Scientists Discover Why You Should Take Off Your Shoes Before Entering Your
Home
It
was only when I had a Japanese guest visit that I realized the importance
of taking off my shoes before entering the house. As many Japanese eat on
tatami mats on the floor and sleep on futons that are rolled out at
night, it seems perfectly logical to keep shoes at the door. In fact, this is
the norm in most Asian countries. Yet, interestingly, many European and
American families never bother to insist on leaving shoes at the door.
Now,
science is backing up this hygienic practice and revealing that what you pick up on your
shoes is not just a few germs and dirt, but rather nasty customers who should
never be allowed into your home! This is particularly important when you have
toddlers rolling around the floor.
Which nasty
bacteria are you bringing home?
Researchers
at the University
of Houston found that about 40%
of shoes were carrying the nasty “C.diff” bacterium, which stands for
Clostridium difficile. These spores are not at all easy to treat.
The
study found that this C.diff was not only on shoe soles (about 40% of the total
examined), but also spread around other household areas such as toilets, tops
and surfaces, and wherever floor dust was found. These spores can live on dry
surfaces for a long time.
The
problem with treating an infection caused by C.diff is that it is resistant
to most antibiotics. This can cause the
bacterium to proliferate and make recovery very difficult for the patient.
The linings in the intestines are attacked, resulting in colitis. Many people
in hospitals pick up the C.diff infection and it is becoming more difficult to
treat.
Now,
you don’t want this bacteria as a guest in your home, do you? Off with the
shoes and on with the slippers.
What else is on
those shoe bottoms?
Well,
there will be a disgusting quantity of dust, bird droppings, dog poop, leafy
debris and other unwanted matter. The leafy stuff acts as a breeding ground for
bacteria.
“That
means potentially harmful bacteria can survive on your shoes for days or even
weeks.”- Dr. Reynolds, microbiologist, University of Arizona
The University
of Arizona decided to assess
the quantity of bacteria and they were not disappointed – they
found 421,000 different units! These can be categorized into 9 different
strains. They are the cause of infections in the eyes, lungs and stomach. Two
of these are certainly worth mentioning so you can reach for your slippers the
moment you get home.
The
first one is known as E.coli (a
pathogenic organism)and it makes up about a
third of all bacteria so it is a heavyweight. E.coli strains are mostly
harmless, thank goodness, but the nasty ones (like E.coli 0157:H7) are not.
They often cause severe stomach and intestinal problems leading to
vomiting and diarrhea. Now, you might think the risk of contacting the E.coli
bacteria from your shoes is minimal. But let me ask you a question: How many
times did you visit the restrooms at work today?
Another
type of bacteria the researchers found was the Klebsiella
pneumoniae which is known
to cause severe damage to the lungs and lead to pneumonia. The death rate
from this bacteria is high at 50% and can reach 100% when people are suffering
from alcoholism.
What you can do
to have a healthier and cleaner home
There
are so many advantages in taking off those
shoes and wearing slippers. You will have to clean
the house less often and your floor coverings will last longer, thus saving you
lots of money. Your shoes will last longer, too!
Keep
a shoe rack or basket near the door so that everyone does it automatically, as
soon as they get home.
Your
house will be much healthier and cleaner. If you have toddlers, they can safely
play on the floor and you need not worry about them. Another great advantage is
that if you go barefoot, you will be stimulating your foot pressure points —
for you reflexology enthusiasts. The Chinese have been doing that for 5,000
years!
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