Why Wearing Shoes In Your Home Is the Grossest Thing Ever!

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Ever wonder why your grandma makes you take your shoes off before you enter her living room?

How about why not wearing shoes in a house has been something instilled in our brains since we were conscious of what a shoe was?

The same statement that we now pass on to our own families contains a much more salient issue than the tracks of dirt that are carried with us.

Why You Shouldn't Wear Shoes Inside

When considering whether or not to wear shoes inside, most people just think about whether or not their is visible dirt on their shoes.

Unfortunately, there are a number of invisible reasons you should leave your shoes at the front door as well.

Bacteria

Unfortunately, researchers at the University of Arizona found a shocking truth. There are, on average, nearly 421,000 different bacteria present on the bottoms of 96% of shoes. Basically, your shoes are a petri dish you walk on.

Among these bacteria are Klebsiella pneumonia (which causes urinary tract infections), Serratia ficaria (which causes respiratory infection), and a whole lot of E. coli.

E. coli is no fun. It can cause serious digestive issues and, in extreme cases, can even result in potentially lethal kidney damage.

Chemicals And Toxins

Studies have found that other toxins like lawn chemicals, coal tar from asphalt roads, and gasoline and other chemicals in rainwater can all be tracked into your home via your shoes as well. Though the risk of illness from these is comparatively small, it can potentially build up over time with prolonged exposure.

Dirt And Mud

Germs aside, your shoes are just plain dirty.

Wearing them inside could trek mud into the house, meaning more cleaning for you.

It's also not a great idea if you have children at home who play on the floor, and constantly put their toys or hands in their mouth.

Going barefoot is good for you

If you tend to wear slippers or shoes at home, it’s time to stop! Your feet have around 72,000 nerve endings, but they start to die when you wear shoes for too long. Take off your shoes at home and let your feet reconnect with the floor. When you’re standing, your feet are your only connection with the ground. This connection is very important for your posture, balance and alignment. If it’s cold, wear socks, but avoid wearing shoes. It’s a good idea to leave all shoes outside the house, or at the entrance, since shoes also tend to have a lot of mud, dirt and germs caked on to the bottom, so you’re better off not bringing them into the house.

How To Have A Shoe-Free Home

Having a shoe-free home isn’t as easy as just taking off your shoes when you get back to your house, you also want to encourage visitors to take off their shoes when they’re in your home.

To make it obvious that everyone should leave their shoes at the door, get a nice shoe mat and install a bench or shoe racks.

How To Clean Your Shoes

Remove excess dirt first using a soft-bristled brush (shoe brush or old toothbrush) to clean the outsole.

Mix warm water and a small amount of laundry detergent to create a slightly soapy mixture.

Apply a small amount of the water/detergent mixture to a sponge, soft cloth or soft brush and clean affected areas.

Apply a small amount of warm water to another sponge or soft cloth to remove any excess detergent.

Air dry the shoes at room temperature.

Repeat these steps to attempt to remove persistent stains. Nike doesn't recommend any alternative cleaning methods, placing your shoes in a washing machine or dryer, or using any other products on your shoes such as bleach or other chemicals.

Saddle soap can soften leather and is recommended only on leather components of shoes that aren't subjected to excessive stress. Don't use saddle soap on soccer cleats, basketball shoes, golf shoes, training shoes or any other shoes designed for activities involving lateral movement.

CLEANING INSOLES TO REDUCE SHOE ODOR

Remove the insoles from your shoes.

Follow the same shoe cleaning steps listed above.

Air dry completely before putting the insoles back in the shoes.