Bona Survey Shows Preference for Shoes Off Indoors

ENGLEWOOD, Colo., Sept. 30, 2026 /CourierPR/ -- Shoes-off is preferred for 70% of Americans, but hospitality has a way of changing the rules when guests come over, despite the damage it can cause to hardwood floors. According to a recent survey conducted by Bona, the global leader in floor care for over a century, 70% of Americans prefer a shoes-off household, and 81% agree that ditching footwear makes a home feel cleaner. However, fewer than half (44%) always or usually ask guests to do the same.

The survey, conducted by Pollfish and surveying 1,000 U.S. adults who have at least one room with hardwood floors, also revealed that nearly half of Americans (46%) have noticed scratches, scuffs, or visible wear on their floors from wearing shoes indoors. Furthermore, 56% of those surveyed say learning that dirt and grit can contribute to floor wear would make them more likely to leave their shoes at the door.

Americans clearly understand the benefits of leaving shoes at the door, but putting that rule into practice can be another story. Nearly two-thirds of Americans (65%) worry about outdoor dirt and germs being tracked into their homes on shoes. Nearly three in four urban respondents (74%) worry about dirt and germs being tracked indoors, compared with 64% of suburban and 57% of rural respondents.

The survey also found that the house rule runs in the family: Among shoes-off households, 40% cite family habit as a reason, suggesting the house rules we grow up with have a way of following us into our own homes. Heels take the heat for potential floor damage, with 38% pointing to heels as the biggest culprit, followed by boots (22%).

Despite the preference for shoes-off, nearly three in four Americans (74%) wear slippers indoors. To celebrate this finding, Bona is offering a limited-time giveaway of the Bona Cozy Clean Microfiber Slipper. The slipper, part slipper and part peace offering, is made with the same trusted microfiber material found in Bona's cleaning and sweeping pads. Only 10 pairs of the slipper will be up for grabs, and U.S. residents ages 18 and older can enter the giveaway by following @Bonafloorcare on Instagram, commenting "shoes on" or "shoes off," and tagging a friend to cast their vote on Bona's giveaway post, now through October 14, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. MDT.

Whether you're Team Shoes On, Team Shoes Off, or somewhere in between, keeping hardwood floors looking their best starts with a consistent cleaning routine. Regularly removing everyday dirt, grit, and messes can help prevent buildup and wear over time. Bona offers a range of floor care tools and solutions to make that routine easier, including Hardwood Floor Cleaners, Hard-Surface Floor Cleaners, and the new Spray Mop Air.