The moment I enter my home, my shoes come right off. While some people could care less about leaving their footwear at the door, it’s a habit I’ll never shake and one I’ve even taught my kids to practice. Why, you may wonder?
Just think about it. Streets and subways can be absolutely filthy. After a long commute to and from my Midtown Manhattan office—which includes taking three crowded trains—the last thing I want to do is drag all of the day’s grime into my home.
An Expert’s Take on Cleanliness
The pros at the Good Housekeeping Institute’s Home Care & Cleaning Lab agree with this no-shoes policy, too. “Wearing shoes indoors can track dirt, grit, and other debris from outside onto your floors, creating more cleaning work,” says Noah Pinsonnault, the GH Institute’s home care & cleaning reviews analyst.
Bona, which specializes in floor care products, found that many other Americans are onboard with this household rule as well. The company recently surveyed 1,000 adults who have at least one room in their home with hardwood floors and found that 70% fall in the shoes-off camp. Eighty-one percent revealed that removing their shoes makes for a cleaner home, and 44% said they always or typically request visitors follow their lead. Additionally, 65% expressed concern about shoes bringing dirt and germs into their home.
Protect Your Flooring
Cleanliness isn’t the only factor to consider either. Constantly wearing shoes at home, whether it’s heels, boots, or sneakers, can damage your flooring. “Over time, abrasive particles like sand and small stones caught in shoe soles can also scratch and wear down flooring, particularly hardwood,” Pinsonnault says. Why take the chance of having to shell out money for these type of avoidable flooring repairs?
The Bottom Line
If you ask me, the benefits of not wearing shoes inside your home are clear. While I personally wouldn’t ask guests to do so if I was hosting a large party (I’ll deal with the cleanup after), it requires no effort at all to make this an everyday habit in my household. Plus, I’m all for doing anything I can to keep my hardwood floors intact for as long as possible.
Monique Valeris is the home design director for Good Housekeeping, where she oversees the brand's home decorating coverage across print and digital. Prior to joining GH in 2020, she was the digital editor at Elle Decor. In her current role, she explores everything from design trends and home tours to lifestyle product recommendations, including writing her monthly column, "What's in My Cart."
