Indoor Contaminant Experts Explain Why Wearing Shoes in the House is Gross

A lot of people do not clean their shoes at the door. For many, doing that is the last thing on their minds when they get home.

The environmental chemist spent ten years studying the indoor environment and the contaminants that people are exposed to outside their homes. The contaminant experts shed light on whether to shoe or de-shoe when one gets home. The Conversation reports that the experts agree on leaving the filth outside the door.

Contaminants at home

The matter accumulating at home includes dust, dirt from the people living in the place, and the hair of skin from pets. A third is from outside the home, either blown or trampled in the shoe bottom.

Some of the microorganisms found on the shoes and floors are drug-resistant pathogens. It also includes germs that are difficult to treat. It also has cancer-causing toxins from asphalt road residue and endocrine-disrupting lawn chemicals.

Other harmful substances include antibiotic-resistant genes, disinfectant chemicals used at home, microplastics, perfluorinated chemicals, radioactive elements.

Researchers also found a strong connection between lead inside the home and the yard in the soil. They believe that the dirt is blown from the yard or brought in the shoes or through the pets.

In 2008, a study by the University of Arizona said around 421,000 types of bacteria were in shoes. Gets Sneak wrote that these bacteria cause infections in the stomach, eyes, and lungs.

Leaving shoes at the door

Contamination research experts said it is best to leave the shoes by the door. Leaving the shoes at the entry mat also leaves the potentially harmful pathogens. Preventing the contaminants from getting into homes and eventually affecting the health of everyone is far better than getting sick and the treatments. 

Experts also suggest leaving indoor shoes inside the home and never wearing them outside.

Read Also: Cleaning Experts Share How to Clean Up Tile Grout

Preventing "sterile house syndrome"

Sterile house syndrome is when there is an increased rate of allergies among children due to overly clean households.

Studies indicate that some dirt develops the immune system and reduces allergy risk. However, there are fewer gross ways to do than walking inside with dirty shoes.

The contamination experts said that while it is best to walk outside and enjoy the outdoors, just do not bring the shoes inside the home.

Asians leave shoes at the door

According to South China Morning Post, most private homes in Asia maintain a shoes-off policy at the doorstep. In areas like Hongkong, it is expected to find shoes at the entrance or near the door than bedrooms or bathrooms. Chinese superstitions enforce that wearing outdoor shoes inside is believed to introduce "bad luck," a metaphor of germs, into the homes. Chinese find it unusual to go barefoot indoors. However, slippers or rubber sandals are worn instead.

In Thailand, locals will ask to remove shoes when entering homes or sacred places like temples. Hence, in Asian countries, wearing sandals or flipflops is widely accepted.

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