TikTok user Hilary Combs, who posts as @heyhilarycombs, has a question for the millions of people who take their shoes off at the door: where do you put them? She posted a video on September 25 last year asking how households that follow a no-shoes-in-the-house rule get ready in the morning, and the replies poured in fast.
In the video, Combs says she wears her shoes around her whole home and wondered how people who take their shoes off at the door manage to grab them before heading out. “Also, do you not have ADHD?” she asked, noting that wearing tennis shoes helps her carry out tasks and that she had read the behaviour could be linked to ADHD. The video racked up 39,200 likes and over 28,500 comments, with many commenters sidestepping the ADHD issue entirely to explain where their shoes actually live.
“The shoes stay by the door, babe.”
That was one common reply. Other commenters pointed to shoe racks, cabinets, closets and storage space in the entrance area. Many noted that the shoes are not stored in the bedroom at all.
The Obvious Answer
People from Canada and Europe explained that leaving outdoor shoes at the entrance is simply how things work in their homes. One commenter from Canada said daily shoes are kept in a closet at the front entrance, while another mentioned that winter footwear is generally left near the door due to the weather.
Some said they have separate shoes for inside the house. “Have you lot heard of slippers? I mean, shoes for inside?” asked one commenter. Others use indoor sneakers, sandals or slippers that they never take outside. One commenter said they have extra slippers for guests, and another explained that they take off their outdoor shoes at the door before switching to their indoor footwear.
Cleanliness Counts
The conversation also touched on why some people favour a no-shoes rule. Commenters explained that they walk through public toilets, muddy streets, snow and other outdoor areas before going into their home. One commenter stated that their shoes go into public restrooms but not into their home.
Someone else asked how people who wear shoes inside handle furniture, especially if they take off their shoes before putting their feet on the couch, and how often they clean their floors.
The ADHD Angle
Combs framed her question around her own habits and her reading that wearing tennis shoes could be linked to ADHD. She wondered how people who take their shoes off at the door manage to grab them before heading out, since she wears hers around her whole home.
The video’s success shows that viewers found the question worth answering. Commenters spent far more time explaining where their shoes go than debating whether taking them off at the door counts as a personality trait.
Where Shoes Actually Live
Many replies confirmed that bedroom closets are not the destination for shoes. Commentators said they keep their shoes in a shoe cabinet, the front hall closet, the garage or the mudroom. One referred to their entryway as a “dirty room” where people keep their shoes, coats and other items from outside before entering the rest of the house.
The Cross-Border Dimension
The replies from Canada and Europe added a cross-border dimension, showing that the habit of leaving shoes at the entrance is widespread rather than unusual.
The Takeaway
Combs’ question prompted a reminder that habits vary widely across households. What looks like a small inconvenience to one person — finding shoes before leaving — is a solved problem for most others.
The comments also showed that the no-shoes-in-the-house rule has practical solutions beyond simply walking barefoot everywhere. Indoor slippers, separate pairs for inside, and dedicated entrance storage all exist to keep the rest of the house free of dirt and mud.
For anyone wondering whether they are the only person who keeps shoes by the door, the answer is clearly no. The video drew thousands of replies, and commenters from Canada and Europe both weighed in.
Key Facts
- Video posted by @heyhilarycombs on September 25 last year
- 39,200 likes
- Over 28,500 comments
- One commenter from Canada keeps daily shoes in a front entrance closet
- Another commenter leaves winter footwear near the door due to the weather
- One commenter refers to the entryway as a “dirty room”
Source material: “Woman Asks How No-Shoes Households Get Ready Without Keeping Shoes In The Bedroom,” The Daily Dot.
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