Why You Should Take Off Your Shoes as Soon as You Get Home

In Japan and many other Asian countries, it’s customary to take your shoes off before entering the house. There are a lot of dirt, dust, and bacteria you are bringing home on your shoes, and it is no wonder the Japanese, one of the healthiest nations in the world, prefer to leave their shoes at the door. But besides germs and bacteria, there are some other reasons to consider a ’no shoes in the house’ policy.

We at Bright Side will probably have to re-think our house rules after doing this research. And we prepared a special bonus for you at the end of the article that will help you easily apply these new rules in your home.

1. You might bring nasty bacteria into your home.

Even if your shoes are brand new and seem perfectly clean, they attract many harmful germs that will eventually end up on all the surfaces you walk on. Research has shown that about 40% of shoes can bring a bacteria called Clostridium difficile into your home.

This bacteria triggers infections that are resistant to most medicines and can lead to diarrhea and inflammation in your stomach. It can also spread around your house and live on dry surfaces for a long time. It can also be very hard to get rid of.

2. Germs on shoes may cause skin irritation.

A walk in the park is a great way to de-stress after a long day, but don’t forget to change into your slippers as soon as you enter the house. Pesticides and other harmful chemicals used on parks and lawns can be tracked on the bottom of your shoes and trigger various health complications, including skin and eye irritation. This is especially important if you have toddlers who spend a lot of time crawling and playing on the floor and putting toys from the floor in their mouth.

3. Your shoes may hurt your feet.

Only 28 to 37% of people are wearing shoes that actually fit. And if you’ve ever felt foot pain or foot swelling, chances are your shoes aren’t the correct size. Wearing shoes that don’t fit properly can irritate the skin on your toes, and cause bruising and ingrown toenails.

4. You’ll spend less time cleaning.

Wearing slippers at home will keep your feet happier and your floors cleaner. Dirt, dust, and oil won’t be tracked into your house, and you won’t have to spend as much time vacuuming and mopping your floors. You also won’t have to worry about your expensive hardwood floors getting scratched by heels and abrasive soles.

Bonus: How to become a shoes-off inside family

While there are many benefits to taking your shoes off inside, making drastic changes is never easy. Here are some ideas to help your family to get used to wearing slippers inside.

• Set up a shoe area. Keep a shoe rack or a basket near the entrance.
• Place a reminder on a welcome mat. Include a simple message such as “Leave your shoes outside.”
• Keep slippers near the door. This way, it will be easier to find them.
• Ask your guests to take their shoes off. Let your guests know in advance that you have a ’no shoes’ policy in your home.

Do you wear shoes inside? When you’re having guests do you ask them to take their shoes off?