Cleaning Expert's Warning Against Wearing Shoes Indoors
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Shoes on or shoes off—the age-old question that has divided households across the nation.
Some individuals see no significant harm in wearing shoes inside, while others view it as bringing dirt into the home.
But the longstanding dispute has finally ended, thanks to a cleaning guru who has unveiled rather brow-raising details.
Dena O’Neill, recognised for her professional cleaning and organising skills on social media platforms, recently revealed just how grimy our shoes are and the pressing reason they should never be worn in our homes.
As she said, 'These Petri dishes have me [shaken],' a statement attached to a gut-wrenching image of two Petri dishes sprouting bacteria that would make a horror film director envious.
Before embarking on this experiment, O’Neill asked her social media followers: 'Who wears publicly worn shoes throughout the house?'
Her query met a staggering response, showing how many people were okay with unknowingly hosting scores of outdoor germs in the comfort of their homes.
Dumbstruck by this discovery, she embarked on a quest to 'figure out how dirty our publicly worn shoes are AND the floor where we saunter around with those shoes’.
The experiment was simple: she swabbed the bottom of her shoe and entranceway floor onto Petri dishes and left them undisturbed for a week.
'While I can’t tell you exactly what’s growing in those dishes, I have to assume it’s not good bacteria ‘cause, well, let me list some of the places we walk,’ she said.
‘Parks where animals pee and poop, grass where animals pee and poop, public restrooms where people pee and poop then flush with no lid, so the plume of poo flies up into the air and then to the floor. Floors where other people wear their public shoes and who knows where they’ve walked and travelled.’ she added.
Seeing the microbial jungle party in the dishes made O’Neill more resolute about her no-shoes-inside policy.
She requests guests to toe the line as well. 'Here’s the thing, if you’re wearing these shoes through your house, you have to clean your floors way more often (and) that takes way longer than taking off the shoes. If you have to wear shoes, get a pair that don’t go outside of your home and switch into those to keep your feet comfy but your floors cleaner for longer.’
It’s not just the microscopic germs you keep at bay by removing your shoes.
Think of the host of other benefits that come tagged along. Shoes can cause significant wear and tear on the flooring.
More importantly, continuous hours spent with your feet scrunched into shoes can lead to foot health issues.
So, want to get on board with the shoes-off protocol? Start simple—place a shoe rack by the entrance or keep house slippers handy for your guests.
That way, your feet can enjoy a holiday while your home stays cleaner and your feet healthier.
Around the world, it's common to see this practice. Take Filipino and Korean households, for example, where cleanliness is closely associated with spiritual purity, and wearing shoes indoors is a no-no.
We know it can take some getting used to, and some might even raise an eyebrow or two. But remember, the evidence is in the Petri dish!
So, get ahead of the game and keep those shoes at the door. No tracking muck about and no room for dirt to dance!
Do you wear your shoes indoors, or do you have a no-shoes policy at home? After reading about the Petri dish experiment, would you consider changing your habits?
Some individuals see no significant harm in wearing shoes inside, while others view it as bringing dirt into the home.
But the longstanding dispute has finally ended, thanks to a cleaning guru who has unveiled rather brow-raising details.
Dena O’Neill, recognised for her professional cleaning and organising skills on social media platforms, recently revealed just how grimy our shoes are and the pressing reason they should never be worn in our homes.
As she said, 'These Petri dishes have me [shaken],' a statement attached to a gut-wrenching image of two Petri dishes sprouting bacteria that would make a horror film director envious.
Wearing shoes inside the house can track in dirt, bacteria, and other contaminants from the outside environment, making floors and carpets significantly dirtier and harder to maintain. Source: Instagram/@dailydetailswithdena
Before embarking on this experiment, O’Neill asked her social media followers: 'Who wears publicly worn shoes throughout the house?'
Her query met a staggering response, showing how many people were okay with unknowingly hosting scores of outdoor germs in the comfort of their homes.
Dumbstruck by this discovery, she embarked on a quest to 'figure out how dirty our publicly worn shoes are AND the floor where we saunter around with those shoes’.
The experiment was simple: she swabbed the bottom of her shoe and entranceway floor onto Petri dishes and left them undisturbed for a week.
'While I can’t tell you exactly what’s growing in those dishes, I have to assume it’s not good bacteria ‘cause, well, let me list some of the places we walk,’ she said.
‘Parks where animals pee and poop, grass where animals pee and poop, public restrooms where people pee and poop then flush with no lid, so the plume of poo flies up into the air and then to the floor. Floors where other people wear their public shoes and who knows where they’ve walked and travelled.’ she added.
Seeing the microbial jungle party in the dishes made O’Neill more resolute about her no-shoes-inside policy.
She requests guests to toe the line as well. 'Here’s the thing, if you’re wearing these shoes through your house, you have to clean your floors way more often (and) that takes way longer than taking off the shoes. If you have to wear shoes, get a pair that don’t go outside of your home and switch into those to keep your feet comfy but your floors cleaner for longer.’
It’s not just the microscopic germs you keep at bay by removing your shoes.
Think of the host of other benefits that come tagged along. Shoes can cause significant wear and tear on the flooring.
More importantly, continuous hours spent with your feet scrunched into shoes can lead to foot health issues.
So, want to get on board with the shoes-off protocol? Start simple—place a shoe rack by the entrance or keep house slippers handy for your guests.
That way, your feet can enjoy a holiday while your home stays cleaner and your feet healthier.
Regularly removing shoes inside can help create a cleaner and healthier living environment, reducing the risk of respiratory issues and allergies caused by indoor pollutants brought in from the outside. Image by Dương Nhân from pexels
Around the world, it's common to see this practice. Take Filipino and Korean households, for example, where cleanliness is closely associated with spiritual purity, and wearing shoes indoors is a no-no.
We know it can take some getting used to, and some might even raise an eyebrow or two. But remember, the evidence is in the Petri dish!
So, get ahead of the game and keep those shoes at the door. No tracking muck about and no room for dirt to dance!
Do you wear your shoes indoors, or do you have a no-shoes policy at home? After reading about the Petri dish experiment, would you consider changing your habits?
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hubby. After a lifetime of nagging I've given up.
people still spit that’s awful gross
