A habit 70 per cent of Aussies do is actually pretty gross, according to science
By Rachael Gavin|
The practice of removing shoes when entering the home is more common in some countries than others.
In Australia, you're either a shoes on household or you aren't, and according to a Nine.com.au reader survey most of us are the former.
A poll of 671 readers found that 70 per cent of people don't expect shoes to be taken off before entering a house.
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Those who keep their shoes on mentioned feeling that it was rude to ask someone to take their shoes off, or that they only expect it if the shoes are visibly dirty or could damage the floor.
However, it's what you can't see on the bottom of shoes that might shock some in that 70 per cent group into changing their minds.
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A 2008 study found that 96 per cent of shoes have traces of fecal bacteria on them?.
"The common occurrence (96 per cent) of coliform and E. coli bacteria on the outside of the shoes indicates frequent contact with fecal material, which most likely originates from floors in public restrooms or contact with animal fecal material outdoors," Dr Charles Gerba said of the findings.
"Our study also indicated that bacteria can be tracked by shoes over a long distance into your home or personal space after the shoes were contaminated with bacteria."
That's in addition to all the dirt and germs from the road, footpath, lawn and soil we walk on outside, and the dust and crumbs inside.
While the risk of getting an illness or infection from wearing shoes inside is low, you might want to consider taking them off before entering in some cases.
"Unless you remove your shoes or clean them, you can transfer the bacteria indoors. This is 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," Cindy Gellner, MD, a pediatrician at University of Utah Health, said.
Bacteria on shoes can be reduced by washing them with detergent, or by leaving them by the door and going barefoot or wearing in-house only shoes like slippers.
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Another reason to take shoes off before entering a house is that it could make the home easier to keep clean.
Though shoes might not look like they have dirt on them, they often have tiny particles of dust and dirt that are hard to see.
These bits of dirt contribute to the gritty debris on floors and carpet, which most of us don't notice until we vacuum and mop.
?There are of course other reasons to take shoes off, including cultural beliefs and the health benefits of walking barefoot.
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On the other hand, or perhaps we should say foot, keeping shoes on is convenient, provides exposure to germs, which can be beneficial to immunity, avoids awkward interactions with guests, provides support for feet and prevent slips and falls.
And if you're OK with keeping shoes on, regular floor cleaning, particularly if you have floorboards which are easy to disinfect, ?can help minimise and germ exposure and dirt build-up that can occur.
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