28 Sep Why Removing Your Shoes Before Entering your House is a Good Idea

Some people demand visitors remove their shoes before entering while others feel it’s impolite to request that of guests. Removing your shoes in some cultures is a sign of respect, but in the U.S. the battle rages on about shoe removal.

Researchers at the University of Houston and the University of Arizona conducted separate studies that yielded some very interesting results. The following are just some of the reasons why you may want to begin leaving footwear at the door.

Bacteria, Fungi and Viruses

According to research from the University of Arizona’s College of Public Health, shoe soles are dirtier than toilet seats and fecal matter in some form is present on nearly 100 percent of shoe soles. The University of Houston study found the Clostridium difficile bacterium on shoe soles that’s particularly nasty and resistant to most antibiotics.

Transference

When you wear your shoes directly into the house, the bacteria, fungi, viruses, chemicals, and other environmental toxins that have adhered to the soles of your shoes are transferred throughout the house. Biological forms live on shoe soles longer than almost anywhere else, since it’s constantly being replaced as you walk. That’s an especially disturbing fact if you have kids that play on the floor and pets.

Retention

Carpeting traps those undesirable elements – along with dirt – and retains a percentage of them no matter how vigorously you clean. Even with tile or hardwood floors that are typically more hygienic, bacteria, viruses, and fungi can become trapped in grooves. Few people have time to vacuum, mop, or steam clean every day.

Healthy Practices

When leaving shoes at the door, it’s a good idea to keep a washable mat or tray there in which to deposit footwear. Clean the mat/tray frequently. If you’re going to ask guests to forgo their shoes, it’s just good manners to provide them with “booties” to wear. They may have been walking barefoot or in stocking feet in environments with high percentages of the very elements you’re trying to minimize in your home.