Shoddy Behaviour

Think about the sidewalks that you walk on.  Think about the bottom of your shoes.  Think about the only way that that canine and human fecal matter, rat urine, throw up, spit, pesticides, lead, mercury,  petrol, tar, squirrel what not…all get into your house.  You walk it in.  And you leave all of that bacteria on your floor, and in your carpets.  The same ones your baby sits on.  And picks everything up from to lustily place into his mouth. The ones you then walk barefoot on before you jump into bed.  Ick.  Ick. Ick.

How anyone allows outside shoes on in their house - confounds me.  Would you let your child lick the bottom of your shoes? Exactly. 

Aside from the above, this, from the EPA:

“The potential impact of indoor air quality on human health nationally is considerable, for several reasons. Americans, on average, spend approximately 90 percent of their time indoors, where the concentrations of some pollutants are often 2 to 5 times higher than typical outdoor concentrations. Moreover, people who are often most susceptible to the adverse effects of pollution (e.g., the very young, older adults, people with cardiovascular or respiratory disease) tend to spend even more time indoors.  Health effects that have been associated with indoor air pollutants include irritation of the eyes, nose, and throat; headaches, dizziness, and fatigue; respiratory diseases; heart disease; and cancer.”

How does a great deal of that lovely pollution end up in our homes?

“…when people enter buildings, they inadvertently bring in soils and dusts on their shoes … from the outdoors, along with pollutants that adhere to those particles.”

According to the EPA’s “Door Mat Study“  lead-contaminated soil from the outside causes almost all the lead dust inside homes.  Trust me.  You  already have enough lead dust in your home. The same study explains that leaving your shoes at the door reduces your families exposure to lawn and garden pesticides, industrial toxins, mutagens and all manner of allergens.  (I would of added rodent poo and college student kegger vom.  But the EPA didn’t measure those sidewalk delights.)

The American Academy of Pediatrics  recommends that you to leave those Manolo’s at the door, as does the American Lung Association. 

So.

Why in the name of all that is holy would anyone, ever, allow shoes in their house?

If you are too embarrassed to ask people to remove their shoes, perhaps one of these signs  will help, as well as having a nice bench, rack or mat for people to place their kitten heels and driving mocks on.

You may also want to keep a stash of fresh socks or slippers for guests.

And if you have workers coming to the house – warn them in advance to wear clean socks.  I also keep hospital grade shoe covers  (ask them to double bag them), just in case.

It’s for the health of your baby and your family.

You’ll get used to it, as will your friends.

And if they don’t – sod’em. It’s the least they can do for free vino and nibbly things.