Should You Take Your Shoes Off At Home?
Do you take your shoes off before entering your home? Do you ask guests to take off their shoes before entering?
In many cultures, this is a common custom of the household. But beyond custom, there is a significant health reason you should take off your shoes before entering a home.
Just as germs can easily spread through direct and indirect contact, your shoes can transfer germs to the floors of your home from which they can spread.
Below are some bacteria and germs you could pick up on the bottom of your shoes and potentially spread to the interior of your home:
Public Spaces
When you're walking in spaces such as a grocery store or even a public restroom, you could potentially be walking on bodily fluids such as droplets, urine or fecal germs.
Outdoor Allergens
We're all familiar with the seasonal allergies that come from tree and grass pollen. Wearing your shoes inside may bring those allergens inside, causing your symptoms to flare up.
Hazardous Chemicals
Fertilizers, insecticides and pesticides that you or your neighbors use in their yard can be another hazard you could track into your home on your shoes.
These germs are especially a concern in homes where an infant or toddler is crawling around because everything they get on their hands eventually goes into their mouth. You can also take a look at potential poisons that could be hiding in your home.
Prevention Tips
There are ways prevent bringing potentially harmful germs into your home:
- Place a floor mat near your front door. Not only will you be able to take off your shoes right when you walk in, you can also place it on something that you can disinfect on a regular basis.
- There are also useful (and quite tasteful) furniture pieces that can store your shoes next to your front door.
- Invest in a cozy pair of indoor shoes such as washable slippers or nonstick slippers.
Whether you choose to take off your shoes before entering your home is a personal decision, however, you should consider the potential risks of bringing in harmful germs.
Sources:
Roland, James. (2020, August 24). Should You Be Taking Off Your Shoes Before You Go Indoors?. Healthline. https://www.healthline.com/health/taking-off-your-shoes
Human Health Issues Related to Pesticides. EPA. https://www.epa.gov/pesticide-science-and-assessing-pesticide-risks/human-health-issues-related-pesticides
