Samoa and Tonga: Polynesians take off their shoes before entering a home

A Maori shoe design by Tu Ake 👹

In a Samoan and Tongan's home it's customary to take off one's shoes before entering or it can be considered dirty living. The custom runs strong today as it did in the past and it looks to hold for the future, regardless if a family's floor is spotless. 👺 Shoes are taken off before entering a Maori wharenui as well.

The bottom lining of shoes today serves important functions like traction and protection, however, not only does it collect dust and other germs but it can collect “many layers” of leftover grind from all the many surfaces touched outside of the house. That mixing of grind and dirt when touched on carpet gets pushed down deep in the threads and makes cleaning over time much harder. 

Carpeting is the greatest dirt collector inside a home and it's recommended today by designers to not use carpeting in most places within the house. If you're Polynesian, wood flooring should be a home requirement 👌. Having large families and celebrations, wood flooring, or something with a smooth hard surface is a must. 

"This applies to sandals as well, sorry folks, but ya gotta take those sandals and shoes off! Better always wear clean socks with no holes with your shoes too or ya gonna get laughed at. This can be a really great thing actually, my girl loves to show off her newest cute pair of socks. She has Holidays socks, cute heart socks, designer socks, she loves to dress well"

If you live in an Apartment complex be a bit aware of what you're walking into. The standard timeframe for changing out the carpets in an Apartment complex is supposed to be every 2-3 years however many complex managers do not do this. If the carpet is old looking at all 💥 consider another place. Materials in carpets wear down quickly and lose their form becoming a barrier that requires daily cleaning.

The simple requirement of taking one's shoes off can greatly help with the up-keep of a home over several years. The taking off of shoes before entering a home is probably one of the oldest "Home Health Tactics". In the island homelands of Samoa and Tonga it is a more strict practice.

Ways to help Guests 
1. When designing your home make the front entrance of the home a step lower (A low area entrance). Also if possible, design the entrance way opened enough where people have a sitting area to take shoes on-and-off.

2. Ask guests to come through the back-entrance where a patio can hold shoes if you're having an event where people might not wish to shoe-off in front of others.

3. Have spray 💨 ready for people who wish to deodorize their shoes and socks. This will greatly help those who feel uncomfortable.

4. Have replacement house shoes ready for guests at the door. You can have separate pairs for men and women if you like. It doesn't matter what house sandal or house shoe brand you use, just make sure they're comfortable, closed toe tip, and not too hot or heavy.

Posted in: Environment,Family,Mental