I always take off my shoes the moment I walk through the front door. I don’t feel comfortable wearing shoes in the house, either my own or someone else’s. I don’t want to step in dust or mud after vacuuming the house. Of course, that’s not me.
In addition to keeping your floors clean, there’s another reason you should avoid wearing shoes around the house, the researchers said. Dr. Charles Gerba, a professor of microbiology and environmental science at the University of Arizona, explained, “When shoes are worn for more than a month, 93 percent of the soles are covered with fecal bacteria. This bacteria comes from pet feces on the ground outdoors or on the floor of public restrooms.
There is another type that researchers have found on the soles of shoes. E. coli. Gerba added, “Shoes move around quite a lot of microbes, so we track them throughout the house.” She also explains that the cracks and crevices in the soles of shoes are an environment where bacteria can easily linger for long periods of time.
If you suffer from seasonal allergies, be sure to take off your shoes before entering the house. Shoes can harbor allergens such as mold and pollen. Hard floors are easier to clean, but when shoes come in contact with carpet, bacteria can stick around longer and be harder to remove.
It can be common for people to rush into a house and not have time to take off their shoes. However, it’s generally best to take off your shoes when you walk in the front door. Your floors (and your health) will thank you for it.
There are two kinds of people in the world: those who wear shoes in the house and those who don’t. Each has its pros and cons, but there is one clear reason why you should take your shoes off at home. That’s “poop.”
Dr. Charles Gerba, a professor of microbiology and environmental science at the University of Arizona, studied the bacteria on the bottom of shoes and found that it can track all kinds of nasty things around the house.
He told TODAY Home about his findings: “If you wear shoes for more than a month, 93 percent of people will have fecal bacteria on the bottom of their shoes.” Mr. Gerba attributed this contamination to pet feces on the ground outside and toilet spills on the floors of public restrooms.
We also found E. coli,” he added, according to the CDC, “E. coli is usually harmless, but some strains can make people sick, causing diarrhea, urinary tract infections, respiratory problems and pneumonia.
Shoes make it easy for microbes to move around and chase it around [the house],” Gerba said, adding that cracks in the soles of shoes make it easier for bacteria to accumulate.
He notes that if you have small children who crawl or put things in their mouths, this can definitely become a problem.
