In many cultures, taking your shoes off when you enter someone's home is a sign of respect, but according to research commissioned by Pavers, nearly a quarter (23%) of Brits wear shoes or slippers inside, possibly without thinking of how dirty they actually are.
To no surprise, the research found that the dirtiest shoe to wear inside is the trainer. To look at exactly how dirty they are, swabs were taken from shoes, and a RLU reading was taken.
In the study, if an object has an RLU reading of below 50 it's registered as clean, but if it's above 50 it's registered as dirty, or a "fail".
The research revealed an astonishing result – the swab of the trainers resulted in a reading 70 times over the fail limit – meaning they are dirtier than toilet seats and keyboard, with an RNU reading of 3,524.
In even more troubling news, a shocking 96% of the footwear in the study tested positive for faecal bacteria.
So if you're one of those who lets people wear outdoor shoes inside – you may want to reconsider.
If you're a slipper-wearer and think you're safe, think again. Slippers are the most popular choice of footwear to use at home, but it doesn't mean they are clean.
The research found that slippers are dirtier than a toilet seat – with an RLU reading of 1,474.
Keira Moore, Podiatrist and owner of the York Foot Clinic, working in collaboration with Pavers said: "Sadly this stat is not surprising, however, it is very worrying from a foot health perspective.
"By choosing to not wear any footwear at home, there is an increased risk of falling and for this age category and above, it's proven that wearing nothing or just socks actually increases falls, leading to serious ailments such as broken bones or muscle damage, which can take months to heal.
"It might not seem dangerous but going barefoot increases the pressure on the feet, leading to calluses and painful fissures which can be very uncomfortable."
Vittoria Wellen‑Bombelli, Buying Assistant at wide fit shoe specialists, Pavers, said it's important to consider taking your shoes off at the front door.
You should also be washing your shoes at least once a month to reduce the bacteria and dirt you're bringing into the house.
To do this, you should first remove tough dirt and debris with a toothbrush or wipe away with a damp cloth.
If your shoes are really dirty, it could be worth mixing half a teaspoon of washing up liquid and wipe off any marks with a sponge.
If they smell on the inside, you can sprinkle baking soda inside, also this may lead them to be a bit chalky for a while.
Then, you should clean the soles of your shoes with a brush and water – then leave them to dry.
Keep in mind that you can put certain shoes in the washing machine, but you will risk causing damage.
Will you be telling people to take their shoes off from now on? Let us know in the comments below.
