Taking shoes off before entering the house is one of the most intriguing practices in numerous countries. 

Taking Shoes Off in the House: Is It Really Helping Prevent Spread of Bacteria? Here's What Experts Say
(Photo: TOSHIFUMI KITAMURA/AFP via Getty Images)
This April 16, 2018, picture shows a shoe rack adorned with Japanese decorations in short-term accommodation operated by Hyakusenrenma's rental house in Tokyo. - Rental platforms like Airbnb are hoping for a boost from a new law coming into force next month in Japan ahead of the 2020 Olympics, but experts warn it could actually hamper business in the short term.

This has been a part of various cultures, such as in Germany and other European countries. But, the practice of taking shoes off in the house is more common in Asian countries. 

These include Japan, Korea, the Philippines, etc. But is it really necessary to take off your shoes before going inside the house? 

Does this practice help prevent the spread of bacteria and harmful substances? If you are also curious, here's what health experts say about de-shoeing. 

Taking Shoes Off in the House: Is It Really Helping Prevent Spread of Bacteria? 

According to CBS News, a study was conducted to see if taking shoes off plays a major role in keeping houses clean. 

Taking Shoes Off in the House: Is It Really Helping Prevent Spread of Bacteria? Here's What Experts Say
(Photo: Yuichi Yamazaki/Getty Images)
Shoes are left inside an abandoned house on March 09, 2021, in Futaba, Japan. In ceremonies that are expected to be scaled back because of the Covid-19 coronavirus pandemic, on March 11th, Japan will mark the 10th anniversary of the 2011 Tohoku earthquake, tsunami, and triple nuclear meltdown in which almost 16,000 were killed, and hundreds of thousands made homeless.

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The research involved EPA Victoria Chief Environmental Scientist Mark Patrick Taylor and IUPUI Executive Director Prof. Gabriel Filippelli. 

Based on their findings, if you will choose between keeping or taking off your shoes before going inside, the latter is the better choice. 

This is because shoes can carry toxic metals, such as lead, cadmium, and arsenic, which come from soils. 

If you want to ensure that the harmful substances are kept outside your house, the best thing you can do is use indoor shoes that are not worn outside. 

Then, you can just leave your regular shoes outside the house.

Being Shoeless Also Has Downsides

Health Line reported that being shoeless while inside the house can also put your health at risk. 

A previous study revealed that can lead to accidents inside people's houses, especially among older people. 

This is why it was mentioned above to ensure that you and your family are using in-door slippers or shoes so that your feet will also be protected. 

In other news, a recent study claimed that the first intimate kissing happened earlier than expected. 

Meanwhile, health experts discovered that before birth, gene expressions could contribute to depression. 

For more news updates about health, always keep your tabs open here at TechTimes.

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