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

ENGLEWOOD, Colo., Sept. 30, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Shoes on or shoes off? It's one of the longest running household debates, but new research from Bona, the global leader in floor care for over a century, reveals Americans have a clear preference – that is until guests arrive. While 70% of Americans prefer a shoes-off household and 81% agree ditching footwear makes a home feel cleaner, fewer than half (44%) always or usually ask guests to do the same.

That politeness may come at a cost to hardwood floors. Nearly half of Americans (46%) say they've noticed scratches, scuffs or visible wear on their floors from wearing shoes indoors. And for shoes-on households, knowing what's being tracked inside could be enough to change their mind: 56% 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 our findings show that putting that rule into practice can be another story," said Stacey Gustafson, Bona's Cleaning Expert. "Shoes can track dirt, grit, germs, allergens and other contaminants inside, impacting both the overall cleanliness of the home and condition of your floors over time. Small habits like removing shoes, paired with regular cleaning using floor-safe solutions, can make a meaningful difference in keeping floors beautiful for years to come."

More Findings from the Bona Great Shoe Debate Survey

• 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.
• What's Outside is a Concern Inside: Nearly two-thirds of Americans (65%) worry about outdoor dirt and germs being tracked into their homes on shoes.
• City Dwellers Are Most Concerned About What Comes Through the Door: 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.
• Heels Take the Heat for Damage Underfoot: When it comes to potential floor damage, 38% point to heels as the biggest culprit, followed by boots (22%), while 25% believe all types of footwear are roughly equally guilty.

The One Thing Everyone Can Agree On

After all that debate, Bona found one surprising area of common ground: nearly three in four Americans (74%) wear slippers indoors. So, Bona is calling a truce with the Bona Cozy Clean Microfiber Slipper* – part slipper, part peace offering, made with the same trusted microfiber material found in Bona's cleaning and sweeping pads. Just a few dozen pairs were crafted, with 10 up for grabs to consumers through a limited-time Instagram giveaway. U.S. residents ages 18 and older can enter for a chance to win 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. For official giveaway rules and conditions, see here.

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.

For more information on Bona cleaning tools and solutions, visit Bona.com.

*Disclaimer: Bona Cozy Clean Microfiber Slippers are intended for dry use only and should not be used while applying Bona Floor Cleaner or other cleaning products. Use floor care products separately and according to package directions.

Methodology

Survey was conducted by Pollfish for Bona, surveying 1,000 U.S. adults who have at least one room with hardwood floors. The survey explored Americans' attitudes and behaviors related to wearing shoes in the home, concerns about dirt and germs being tracked indoors, perceptions of shoe-related floor wear and the factors that could influence consumers to change their footwear habits indoors. The survey was conducted in August 2026.

About Bona North America
Bona is a global, family-owned company dedicated to creating beautiful floors since 1919. With global headquarters in Malmö, Sweden, Bona North America supplies products for installing, renovating, maintaining and restoring premium floors. The first in the industry to offer a full system of waterborne hardwood floor finishing and floor care products certified for indoor air quality by GREENGUARD, Bona products can be found throughout the U.S. and Canada. From EPA Safer Choice Certified floor cleaners to a beautiful array of stains and high durability finishes, consumers, distributors and contractors trust Bona. For more information, please contact Bona at (800) 872- 5515 or www.bona.com.

Media Contact:
Ashton Ebersole
aebersole@360pr.plus

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SOURCE Bona US