Do I need to take off my shoes at home?

Surely you noticed that in manyin films, the main characters do not take off their shoes at the entrance to the house. This seems a little strange, especially when you consider that taking off shoes at home is also common practice not only in Russia, but also in Asian and Middle Eastern countries and households. Maybe you take off your shoes at home because you don’t want to spread the dirt on clean carpets or floors, or maybe you just want to take a break from the shoes? However, scientists say that if you take off your shoes because of concern that harmful bacteria might get into your home, you can relax. According to the authors of the study, the excitement due to dirt on shoes is exaggerated, as more urgent health risks are often ignored.

Do you wear street shoes at home?

Content

• 1 What is on the sole?
• 2 Why don't you get sick with dirty shoes?
• 3 Why not be afraid of dirt?
• 4 Is it safe to wear street shoes at home?

What is on the sole?

In 2008, researchers observed a newshoes worn by 10 participants for two weeks and found that E. coli bacteria were extremely common on the outside of the shoe. It is known that E. coli, among other diseases, causes intestinal infections and urinary tract infections, as well as meningitis. By the way, on our channel in Yandex.Zen you will find a lot of information from the world of scientific research that is useful for health.

Charles Gerba, professor and microbiologist fromUniversity of Arizona, studied how many and what types of bacteria linger on the sole of shoes. This study also showed that bacteria from shoes can be found at a great distance from the hallway and even in private space. Note that this study was not published in a peer-reviewed journal. A limited number of subjects participated in it. The study was also supported by the Rockport shoe company, which tested machine-washable shoes.

Why don't you get sick with dirty shoes?

So, the transfer of germs from shoes is possibleif you touch shoes, and then, for example, your face or mouth, or if you eat foods that have fallen on the floor. However, in the hierarchy of potential health hazards at home, dirty shoes are far from the main thing. So, according to the results of another study published in Anaerobe magazine in 2014, some daily items, such as dishwashing sponges, can be very horrifying. The fact is that residues of food and moisture remain in the sponges, thereby promoting the growth of bacteria. Experts advise changing the sponge for washing dishes at least once a month.

And if everything is clear with sneakers, then how you can walk at home in winter shoes is hard to imagine

But outside the house there are objects and surfaces towhich are often touched and rarely washed, for example, money, ATMs, buttons and handles of refueling pumps. So the bacteria with dirty shoes on the general background really does not look so scary. At the same time, pets, in frequency, dogs on their feet can also bring a lot of dirt into your home.

Why not be afraid of dirt?

Given the benefits of modern medicine,the probability of getting sick from dirty shoes is infinitely small. Jack Gilbert, the author of “Mud is Good,” believes that there are theories that suggest that taking elements outside to the room can help stimulate the immune system, especially in children. According to Gilbert, in the first year of life, physical interaction with a dog can reduce the likelihood of developing asthma in a child by 13%, while interaction with animals in a barn or farm can reduce it by 50%. Nevertheless, experts remain unanimous in their opinion: the best thing we can do for our health is to wash our hands regularly with soap, especially after walking on the street.

Still, it’s more comfortable to wear slippers at home.

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Is it safe to wear street shoes at home?

Experts consider it better to take off your shoes ifsmall children or people with allergies live at home. This is especially true for the spring-autumn season of allergies, because pollen can get from the shoes to the floors, especially to carpets. Also, the need to remove shoes is present if the human immune system is at risk - this applies to cancer patients, those who have undergone organ transplantation, as well as people with infectious diseases. In general, let's not forget that removing shoes at the entrance to the house is due to respecting the customs that have been integrated into the cultural structure of many countries. And, of course, for reasons related to hygiene.