Why don't Americans take off their shoes when they enter the apartment/house?

[boy_with_panties]

I'm Swedish and here you ALWAYS take off your shoes. In American TV shows they never take off their shoes when they come in after being out, and in videos of Americans traveling to other countries they can say "in this country you take off your shoes when you go in. "

[antelope51]

American who's been to Sweden exactly once...
My impression from Skansen is that you had a history of very well-insulated houses. Sod roofs, those big ceramic stoves... you wouldn't freeze if you took your shoes off, and you wouldn't spend all day hauling wood in from outside and chopping it because it burned more efficiently than anything we've had.

And in places like Texas and the southwest... you could end up with poisonous snakes or scorpions in your boots if you took them off.

Just a guess. After traveling to other countries, I don't get why it's not a thing here either except that everyone has complicated footwear to get on and off.

[dynamicyandere]

I’m not sure why. It creates an easily avoidable mess. It’s going to take more vacuuming, mopping, and cleaning in general when wearing shoes in the house. Leaving one’s shoes at the entrance is a very simple solution. I’m not sure why it’s not widely practiced. I suppose it’s convenient initially, being able to go in and out of the house without removing your shoes — it saves time. But, then it becomes inconvenient when it’s time to clean.

[jshm2]

In Arab and Asian culture too, it's good manners to take of your shoes when entering homes.

Americans just aren't very civilised. They've only been around for a couple of centuries, so they are barely a people, let alone one with a developed culture.

[OlderAndWiser]

Your question is "why don't Americans act like Swedes?"

[boy_with_panties]

No, It's not just in Sweden you take your shoes off.

[OlderAndWiser]

Is there any reason to expect that people from other countries would do the same things that Swedes do?

[Crankor]

Its usually if there floors are worth soong so. Like I'd they are already old and ratty, taking shoes off will just leave you with black feet or socks. Though some people just don't care because they gave kids and dogs running around all the time

[andreasderjuengere]

Because the others could not stand the smell? :D