TL;DR
Get kitchen gear delivered free with Prime
- Fast, free delivery on millions of items
- Prime Video, Amazon Music and more included
- Member-only deals all year
Good Housekeeping cleaning analyst Noah Pinsonnault says shoes worn indoors can carry dirt and grit onto floors and contribute to wear, particularly on hardwood. A Bona survey of 1,000 adults with at least one hardwood-floored room found that 70% favored a shoes-off household rule, though the report does not establish that every home needs one.
A Good Housekeeping report says wearing outdoor shoes inside can bring dirt, grit and debris onto floors and may contribute to floor wear, citing Noah Pinsonnault, a home care and cleaning reviews analyst at the Good Housekeeping Institute. The report also points to a Bona survey in which 70% of 1,000 adults with at least one hardwood-floored room said they favored taking shoes off at home.
Pinsonnault said shoes can carry particles from outside onto indoor floors, adding to cleaning work. He also said sand and small stones caught in shoe soles can scratch and wear flooring over time, particularly hardwood. The report does not say that all shoes or floor types cause the same degree of damage.
The survey, commissioned by Bona, a floor-care products company, covered 1,000 adults who had at least one room with hardwood floors. Bona reported that 81% said removing shoes makes a home cleaner, while 65% expressed concern that shoes could bring dirt and germs inside. These are respondents’ views, not measurements of contamination or cleaning outcomes.
On guest policies, Bona reported that 44% always or typically ask visitors to remove their shoes. Good Housekeeping’s report presents a no-shoes routine as one option for reducing tracked-in debris and protecting floors, while noting that the decision about visitors can depend on the household and occasion.
How Shoes Affect Floors and Cleaning
The advice matters to households seeking to limit routine cleaning or reduce wear on their floors. Outdoor footwear can bring in grit and small particles, which Pinsonnault says may scratch flooring over time; removing shoes at the entrance is a practical way to limit that source of debris.
The report does not establish that a shoes-off rule prevents illness or guarantees cleaner floors. The survey records opinions from people in homes with hardwood, rather than testing the amount of dirt, germs or damage in homes with different footwear rules. Readers should treat the findings as guidance on household habits, not proof that every home will see the same results.
hardwood floor shoe scuff protectors
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
Survey Findings Behind the Advice
The report combines an expert comment from the Good Housekeeping Institute’s Home Care & Cleaning Lab with survey results supplied by Bona. The analyst’s statements address how debris in shoe soles can affect floors; the survey describes what a specific group of respondents said about their own household practices and concerns.
That distinction matters: the survey included adults whose homes had at least one hardwood-floored room, so its percentages should not be generalized automatically to all households. The source does not provide details such as the survey field dates, its margin of error or how respondents were recruited. The report’s author also describes choosing to remove shoes at home, but that personal practice is separate from the analyst’s attributed flooring advice.
indoor shoe covers for hardwood floors
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
Limits of the Survey and Advice
The source does not state when Bona conducted its survey, how participants were selected, or the survey’s margin of error. Its findings reflect responses from 1,000 adults with a hardwood-floored room, not a direct comparison of homes that do and do not allow shoes indoors.
The report also gives no measurements of germs tracked inside, cleaning time saved or floor damage avoided. It does not establish whether outdoor shoes present a meaningful health risk in a particular home, or how much the effects vary with footwear, weather, flooring material and how often floors are cleaned.
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
Choosing a Household Shoe Policy
The report offers no announced follow-up study or new policy. For now, its practical takeaway is limited: households concerned about tracked-in grit or hardwood wear can choose to leave outdoor shoes by the entrance, while recognizing that the source does not prescribe a rule for every home.
People deciding whether to ask guests to remove shoes can set a policy that fits their space and hosting plans. The report’s survey indicates that some respondents routinely make the request, but it does not say that guests should be required to do so or assess alternatives such as indoor-only footwear.
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
Key Questions
Does the report say shoes should never be worn indoors?
No. It reports that shoes can bring in debris and may wear down floors, particularly hardwood, but does not establish a universal rule for every household.
What did the Bona survey find?
Bona surveyed 1,000 adults with at least one hardwood-floored room. The company reported that 70% favored taking shoes off at home, 81% said doing so makes a home cleaner, and 44% always or typically ask visitors to remove shoes.
Does the survey prove shoes bring germs into the home?
No. Bona reported that 65% of respondents were concerned about shoes bringing dirt and germs inside. That figure describes respondents’ concerns; the report does not provide test results measuring germs.
Why might shoes affect hardwood floors?
Good Housekeeping analyst Noah Pinsonnault said sand and small stones caught in shoe soles can scratch and wear flooring over time, particularly hardwood. The report does not quantify the damage or how quickly it occurs.
Source: rss
Fall Picks
fall essentials
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
