These Boots Were Made For Walking... In The House?

Where do you stand when it comes to shoes on in the house?  Keep ‘em on or check ‘em at the door? Diehard germaphobes say no way, keep your bacteria and germs outside!  Lazier folk, my people, say what’s the big deal?  You don’t wash your pup’s paws every time he comes inside from a walk.  Where’s the harm?

Well readers, your shoes do in fact track all kinds of gross stuff including E. Coli.  That’s according to Dr. Charles Gerba, professor of microbiology and environmental studies at the University of Arizona. He says our shoes can pick up fecal matter on the street from dog waste and from toilet splashes in public restrooms.  Ick.  Dr. Gerba says, “shoes make microorganisms fairly mobile and you’re tracking that around the house.” I’d say that’s a pretty good reason to corral your footwear at the door.   

However, recently the NY Times delved into this controversial and somewhat dirty topic. The Times quotes Lisa A. Cuchara, professor of biomedical sciences at Quinnipiac University in Connecticut. She says, “for most healthy adults, this level of contamination is more of a gross reaction than a health threat.”   

We all know some dirt and bacteria are good for us and stimulate our immune systems or at least that’s what we’ve been told, right? Check out this mind-blowing factoid regarding farm animals. Yes, farm animals. The author of the book "Dirt Is Good," Jack A. Gilbert says if a baby interacts with a dog her first year of life, her likelihood of developing asthma is 13 percent. If she interacts with a farm animal, she reduces those chances by 50 percent!  Wow.  So, here’s what I say, keep your shoes on and tell your guests to do the same. Heck, you might wanna invite your favorite farm animal to your next soiree.  You can tell your guests to thank you for their good health.