Shoes outside or inside? Here is a question that might and should interest you. You’ve probably heard that in some parts of the world it’s customary to leave your shoes on the doormat before entering a home. But do you really know the reasons behind this practice? It’s probably not the first thing you think of, especially following a long day at work, but taking off your shoes before entering your home or a guest’s house, beyond a simple gesture of decorum, can be useful for health. How would you tell me? Well if you don’t know, don’t worry! In this article, we are going to explore the subject and there is no doubt that at the end of your reading, you too will adopt this process… We explain everything to you.
In many Asian countries, such as Japan, South Korea, China, or even Thailand, the norm is to leave your shoes at the entrance before entering an interior. This ritual is also observed in some European countries such as Finland, Sweden, or even New Zealand, but remains largely in the minority on the old continent. Do you have a position on the subject? Either way, whether you’re a staunch follower of this tradition or have never thought regarding the matter before, this article will give you a fresh perspective on this seemingly innocuous but actually very significant conduct.
“Please remove your shoes before entering, thank you”….
This injunction can be very badly perceived, even considered scandalous on this side of the globe, whereas in reality, taking off your shoes before entering a house can be beneficial for everyone. And in the present case, it is not a question of superstitions, but of scientifically established facts. If you doubt it or are afraid of upsetting your guests, here are some arguments to convince the most skeptical.
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In some countries, it is customary to take off your shoes before entering a house. Source: spm
Why ask guests to take off their shoes before entering the house?
Many people may mistakenly think that it is only a matter of keeping the dust out of their apartment by keeping the shoes outside, or simply to avoid soiling the carpet. Fake ! In reality, the problem is elsewhere. Thanks to science, we now know that living microorganisms clinging to our shoes are more to be feared than a few germs or dirt. Here’s why….
A study carried out by researchers from the University of Houston in the United States made it possible to discover the presence of Clostridium difficile under the soles of 40% of the shoes examined. What you need to know is that this “nasty” bacteria, also called C. difficile, is responsible for many intestinal problems, including diarrhea and other serious illnesses such as colitis.
These bacteria are resistant: The difficulty with C. difficile, which can also be found in other areas of the home such as toilets and anywhere else dust is present, is that it is very resistant to many household cleaners and can survive a long time on dry surfaces. In addition, C. difficile, as its name may suggest, has the particularity of having a strong resistance to most antibiotics, as relayed by the health information site WebMDwhich makes it difficult to treat.
Preventing this dangerous bacterium from entering your home is reason enough to take off your shoes before entering your house, isn’t it? If you are not yet convinced enough, here are some others…
Removing your shoes before entering a house is beneficial to health. Source: spm
Do shoes really carry that much bacteria?
Much more than you think. You will be surprised by the amount of unwanted material and the number of bacteria there can be on and under the shoes. Which makes sense when you think regarding it, since most people spend the majority of their time outside their homes. Here are three things to know:
Millions of bacteria are present under our feet: as surprising as it may seem, questions around bacteria are fascinating, far beyond the scientific world. This is the case of the morning show “Good Morning America” which lent itself to the game by having the soles of 8 different people analyzed, with a view to detecting the presence of bacteria, as relayed by the newspaper of information abcNEWS. These tests found no less than 66 million organisms under the shoes of one of the participants, that is to say many more than can be found on toilet seats (usually 1000 bacteria) . For this particular case, we can think that this participant was in direct contact with an infested substance. However, this allows us to understand how our soles can be a breeding ground for bacteria. It may sound incredible, right?
The transmission of bacteria from shoes to the ground occurs in 90% of cases: If you have bacteria under your shoes, they will go where you put your feet. The University of Arizona looked into the matter and the results are clear. When asked whether bacteria might spread on the tiled floors of our homes, the researchers’ conclusion was unequivocal: during the tests carried out, transmission was observed in more than 90% of cases. This figure may seem alarming to you, but know that it is even higher when it comes to carpets. These are breeding grounds for bacteria. What to be alarmed! So to your vacuum cleaners!
The soles of our shoes are full of bacteria. Source: spm
As pointed out by the Ouest-France newspaper, bacteria are present inside and outside of shoes: In another study carried out at the University of Arizona, microbiologist Charles Gerba said he discovered 421,000 bacteria outside and 2,887 bacteria inside a shoe, highlighting the presence, in 96% of cases, of coliforms and E. coli bacteria, which are commonly found in the human digestive tract.
Yes… But as Dr Gérard Lina, a microbiologist doctor in Lyon, explains for Ouest France, these bacteria only cause health problems in certain cases, such as in people with a very weakened immune system, as example.
In view of these results, we can conclude that it is quite wise to take off your shoes before entering the house, and also to invite your visitors to do the same, especially if they are there. children playing on the floor. But still it is necessary to do it with the manner.
Here is a video explaining the need to remove shoes before entering the house.
As you can imagine, asking your guests to remove their shoes can create some embarrassment for those who are not used to it. There are, however, a few tricks that can help make your query more comfortable.
Create a space to take off their shoes
A good way to invite your visitors to remove their shoes before entering your home is to provide a space dedicated to this purpose in your vestibule or your entrance hall. Do not hesitate to install comfortable seats to allow them to take off their shoes safely and a shoe rack or a specific place where they can store them. Because, in fact, seeing shoes stored in the entrance can encourage them to do the same. Also, the addition of a welcome mat may indicate that shoes are not desired inside. So, a minimum of propriety….
Placing a shoe rack at the entrance to your apartment can let your guests know that this is a house without shoes. Source: spm
Inform your guests as soon as they arrive…
In some cases, visual cues such as seats, shoe racks or even welcome mats may not be enough to tell your guests that this is a house without shoes, especially for those new to this process for the first time. You will therefore need, once your visitors have passed through the door, to welcome them and explain to them that you prefer that the shoes be removed inside. You can then show them the space provided for this purpose and invite them to sit there to take off their shoes.
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Can we receive guests in slippers?
Some guests may be reluctant to take their shoes off, especially if they have foot problems or are wearing torn socks. To avoid any discomfort, you can offer them alternatives such as disposable slippers or flip-flops. You can also offer them the possibility to keep their shoes by using disposable shoe bags to protect your floors. By offering alternatives, you’ll show your guests that you’re flexible and want them to feel comfortable in your home.
Offering alternatives can be a good way to protect your home from bacteria. Source: spm
Take off the shoes or keep them on the feet in the house, what do you think?
Ultimately, there are good reasons to avoid entering a house with shoes on, especially for health reasons. While asking your guests may upset some, you can convince them, with a polite approach and comfortable alternatives, and limit the amount of bacteria that enters your home, while ensuring that everyone is safe. feel welcome in your home. Are you going to do the same yourself?
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