There are plenty of things that bring about division in people, like whether pineapple belongs on pizza or the pronunciation of “GIF”. Another common controversy is shoes, where we have two types of people: those who wear their shoes inside the house and those who don’t.
How about you? Does the act of wearing shoes inside homes seem normal to you? Or disgust you beyond belief? You might be surprised to know that this is a varied tradition across different cultures – for instance, in Spain and Italy, it is considered rude to walk barefoot in someone’s home, while it’s important to take shoes off in places like Hong Kong, India, Japan, and Singapore to avoid tracking dirt inside homes. Some places like Japan and parts of South Asia also offer slippers exclusively worn inside homes. As well, many American and Canadian homes are accustomed to wearing shoes inside, while schools often require students to wear “indoor shoes” during the winter.
Despite what our different traditions or preferences may be, what exactly is on the soles of our feet that we bring into homes? And what is the effect, if any, on our health down the road?
Researchers at the University of Houston back in 2014 found Clostridium difficile (or C. diff) in common household areas such as in floor dust, the toilet, and 40% of shoes. C.diff is a bacterium that, like its name implies, is quite difficult to get rid of, since it’s resistant to most antibiotics. While found in nature, C. diff infection can cause a multitude of sick-like symptoms such as diarrhea, fever, and nausea.
As well, researchers found that 93% of shoes worn for more than a month had fecal bacteria on them (tracked from things such as public washroom floors and pet waste), and some strains of E. coli. Allergens such as pollen and mold are also among those being tracked into our humble abodes.
Just knowing what we’re bringing into our homes is unsettling, imagine knowing how much you’re bringing in. Well, that’s what the researchers did. They quantified everything that our shoes carried into our homes and the numbers were disturbing. Researchers at the University of Arizona found nine different species of bacteria on the bottoms of shoes containing 421,000 different units. If you step into something and don’t clean your shoes after, they can contain up to 66 million organisms.
To reiterate, the effects these shoe-loving bacteria have on our health is varied and can be dire. Pollen can affect those with allergies and the numerous bacteria can cause various health symptoms such as stomach and intestinal problems. Small children are also at risk of acquiring these symptoms, especially if they are toddlers who touch everything and put anything in their mouths.
All of this being said, are there any solutions to avoiding shoe-loving bacteria? The simplest answer is to not wear your shoes inside the house, making it less likely to track these nasty bacteria and allergens into homes. You could always wear slippers exclusive for the inside of your house, or socks to keep your feet warm during colder weather. Less carpeting is also an option, as carpets tend to harbour more organisms that survive longer. Researchers also suggest actually washing your shoes in the washing machine or using a disinfectant to get rid of harmful bacteria, which one could do regardless of whether or not they actually wear those shoes inside their homes. Walking barefoot is also an option, and relatively safe to do in homes if floors are cleaned regularly. It can actually lead to benefits such as improved posture, balance, and foot mechanics.
On the flip side, some people would rather enforce etiquette when guests arrive. Many may not feel comfortable taking their shoes off for various reasons. In that case, having slippers for guests to wear is always an option.
If you can’t walk around barefoot then this can be your excuse to buy a new pair of indoor shoes. The most important thing to keep in mind is that germs collect everywhere and can easily make their way into homes – our shoes just happen to be more susceptible to them and are sometimes disregarded when considering cleanliness. It’s crucial to keep clean as much as possible – for everyone’s health and wellness.
By: Jareeat Purnava
Please note that opinions expressed are the author’s own. They do not necessarily reflect the views and values of The Blank Page.
