Okay, I will be the first to admit that I am a germophobe. Yes, sometimes it probably can be perceived as over the top, but I don’t care! The one thing that I am absolutely adamant about is taking your shoes off before stepping foot into my house.
Seriously, just think about all the places we travel each day. From school or daycare, to restaurants, playgrounds, and not to mention the infamous public restrooms. I could go on and on, but you get my drift. As a healthcare professional, I have a pair of shoes just for work.
If you aren’t convinced yet, let me share my top 3 reasons why I don’t allow shoes into my house.
1. Bacteria
The ground is definitely one of the dirtiest places there is. There are high levels of bacteria that latch onto the soles of shoes.
Ten participants in a study conducted by the University of Phoenix wore brand new shoes for 2 weeks, before being tested for bacteria. Large numbers of bacteria were found both on the bottom and inside of shoes; averaging 421,000 units of bacteria on the outside of the shoe and 2,887 on the inside. One of the bacteria found was E. coli (Escherichia coli), known to cause intestinal and urinary tract infections, meningitis and diarrheal disease. The others being Klebsiella pneumonia, a common source for wound and bloodstream infections as well as pneumonia; and Serratia ficaria, which could lead to infection in the respiratory tract and wounds.
A University of Houston study found that 39% of shoes contained bacteria C. diff (Clostridium difficile), which is a public health threat resistant to a number of antibiotics. This bacteria can cause multiple health conditions, including diarrhea.
2. Toxins and Allergens
There is no way to avoid tracking pesticides, tar, lead, mold, fecal matter or even cleaning chemicals into your home. Unless, you slip your shoes off at the door.
Do you have seasonal or specific allergies? While pollen is non-toxic, these micro particles can also be brought in on your shoes.
3. Dirt
My kids are constantly playing on the floor. While my kids are older now, they once put their fingers and toys in their mouths, which at one point touched the floor. All the more reason to keep shoes at the door. Besides the usual floor debris (dust and kid spills) I don’t have to clean the floors as often.
