Shoes on at home or shoes off? If you care about your health, it's a no-brainer
It is a truth almost universally unacknowledged in the UK that wearing shoes in the home is gross. More than gross, actually – there's scientific evidence it could have serious health consequences and even, if you want to come over all dramatic about it, be life-threatening. And yet I can count on the fingers of no hands the people I know who ask me to remove my shoes when I visit.
Until now this has been an uncomplicatedly divisive subject: you were either a Shoes Off household, or you weren't. But a secret underground movement is gathering pace – the Shoes On households who wish they were Shoes Off, but are worried about the uptight implications of rolling out that policy. Can you be a Shoes Off household while avoiding Shoes Off household energy?
The Shoes Off brigade get a bad rap, given that they're essentially right – outdoor shoes carry bacteria, allergens and toxic chemicals that could lead to E coli, MRSA or various deadly bloodstream infections. You're glazing over, aren't you? Maybe this will grab your attention: 96% of shoes tested positive for coliform bacteria, which is commonly found in faecal matter, in a University of Arizona study. Everyone will presumably now try to convince themselves they're in the 4% club but although maths is far from my strong point, I'm fairly sure we can't all be. In other words, we'd apparently rather let our friends track crap all over our homes than demand they go shoe-free, because that seems so control-freaky and joyless.
The other problem with Shoes Off households is that most of them don't give you advance warning, meaning you could end up barefoot in public without the maintenance essential for that to be a mutually non-horrifying experience – or wearing your worst socks. Your shoes might be the key element that ties your whole look together, so you're a fashion disaster without them. Also, Shoes Off households can't win with their implementation methods. If they offer communal slippers, yuck. If they don't, eeek.
What Shoes Off households need is a rebrand, for somebody seen as fun and relaxed, but trustworthy, to out themselves as one of them. It's a tall order, because it would have to be exactly the right person, universally adored, no less than national treasure status for sure. No pressure, Olivia Colman, but our lives are in your hands.
Polly Hudson is a freelance writer
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BBC News
3 days ago
- BBC News
How di simple habit of removing your shoes wen you enta house fit contribute to your good health
My mother always get one rule: no shoes inside her house. E no mata who you be. Family member, neighbour or guest, you gatz comot your shoe bifor you enta house. Wen I dey small, I bin tink say na one of di many manners. But as I grow older (and wiser), I realise say no be obsession wit cleanliness. Na about health, safety and hygiene. Cleanliness dey often associated wit dirty wey eye fit see. But wen, if na shoes, wetin dey under di surface dey microscopic and dem dey far more dangerous dan mud or dry grass. Outdoor shoes dey carry bacteria, allergens, and toxic chemicals, e dey lead to serious health problems. Tink about wia your shoes go evri day: public restrooms, sidewalks, hospital hallways, and lawns wey dem don treat wit chemicals like herbicides and insecticides to control weeds and pests. According to one study by di University of Arizona in di United States, 96% of shoes test positive for coliform bacteria, wey dem dey commonly find inside poo poo. And even more worryingly, 27% contain "E. coli," one bacteria linked to various infections, some of dem dey potentially deadly. While some strains of E. coli dey harmless, odas dey produce Shiga toxins, wey fit cause bloody diarrhoea and lead to hemolytic uremic syndrome, one potentially deadly condition wey fit cause kidney failure. Children under five dey at risk due to dia developing immune systems and di fact say dem dey always put dia hands for dia mouths. But E. coli no be di only germ wey dey enta your living room. Shoes dey also collect clostridium, one bacteria wey pipo know to dey cause painful and sometimes severe diarrhea, and Staphylococcus aureus, including MRSA, one drug-resistant "superbug" wey fit cause deep skin infections, pneumonia, or even deadly bloodstream infections. No be only germs Di health risks go beyond bacteria. Shoe also dey act as carrier of chemicals and allergens. Studies don show say outdoor footwear fit contain pesticides, herbicides and heavy metals like lead, e dey pose serious health risks, especially for young children and pets. Exposure to lead, wey dem find inside dust or soil, dey harmful for children becos e fit affect dia brain development and cause lifelong cognitive problems. In addition, allergens such as pollen fit stick to di di soles, causing allergies and respiratory problems. Even more alarming, di asphalt sealants wey dem dey use on roads contain carcinogenic compounds. One U.S. study reveal say di dem fit find dis chemicals indoors and e go dey for in di indoor dust, sometimes at levels 37 times higher dan di one wey dem find outdoors. And e dey spend di most time for ground. Children and pets. Children crawl, play and dey often put dia hands to dia mouths. Pets dey lick dia paws afta dem walk on contaminated surfaces. Wearing outdoor shoes indoors fit increase dia exposure to harmful substances. Clean floors, healthy homes Based on my evidence, my mother rules no dey bad anymore. In fact, na one of di simplest and most effective public health measures you fit adopt for your house. Comot your shoes wen you enta, no be only dirt you dey prevent from staining di carpet, but you also significantly reduce your family exposure to germs and harmful chemicals. And e no dey difficult to do. Leave one space for shoes near di entrance. You fit also put shoe rack or basket, or even comfortable slippers for guests. To tell pipo to comot dia shoe before dem enta your house fit dey somehow at first, but e dey easy to forget say sometin as routine as to enta di house fit carry hidden risks. *Manal Mohammed na Professor of Medical Microbiology at di University of Westminster, UK. We publish dis article in The Conversation and reproduce am here under di Creative Commons license.
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