Why do Americans walk around the house in shoes and make a guest take off his shoes?

Why do Americans wear shoes at home and make guests wear shoes? As it turns out, the answers can be significantly different. And not only in different countries, but even the owners of neighboring apartments on the same stairwell. So let's try to figure it out on our own.



Reasons why in some countries it is not customary to take off your shoes People love simple answers. Surely someone has heard the answer: “They do not take off their shoes because they are dirty!” But I can assure you, the purity in America and Europe is familiar firsthand. The reasons for not wearing shoes are different in each case.



In addition, many Americans still change their shoes. This can be due to traditions, upbringing, way of life. Most often, parents of young children, immigrants from the East, people suffering from allergies, older Americans who find it difficult to clean.

1. Clean streets
   Streets and sidewalks in Europe and the United States have long been shampooed. Moreover, with the beginning of the spread of COVID-19, a disinfectant liquid was added to it. An ideal sewerage system also helps. Thanks to it, rainwater instantly goes into rain drains, rather than going into dirty puddles, as we have here.
   
   
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2. Car availability
   According to statistics, more than 90% of Americans own a car. And most often they move in it. Many people have nowhere to get their shoes dirty during the day.
3. Climate
   Most of the United States and Europe are located in a temperate warm climate. Snow on the streets there usually does not happen, and with the results of rains successfully cope with the system of drains.
   
   
   
   In Russia and Scandinavia, by contrast, it snows most of the year. Therefore, dirty shoes are usually taken off in the hallway.
   
   

What does etiquette say? This is the case when the rules of etiquette and practice often diverge. Etiquette experts assure that you do not need to remove your shoes at a party. Especially at formal meetings when we dress elegantly. In this case, shoes can be an integral element of the image. A guest in an evening dress and slippers will look, agree, ridiculous.



However, the rules also provide for exceptions. It is believed that guests should be guided in everything by instinct and common sense. Therefore, in each case, you need to adapt to the owners. So, if there are small children in the family, and the weather is inclement outside, it is better to bring a change of shoes.

Well, let's say you're allergic to dust or you're a fanatical champion of cleanliness. How to ask guests to take off their shoes so as not to offend? And especially not to bring the fight, as it happened in the movie “Donnie Darko”. After all, the purpose of hospitality is to make every guest feel welcome. Therefore, I would not like to present myself as such a cerberus.

If your guests aren't FBI agents with microphones in their boots, they probably don't have a good reason not to take off their shoes. The only thing left is to file the case so that they themselves want to do it.

1. Advance warning
   It doesn’t look very beautiful when the first thing you greet guests is an ultimatum to take off your shoes. To avoid embarrassment, warn everyone in advance. The request should be easy and easy. Say, for example, that there is a ban on shoes in your house. So, for the convenience of guests, it will be more convenient for them to bring their favorite slippers with them.
   
   
   
2. Convenient place to change shoes
   If you want guests to change shoes, create conditions for them. No one wants to jump on one leg while taking off their shoes. So make sure there's a place in the hallway where your friends can sit down.
   
   
   
   It is also advisable to equip a place for storing shoes. After all, the last thing your visitors would like is to jump over the mountains of abandoned shoes. A stock of disposable slippers will not hurt. This way your guests can feel at home.
   
   
3. Soft language
   So that the request to take off your shoes does not look rude, it must be formulated correctly. It is good if the emphasis will be on the convenience of guests, and not worry about your flooring. Like, 'Oh my God, we really have to do something about this dirty puddle before we go in. Let me take these shoes from you. This will make you more comfortable during your visit.”
   
   
   

People are the same everywhere, and yet they are different. Every country is different from its neighbors on the planet. These are traditions, mentality, common habits of people and much more. And now we will talk about 6 habits of Ukrainians, which everyone else seems strange.

The article and the preview used photos.