Nothing nicer than coming home, kicking off your shoes and putting on your slippers – at least, that’s what we at the Happy in Shape editors think. Not only is it comfortable, but also much cleaner. After all, wearing them in the house is a lot dirtier than you think.
Shoes off, or not?
Everyone has their own preferences: some wear shoes in the house, while others faithfully leave them at the front door. The reasons vary, from upbringing and personal preference to cultural background.
In many countries, such as Japan, South Korea and parts of Scandinavia, it is normal to leave your shoes at the door, mainly for hygiene reasons. In Asian countries such as Thailand and India, it is considered disrespectful to enter someone’s home with shoes. Here, the home is often seen as a clean and sacred place, and shoes would disrupt that cleanliness.
In addition, people in these cultures often sit on the floor, so a clean floor is important. Shoes carry a lot of dirt, which is not pleasant when sitting or eating on the floor. A clean floor allows people to sit comfortably on cushions or mats on the floor.
Moreover, in many religious places, such as mosques and temples, it is mandatory to take off shoes. In addition to cultural and religious reasons, there are also scientific arguments for leaving shoes at the door.
Dirt
In the Netherlands, it is less obvious to take off shoes in the house. Indeed, only ten percent of the Dutch apply this rule and ask visitors to leave them at the door. Yet the results of a 2023 survey make a strong case for implementing it anyway. After all, more than half of the dust particles in the home are found to come from outside, with most of them traveling in with them via shoes. In fact, research from the University of Arizona shows that there can be up to 421,000 bacteria on shoes! This filth consists of the most unsavory things, such as poop particles, mold and bacteria – including the E. coli bacteria. All of them find their way in through your shoes. Yuck!
Take off those shoes
Moreover, dust and pollen also collect under your shoes, which can cause or worsen allergies in people who are sensitive to them.
Whether you’ve done a quick lap in the supermarket or a long walk in the woods, taking off your shoes makes for a cleaner home with less bacteria and a lower chance of allergies. So an extra good reason to treat yourself to a nice, warm pair of slippers this fall!