This week’s blog will cover something that is disgusting when you think about it. It has nothing to do with ultrasound and everything to do with your health. Many of us do it and have done it for years. Maybe it’s time to reconsider something many of us don’t think about.
CLEANLINESS
In many Asian cultures, removing your shoes before entering a home is a common practice. Keeping them on indoors is considered unclean and disrespectful. Once we dig a little deeper, it makes sense and it’s something we might consider doing.
LIGHT CARPET
In our home, I chose a light colored carpet for the bedrooms. It is beautiful however dirt really shows. I try to take my shoes off before I enter a carpeted area although I often forget. I don’t think twice about wearing my shoes on the tiled area. Maybe now I will.
GROSS
Chat GPT reminded me why removing your shoes upon entering your home matters. Wearing shoes inside the house can introduce a plethora of health risks. Shoes pick up bacteria like E coli, Clostridium, and salmonella from public places, streets and bathrooms. A study by the University of Arizona found that of the 96% of bacteria on the soles of your shoes, 39% contained fecal bacteria. These microbes can transfer from floors to surfaces increasing the risks of infection especially for babies, people with allergies and anybody with a compromised immune system. That “5 second rule” when you drop food on the floor and can still eat it if you pick it up before 5 seconds is just nasty.
THERE’S MORE
Your shoes can track in pesticides from your lawn or a park. Oils and tars from asphalt collect on the bottom of your shoes as well resulting in that filthy carpet and hard flooring. Repeated exposure can accumulate indoors and be harmful to your health.
THINK ABOUT THE LITTLES
Crawling babies as well as pets who lick their paws could get exposed to allergens, toxins and filth from your shoes. Pollen, mold spores and dust can all attach to your soles worsening allergies and asthma symptoms.
I’LL NEVER REMEMBER
I’ve been wearing shoes inside my home for 62 years. Changing to a no shoe policy won’t be easy. In my opinion, it’s awkward to ask guests to remove their shoes upon entering our home. If that’s something you’d like to consider here are a few suggestions.
- Place a bench shoe rack or mat near the entrance so guests can easily take off and put on their shoes.
- Consider a small sign or welcome mat that says please remove your shoes.
- Offer indoor slippers or socks in a basket for guests.
HDD
The more you adapt to the idea of no shoes indoors, you may notice a significant reduction in filth and possible illness that wearing shoes inside causes. John’s podiatrist may disagree as he thinks going shoeless around the house is not good for your feet. Perhaps slippers or house shoes? You decide. At HDD, we are here to help. If diagnostic ultrasound is