Should You Have a No-Shoes Policy in Your Home? The Great Debate
When it comes to wearing shoes indoors, people usually fall into two camps: They automatically whip them off at the front door for fear of tracking in germs, or they keep them on, not giving a thought to dirt and grime.
But what exactly is lurking underneath your shoes? Can tracking that gunk into your house really make you and your children ill? And is it awkward to ask guests to shed their shoes?
The Research
It’s no surprise that there are gross things lurking on your shoes. A University of Arizona study examined germs on shoes and found nine different strains of bacteria including E. coli, as well as strains linked to respiratory and urinary tract infections.
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But before you sterilize your entire house, it’s worth noting that having some contact with germs isn’t all bad. In fact, it may be exactly what the immune system needs at a young age to grow stronger. A 2014 study showed that babies who are exposed to household bacteria, as well as pet dander and even roach allergens, during their first year have a lower risk of allergies and asthma. On the flip side, animal research published in the journal Science found that a lack of exposure to microbes increases the chances of developing asthma and autoimmune diseases later in life. In addition, a Northwestern University study suggests that exposure to infectious microbes in infancy may even protect us from developing deadly cardiovascular diseases as an adult.
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What the Experts Say
Tracking in bacteria, viruses, and dirt is obviously less than appealing. “We walk through things like bird droppings, dog waste, and germs on public restroom floors, all of which are sources for E. coli,” Kelly Reynolds, a microbiologist and professor at the University of Arizona, told the Huffington Post.
But how likely is it that these germs will make you sick? “They’d have to make their way into a human through a lesion on the skin, and that’s a pretty far-fetched scenario,” Stephen S. Morse, professor of epidemiology at the Mailman School of Public Health at Columbia University, pointed out to the Wall Street Journal. “It might save your floors a lot of cleaning, but other than that, we have no reason to believe that shoes in the home are a real hazard.”
Babies who are exposed to household bacteria, as well as pet dander and even roach allergens, during their first year have a lower risk of allergies and asthma. (Photo: Getty Images)
Also, sanitizing your home can mean missing out on immune-strengthening microbes. “Our research suggests that ultra-clean, ultra-hygienic environments early in life may contribute to higher levels of inflammation as an adult, which in turn increases risks for a wide range of diseases,” Thomas McDade, associate professor of anthropology at Northwestern’s Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences and director of the school’s Laboratory for Human Biology Research, told ScienceDaily.
McDade adds: “In the U.S., we have this idea that we need to protect infants and children from microbes and pathogens at all possible costs. But we may be depriving developing immune networks of important environmental input needed to guide their function throughout childhood and into adulthood. Without this input, inflammation may be more likely to be poorly regulated and result in inflammatory responses that are overblown or more difficult to turn off once things get started.”
Of course, it’s one thing to require your family to remove their shoes before walking inside the house and another to ask guests to do the same.
“I am a Southern lady who entertains frequently and would never ask a guest to remove his or her shoes before entering my home. It’s just not a gracious thing to do,” etiquette consultant Janice Gibson told ABC News. “Some people may have a foot odor problem, or maybe the ladies haven’t had time for a pedicure, so this would only make them feel self-conscious and uncomfortable. Keep in mind that part of entertaining in your home is cleaning up afterward.“
“Of course, there are cultures around the world who expect their guests to remove their shoes due to the fact that they sit and sleep on mats on the floors,” adds Gibson. “Hopefully, a guest would be informed and know in advance if this custom is practiced by the host and plan accordingly. I guess you just have to decide what’s more important — your floors or your guests?”
What the Parents Say
“I have a no-shoes policy, which everyone told us to have when we have kids. So now that we have a soon-to-be crawling baby who puts everything in her mouth, we decided on no shoes. Plus, we just redid our floors and don’t want to scuff them up.” —Lauren W.
“We have a dog [who tracks in dirt]. I can’t ask my dog to take off his paws, so there’s no real sense in asking people to take off their shoes. If I didn’t have a dog, I would probably have a no-shoes policy for my family, but I still wouldn’t ask guests to follow it. It’s within my capacity to clean the floor after they leave.” —Rachel S.
The Bottom Line
If you have a crawling baby at home, you may be inclined to have a no-shoes policy, which is understandable. But remember that early exposure to germs can benefit your little one’s immune system in the long run. In addition, the likelihood of getting sick from shoe-bound germs is slim unless you have an open wound on your foot or a weakened immune system. Not comfortable asking guests to remove their shoes? Sometimes having guests see that you’re not wearing shoes yourself is enough for them to take the hint without saying a word. Otherwise, you can ask them to wipe their shoes on the doormat to reduce the risk that they’re tracking in stowaway bacteria.
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