The Shoe Debate: On or Off When You Come Inside?

Where have your shoes been?

Most likely, they’ve tramped through your favorite store, strolled around the yard, and ventured into a public restroom. Most likely, too, your shoes — or at least their soles — have collected all kinds of microbes. They might look clean, they might even be polished to a high gleam, but the truth is they’re crawling with germs.

This is why so many people insist that guests leave their footwear outside or by the door of their homes. They don’t want cooties tracked indoors. Others, however, think that preference is much ado about nothing. This has resulted in a hotly contested debate between the shoes-off proponents and the opposing shoes-on crowd.

“This is certainly not a new debate,” says Jason Edward Levine, D.P.M., a podiatrist with the University of Miami Health System. “It’s been around for as long as I can remember.”

What side does the doctor take?

“It’s better to leave shoes at the door because you’re bringing in all kinds of bacteria. This is especially important if you have a family with young children who are on the floor or a baby crawling around. “

Wearing your outside shoes inside the home is like not washing your hands when you return home from a public place — an invitation for microbes to take residence.

Scientific studies back up Dr. Levine’s opinion. Your shoes carry tens of thousands of bacteria and toxins that can cause many illnesses. These germs can stay on your floor for days, even if you clean both your shoes and the floor regularly.

For example, one 2016 study in the Journal of Applied Microbiology called shoe soles “vectors of possible disease.” Researchers found shoe contamination in hospitals and public places, including animal worker settings.

Among the bacteria found is Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), which is resistant to most antibiotics and causes life-threatening illnesses.

Others included Escherichia coli, commonly known as E. coli, which causes diarrhea and other gastrointestinal infections, and Clostridioides difficile, or C. diff, which causes severe diarrhea and colitis.

Another study by a microbiologist revealed that a large number of bacteria thrived on both the sole and the inside of shoes. A shoe averaged 421,000 units of bacteria on the outside and 2,887 on the inside. In addition to e.coli, the researcher found bacteria that caused pneumonia, wounds, bloodstream infections, and serratia ficaria, which promote infections in the respiratory tract and wounds.

But it’s not just bacteria that hitch a ride on your shoes.

Footwear also brings in allergens, such as pollen and grasses. Once indoors, these allergens are likely to exacerbate a sufferer’s allergies. What’s more, shoes can track insecticides and pesticides, chemicals used on roads and asphalts, and even heavy metals such as lead.

That said, Dr. Levine is not a fan of walking barefoot around the house either. Some people need the arch support that shoes provide; others depend on certain footwear for balance. Those who have diabetes or suffer from neuropathy should also wear shoes inside. Shoes protect your feet from injury.

While flip-flops may be a good indoor alternative, they do not provide the protection some people need. He says that hotel-like slippers might be a good alternative, though they don’t always provide the support or thickness he likes. He suggests investing in comfortable and supportive shoes and making them your forever inside footwear.

“You have to have different shoes for different settings,” he explains. “Inside shoes for inside, outside shoes for outside.”

If you’re a guest in someone’s house, ask beforehand about their shoe rules, he suggests. 

If they insist on shoes off, bring your indoor footwear. By being proactive, you’re avoiding an awkward situation. You’re also choosing the coverage and protection for your feet.

“Some people are self-conscious of how their feet look,” he says. “Some may have foot deformities or [discolored] toenails. They may want the cover.”

If you’re hosting guests and firmly belong to the shoes-off group, alert your guests or provide some washable slippers for those who don’t know.

One last suggestion, regardless of what side of the shoe debate you belong to: Keep your floors clean. Mop with water and disinfectant. Vacuum your rugs and carpets.

Cleanliness can be a foot’s best friend.

Ana Veciana-Suarez is a regular contributor to the University of Miami Health System. She is an acclaimed author and journalist who has worked at The Miami Herald, The Miami News, and The Palm Beach Post.

Tags: Dr. Jason Levine, foot hygiene, germ prevention, minimize allergens, prevent bacteria