Kick off Your Shoes

If you do one thing this month -kick off your shoes: you’ll keep harmful chemicals out of your home -and your body.

Research shows that shoes drag in way more eco-baddies than we think. From pesticides to chemicals whatever is on your shoes comes inside with you and gets tracked all over your house.

Other tips:

• During the summer taking off your shoes is more important. Summertime shoes have been shown to be worse offenders. During the summer pesticides used outdoors are at their peak, and more of these chemicals make it onto your shoes.
• Having hardwood, clay, or tile floors reducers your exposure. Carpets, not so eco-friendly on their own, become worse when shoes walk all over them. Studies show it’s almost impossible to clean out dust, pesticides and chemicals from carpets – no matter how often you clean.
• Keeping the above in mind, a rug or mat outside your door will help to limit the junk you carry inside, because the door mat collects some of the pesticides.
• It’s also important to improve your overall indoor air quality which can help to combat the stuff you bring in on your shoes.
• If you hate going shoeless, keep slippers or house shoes by your front door. You can change once you arrive.
• Don’t forget the kids – they walk where you walk. Their shoes may be small, but they cause the same risk.

90 to 99% of bacteria found on the exterior of the shoes is transmitted to the floor in your house when you wear your shoes indoors, and 27% of the bacteria is the E. Coli virus. In addition to the bacteria, wearing your shoes can also bring lead and other toxic chemicals into your home, so do yourself, your family, your pets, and your home a favor and leave the shoes at the door!

For more information go to:

Eco Child’s Play

Care2

Best green hometips: take off your shoes

Health Publications