Do you request visitors to remove their shoes before entering your house?

It’s a subject that many individuals hold firm opinions on. One group argues that removing shoes is essential for maintaining cleaner homes, while another believes it’s an unnecessary action and considers it impolite to request visitors to do so.

But what do the professionals say? We consulted a microbiologist and a flooring expert, and here’s their perspective on the shoes-on/shoes-off debate…

“The debate over shoes on versus shoes off keeps causing division, with many people strongly taking a side on whether one should take them off when entering a house,” says Alex Heslop, a trend expert at Flooring Superstore, who notes that TikTok searches for ‘no shoe household’ increased by 39% in just the last month.

She mentions that the reasons for removing your shoes before entering a house can vary based on culture, location, family rules, and individual choices. “Some individuals view taking off shoes in a home as an act of respect, along with a method to maintain a cleaner living space. Conversely, others might prefer to keep their shoes on for greater comfort.”

Removing your shoes also implies you don’t have to clean your floors as frequently, which may lead to more damage over time.

And Dr. Primrose Freestone, an associate professor of clinical microbiology at the University of Leicester, proposes that it could be preferable to allow visitors to choose whether to remove their shoes inside the home or not.

I personally believe it’s up to the visitor to decide,” she states. “I am a microbiologist, and although I understand the contaminants that shoe soles can bring into my home, I don’t request guests to remove their shoes. However, we clean our floor surfaces with disinfectant daily—rugs and carpets that experience a lot of foot traffic are vacuumed daily, and carpets are cleaned monthly.

What bacteria or grime could individuals introduce into the home if they keep their shoes on?

Freestone states that various substances like food particles, skin cells, household dust mites, animal feces from outside, insects such as ants, pollen, bacteria, fungi, and viruses, mold spores, grime, and dust have been discovered embedded in carpets.

A study conducted by the University of Arizona discovered coliform bacteria—commonly used as a sign of fecal pollution—on the exterior of 96% of the shoes tested, and E. coli on 27% of them.

“These contaminants settle into the carpet and can become airborne when vacuuming or even while walking on the carpet,” states Freestone.

Can the soil carried in by shoes pose a risk to health?

Freestone states that germs or contaminants that come off shoes inside a house typically do not pose a health risk, unless individuals have pre-existing medical conditions.

“For the majority of individuals, this isn’t an issue, unless you suffer from a lung condition that causes inflammation, like asthma, in which case what accumulates on the soles of shoes can be damaging,” she explains.

Debris from carpets and rugs that are walked on can cause flare-ups, and the American Lung Association advises against using carpets in favor of harder surfaces that are simpler to clean and less likely to hold allergens or pollutants.

Is it crucial to prevent dirt and bacteria from entering the home as much as feasible?

It’s extremely difficult to prevent germs and dirt from entering a house,” warns Freestone. “In fact, we shouldn’t aim to do so, as certain types of dirt can be beneficial during specific stages of our lives.

She clarifies that the “hygiene hypothesis” suggests that early exposure of children to different germs found in dirt (or from their pets) assists their immune systems in learning to differentiate between safe and dangerous substances.

Clean, modern living is now linked to a higher rate of asthma and allergies, like those to peanuts, which are less common in developing countries,” she states. “According to the hygiene hypothesis, early contact with microbes is necessary to stop the immune system from reacting excessively to harmless substances.

Is it necessary for individuals to take off their footwear when a home has only hard flooring?

“Whatever is on your shoes will end up on your floor at home if you don’t take them off,” emphasizes Freestone, who notes that hard flooring surfaces are simpler to maintain because they are not as prone to trapping contaminants and can be cleaned with disinfectant to eliminate any pollutants or bacteria transferred from shoes.

“Shoes moving across carpets presents a greater issue, as research indicates the carpet fabric can function as a repository for various pollutants and allergens,” she explains.

Is removing footwear beneficial for maintaining carpets and floors?

Freestone notes that carpets can enhance a home’s warmth and provide an appealing aesthetic, but the textile material of carpets and rugs is more challenging to clean completely compared to hard flooring surfaces, especially when individuals fail to remove their shoes before entering the house.

She explains, ‘The decision between a floor carpet or a hard floor without coverage is based on individual preference and whether any family members have allergies or respiratory issues like asthma, which could be aggravated by dust particles trapped in carpets and rugs.’

Heslop mentions that in addition to introducing dirt and moisture, shoes worn outside can spread abrasive materials such as sand or small particles, which function like sandpaper on floors, causing gradual damage.

This may dull the shine of hardwood, stain carpets, and potentially scratch tile or laminate floors,” she explains. “High heels and heavy footwear can also cause dents or cracks, particularly in softer types of flooring.

Regularly walking on carpets and rugs while wearing outdoor shoes can shorten their durability because dirt and particles become lodged in the fibers, leading to increased soiling and deterioration.

She mentions that mud and moisture can lead to discoloration and mold if a carpet doesn’t dry quickly, and muddy spots and stains that require cleaning products and extra effort to remove may cause the fibers to become frayed and loose, he warns.

Although it might appear to be a minor request, removing your shoes at the entrance is one of the simplest and most efficient methods to prolong the lifespan of your floors and keep your home cleaner.

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