Although regular hardwood, tile, and carpet cleaning are necessary to maintain home flooring, changing common behaviors can also prevent premature wear. Dirt and additional grime get tracked through the house on the bottom of shoes, so have family members get into the habit of leaving footwear at entrances. Asking visitors to do the same could be awkward, so follow the below advice so they don’t take offense when the subject is broached. 

Reasons to Take Off Shoes Before Entering Living Spaces  

Harmful bacteria, parasites, and allergens can cling to the bottom of shoes. Pollen and dust are two common irritants that get trapped between floorboards and embedded in carpet fibers. When the surfaces are disturbed, the particles become airborne, causing eye irritation, nasal congestion, and sinus headaches. Taking shoes off at the door will improve indoor air quality. Shoe soles are also a breeding ground for Clostridium difficile bacterium. C. difficile infection symptoms range from diarrhea to colon inflammation.

As the bacteria can live on dry surfaces and the infection can be difficult to treat, removing shoes will reduce the likelihood of introducing the bacteria into living spaces. As taking off shoes limits how much dirt collects on floors, you won’t spend as much time vacuuming and sweeping or as much money on professional carpet cleaning and tile and hardwood upkeep. 

How to Ask Visitors to Take Off Shoes

There are all sorts of reasons some visitors might not automatically take off their shoes once they enter your house. However, by removing your own upon entering, they may mimick the gesture. Alternatively, you can offer them a pair of slippers to change into, which is unlikely to cause offense.

In addition to taking shoes off before entering the house, reach out to the technicians at Heaven’s Best Carpet Cleaning in West Lake Hills, TX, for wood, tile and grout, upholstery, and carpet cleaning to extend the life of your investments. As a member of the Low Moisture Carpet Cleaners Association, the floor cleaners use the latest techniques and state-of-the-art equipment to deodorize surfaces and extract hard-to-remove stains. To schedule service in Travis County, call (512) 328-2504. Visit the family owned and operated company online to learn more about the process.