Question from Mark
Please tell me the environmental health benefits (if any) of having a “no shoes” policy in the house.
Debra’s Answer
When we walk around out in the world, we step into all kinds of things: bacteria, pesticdes, asphalt, etc. If we walk across a lawn, for example, it is likely to have been sprayed with herbicides and pesticides.
All of these things stick to the soles of our shoes and we can track them into the house, bringing toxic exposures from the outside indoors.
The purpose of shoes are to protect the feet outdoors. Indoors, I always go barefoot or wear slippers or socks. I only put my shoes on to go outdoors. I think it’s healthier to not have feet confined.
Another benefit of not wearing shoes indoors is that floors stay cleaner. This saves on cleaning effort and chemicals that may be used to clean floors.
