Why you should take your shoes off before entering the house, have separate indoor chappals

Shoes harbour an average of 421,000 units of bacteria on the outside and 2,887 inside (Image: Pexels)

Do you have separate footwear for outdoors and indoors? I do. So does everyone in our family. As Indians, we have always been asked to remove our shoes before entering the house. Back then, it was called a tradition. Today, we understand it’s more about health and hygiene.

Though previously no shoes were allowed inside the house, with homes getting bigger and pedicures being introduced, we are now ‘allowed’ footwear indoors by the elderly. But only on one condition: no outdoor shoes inside and no indoor chappals outside. Fair enough!

What science says about this

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A study published in the Journal of Applied Microbiology conducted a systematic review of various reports and concluded that shoe soles are vectors for infectious diseases. The research uncovered harmful pathogens such as Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), Clostridium difficile, and multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria present on shoe soles — not only in healthcare settings but also in community spaces and among food workers.

Interestingly, even after evaluating multiple decontamination strategies, none were consistently successful at disinfecting shoe soles. In simpler terms, your shoes carry a cocktail of harmful germs, and wiping them on a doormat doesn’t cut it.

Another eye-opening study conducted by Dr Charles Gerba, a microbiologist at the University of Arizona, in collaboration with The Rockport Company, found that shoes harbour an average of 421,000 units of bacteria on the outside and 2,887 inside. Alarming, isn’t it?

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The bacteria found included E. coli, which can cause intestinal infections and diarrhoea; Klebsiella pneumoniae, a culprit behind lung and bloodstream infections; and Serratia ficaria, known to affect the respiratory tract and wounds. Even more concerning: Coliform bacteria were found on 96 percent of the shoe exteriors, and E. coli was detected on 27 percent of shoe soles.

Not only do shoes carry these microbes, but the transfer rate of bacteria from shoes to clean floor tiles was found to be as high as 90–99 percent. That means every step you take inside with outdoor shoes could be contaminating your floors, and everything that touches them — including your hands, clothes, and children playing on the floor.

The bright side is simply washing shoes with detergent showed a 99 percent reduction in bacteria on the outside and 90 percent reduction inside. But frankly, how often do we wash our shoes that thoroughly?

So yes, I have separate footwear for indoors and outdoors. Yes because of culture and habit, but also because science says it’s one of the smartest things I can do to protect my family’s health. And I’ll continue to make sure that my outdoor shoes stay outside, where they belong.

Disclaimer: This article, including health and fitness advice, only provides generic information. Don’t treat it as a substitute for qualified medical opinion. Always consult a specialist for a specific health diagnosis.