house and to honor its cleanliness and purity, taking off one’s shoes at the front door can be a deeply ingrained cultural habit.

For those of us who don’t share this habit, a good reason to consider initiating it is grounded in the pollutants they carry in from the outside world.

The benefits of removing shoes are many, including:

Taking off one’s shoes at the door can be a simple celebration of everyday life, as easy as kicking off your shoes at the front door to symbolize leaving behind the harried outer world, then lighting incense and being soothed by the subtle aroma of lavender wafting through the house.
Less dirt and small rocks gouge our floors, gently buffed by bare feet in the warmer seasons and by softly slippered feet in the cooler months.
Bare feet are treated to the comforting sensation of walking on smooth wood, or other flooring, an uncommon experience in itself.
Less time is spent cleaning the floor.
Infants and young children with more sensitive immune systems inhale cleaner indoor air.
A healthier home is ensured because shoes track in lead, pesticides and other pollutants, contaminating carpets and floors, turning a home into a toxic place for pets and young children, especially, who spend more time on the floor.
Shoes in Japan are left in the foyer, and traded for house slippers, with the gesture being both symbolic and a conscious desire to leave behind the outer world by shedding, literally, the first obvious steps—shoes.
Home is seen as a separate, special place, a sanctuary.

Adapted from Japanese Style, by Sunamita Lim (Gibbs Smith Publisher, 2007).

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

Liz E.

1:59PM PST on Dec 4, 2011

It's law in my place. When I think of all the crap on the bottom of shoes I cringe to think that people wear shoes in homes all the time. I like to walk barefoot at home. I would rather have mud, organic of course, on my floors than what's on the streets of cities. Everything from spit to puke to dog shit and who knows what else!
My kids call me a germaphobe but this is one area that I am a little obsessive about. The germs in my home are my germs ~ not some stranger's.

send a green star

Kath R.

1:40PM PST on Dec 3, 2011

Ever smell most shoes up close? ...they wreak of chemicals and never stop doing so over the life of the shoe.

iii q.

5:57PM PDT on Jul 15, 2011

if you are that friendly with the people and feel comfortable removing shoes, that's fine.

if you don't,, then don't go visiting them...

Massimo G.

10:04PM PST on Dec 5, 2010

I makes complete sense to remove your filthy shoes before you start walking and wiping outdoor filth into your carpets and floors. It's common sense. Take a look where you step when you are outside the home.. you are bringing all of that home on your shoes. Shoes are controllable. Having family member pets that lie about is not. Pets can't exactly cut off their genitals or paws in order to lie on the carpet. YOU can, however, easily remove your shoes and avoid their contact with the carpets. Not to mention most pets are cleaner than most humans.. thus, that remark by 'Randall A' about pets touching the floor is completely ignorant. My dog doesn't go outside (pad trained) and is bathed once a week.. I am sure he is quite cleaner than your shoes, Randall A, or your dick.

John D.

10:31AM PDT on Sep 14, 2010

Good idea; just makes sense to me. Don't know why so many folks are opposed to the idea of removing their shoes when they enter a residence. Maybe need a little more foot TLC?

new york city walking tours

Past Member .

7:25AM PDT on Sep 14, 2010

I don't go around the house in my shoes. It feels better to have them off.

Deb G.

3:25PM PST on Feb 12, 2010

Personally, I can't wait to get my shoes off when I come indoors, at home or at a friend or relatives. It has a lot less to do with the cleanliness of the house than it does the freedom of my feet!

Abo r.

6:35AM PST on Feb 12, 2010

Good idea

Randall A.

5:13PM PST on Feb 11, 2010

Taking off shoes at the doorway of American homes seems to have become popular over the past decade and some of the rationale does seem practical. However, sometimes I believe some of those that practice this caveat really are not "walking their talk" relating to the sanitary essence of this "keeping their kingdom sterile."

Case in point is this: a family member and others that I associate with employ this "shoes off" policy for their well kept abodes. Human visitors must remove their shoes to enter their house; however, they have several dogs (house dogs) that reside there and as I sit there shoeless I discern these pets lying with their private parts on their floor (rugs, tiles, etc.). It especially soaks in (no pun intended) when the pet just returned from a "potty break" from their being taken outside. The pets are escorted inside and begin to lounge all over the house, couch, floors, etc.

Oh, I guess this is okay for the pet; however, the human friends must purge themselves of their shoes which carry unspeakable bacteria? Something is wrong with this picture? I'd like to hear from some that enforce this policy but still allow their pets to perform as mentioned above.

I will also add that this "shoes off" policy at the above house is practiced (with two dogs that also stay the house) and their toddler (cannot walk yet) is crawling all over the rugs/floors. However, a human being cannot walk in the house unless they take their shoes off! Consequently, I will not