You may not realise it, but you could be putting your family at risk
Consumer champions Which? have urged people to never do one thing when they get home. Taking to X, formerly Twitter, the expert said that people risk getting ill if they ignore the advice.
So what should you do – or not do? It poses the question: “Would you wipe dog poo on your living room floor? Then why are you walking around your home in your shoes?” – something very common during Christmas as we welcome a variety of gifts.
It explains: “Studies found that the average shoe sole carries over 400,000 bacteria, including E. coli, which can be found in faeces. The study also found 96% of shoes picked up various types of coliform bacteria, and even though not all of these are harmful, there is a chance you’re tracking toilet germs straight into your home.”
In fact, the Mirror previously reported that “research from the University of Arizona found that 96% of shoe soles carried coliform bacteria, and approximately 27% carried E. coli, which is associated with gastrointestinal infections and urinary tract infections.
“Another study measured an average of 421,000 units of bacteria clinging to the outside of a typical shoe, with up to 99% of that transferred to clean floors within just a few steps.”
This is made even worse if you have kids or pets in your home who can drag in additional dangers, or are at risk of picking up these dangers and becoming unwell. Which? continued: “Babies and toddlers crawl on the floor are also much more likely to pick up harmful bacteria that could lead to serious illness – and let’s not forget the damage.
“Shoes grind dirt into carpet fibres and scratch up wooden floors, costing you a lot of money in the long run. Even your pets aren’t innocent – those paws are tracking in dirt and bacteria from the outside world too.”
So what can you do? The experts say that people should always leave their shoes at the door – even guests. It advises that you also have slippers available at the door for people who prefer not to go barefoot.
It also notes that it is good to get into the habit of wiping your pet’s paws every time they come outside – especially if they have been out for a muddy or rainy walk. You should also clean your floors regularly, it concludes.
