Many Boston condos for sale homeowners insist on everyone removing their shoes upon entering their Beacon Hill condo for sale. Everyone has different reasons for doing so, but here are some worth pondering:
- 40% of shoes are contaminated with such as bacteria Clostridium difficile.
- 70% of sterilized boots pick up E. coli after walking outdoors.
- Wear your outdoors shoes in the house and you’re likely to spread bacteria in your home.
- Other research has shown that more than 90% of the time, bacteria on shoes transfer to the floors of a home. Carpets fare worse.
- Residue from outdoor fertilizers tracked in on your shoes can settle into the nooks and crannies of your carpets and rugs. Even Herbicide 2,4-D can last up to a week after application, and, according to the National Pesticide Information Center, exposure can cause minor skin rashes and even gastrointestinal upsets.
- Dirt and dust are more minor offenders, but still best kept outside the house.
- And then there is the more obvious: Abrasive soles of shoes can cause floors to become scratched and dinged.
Make it easy for your guests: have a bench that allows them to sit while removing their shoes. Offer surgical bootie covers as an alternative to removing shoes. Some homes even offer slippers. Also, have a shoehorn on standby to help guests put their shoes back on upon departure. A well-engineered entrance should always have an attractive set-up to be able to store guest (and occupant) shoes.