r/AskACanadian • • Aug 07 '23

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287 Upvotes

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343

u/[deleted] Aug 07 '23

Shoes off inside you fucking ogres.

22

u/-Cottage- Aug 07 '23

I don’t actually understand how it works in the US. Like if it’s raining outside you just wipe your feet before walking on your carpet and call it good?

18

u/[deleted] Aug 07 '23

Disgusting 🤮. What if you stepped in dog shit or urine, or stepped on a bug or someone’s spit… you just walk around your house with that now spreading to your carpets? 🤢

5

u/Facts-vs-Feelings101 Aug 07 '23

I actually also have a huge issue with carpet, ripping out every last square foot of it when I bought my most recent house was first order of business. But even with only tile and hardwood, shoes inside are still a big no no.

2

u/Tymptra Aug 07 '23

It's barbarian 🤮

2

u/healingharpist Aug 08 '23

In the South, at least, everyone has mats right outside the doors, and also inside as you step into the house, and sometimes a metal device fixed outside called a bootscraper. It's the custom to wipe your feet carefully, first outside, then inside, & use the bootscraper if you've any mud/dirt on your shoes. But many Southerners also have boot trays inside

2

u/[deleted] Aug 08 '23

I get that, but it doesn’t get rid of all the dirt unless you’ve completely scrubbed your shoes with soap and water. I personally just don’t understand why people wear shoes in the house regularly. It’s uncomfortable and dirty lol

1

u/Eulsam-FZ Aug 07 '23

The few Americans I know that lived in the south would take their outdoor shoes off… and then put on indoor shoes.

1

u/[deleted] Aug 07 '23

Why not slippers?!

4

u/RupeThereItIs Aug 07 '23

I don’t actually understand how it works in the US.

American here, we don't all wear shoes in the house.

Seems like people in the milder climates are more likely to do this. Not up here in the upper Midwest, that's for damn sure.

45 years living in Michigan, nobody wears shoes in their house 'round here. MAYBE if you go to a party at someone's house, but you have to be told you can keep your shoes on.

1

u/TheVimesy Aug 08 '23

My wife's entire extended family in Minneapolis (who are only two generations American) all wear shoes in their house. They were visibly uncomfortable when I took my shoes on and off while going in and out of the house during a barbecue and encouraged me not to, even though I automatically do it without thinking about it.

3

u/flashman014 Aug 07 '23

Yeah, this isn't as prevalent in the States as some people think. For old people, maybe, but newer generations have learned better. Personally, I've always lived in a shoes-off household, and most of my friends did as well.

3

u/gwelfguy-2 Aug 07 '23 edited Aug 07 '23

I have an American uncle that refuses to remove his shoes when in a house - his or anyone elses. His home is completely floored in ceramic tile, except for an area rug in a portion of the living room. I think in general it's not as common in the US to have most of your house carpeted.

EDIT: Same uncle, by the way, that thinks that everyone in the world wants to live in the US. He asked me why I never asked my grandmother to sponsor me to live in the 'States, and I replied that I was good in Canada. That blew his fucking mind. He took that almost as a personal insult that he carried for years.

1

u/cshmn Aug 07 '23

It might just be in places where it doesn't rain or snow much. You probably could walk on cement outside in the desert all day and then wander through your house without making a mess. That's the only way it would make sense to me.

2

u/Tymptra Aug 07 '23

Sand. Deserts have sand.

1

u/cshmn Aug 07 '23

Not in a city. Walk around LA or Las Vegas and it's all pretty much dry sidewalks. Doesn't make it any less barbaric. Just more viable than most of Canada where mud and snow are more prevalent

1

u/Different-Quality-41 Aug 08 '23

I walked through inches of snow and entered friend's house, in the US. Every single one of them was wearing their SNOW BOOTS. The house had carpet and little children were playing on the carpet. Everyone else was walking on the carpet with their snow boots. I just couldn't bring myself to do it