Shoes off at the door, no more: Study finds dangerous bacteria can be present even in shoes-off homes

• A study was commissioned to settle the debate over whether taking shoes off at the door led to a cleaner home.
• It found that shoes were not the most significant contributing factor in the number of bacteria found.
• The study also found that cleaning regularly meant nothing if not done thoroughly.
• Bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus (which can result in MRSA) increased most significantly when ineffective cleaning took place.

A common belief is that it is more hygienic to take your shoes off before entering a home, however, a recent study by Modern Rugs has found that this does not significantly affect the number of bacteria living in the average home.
On the contrary, this research found sloppy cleaning to be the main reason for the spread of household bacteria. Participants in the study who used ineffective cleaning materials, and used them in the wrong order spread the most bacteria in their homes, regardless of whether shoes were left on or not.
Dawn Mellors, Technical Director at Melbec Microbiology, a UKAS microbiology test facility, explains how cleaning can do more harm than good when not done thoroughly:
“The key to reducing bacteria in the home is by effective cleaning. Ineffective cleaning can actually increase numbers as it spreads bacteria around the house.
Effective cleaning usually means using the correct products in the correct order. For instance, not using the same cloth for multiple areas, ensuring mop heads are clean and allowed to dry between uses, using clean water for mopping different areas, etc.”
The research also found that those living in houses with high bacteria counts are also more likely to struggle with asthma or contract skin and bacterial infections.
Although most strains of Staphylococcus are harmless, the most dangerous – Staphylococcus aureus – can grow freely in the average UK home.

Staphylococcus aureus bacteria
Staphylococcus aureus can cause infections such as boils, cellulitis, impetigo, scalded skin syndrome and other skin infections if left untreated. It is also the bacterium that is linked to Toxic Shock Syndrome (TSS) and Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).

MRSA Bacteria by NIAID

Analysis
For the test, we collaborated with UKAS accredited test facility, Melbec Microbiology. With their help, we tested eight rugs in eight different homes to see how much bacteria each household harboured.
As well as testing the effect of “shoes on” versus “shoes off”, we also took into consideration the effect of pets, children, flooring and how thoroughly participants cleaned their homes.
Rugs were placed in “high-traffic” areas, such as the hallway, to catch the highest amount of household bacteria. After three weeks, the lab tested for evidence of fungi and bacteria on 5cm2 of each rug. From the results, we were then able to isolate Staphylococci, a common household bacterium.

Test 1: Shoes-off Vs shoes-on
“Shoes off” homes (Figure 1) contained almost identical levels of bacteria to the “shoes on” homes (Figure 2): 138,000 cfu* vs. 124,000 cfu.
 
Test 2: Cleaning methods
Participants who cleaned regularly with the same cloth/mop head (Figure 3) saw 68 times more bacteria in their home, versus those who used disposable paper towels (Figure 4).

Test 3: HEPA filters
In “shoes off” homes, those who did not use a vacuum cleaner filter had over four times more potentially infectious bacteria in their home (Figure 5), versus those who did use a vacuum cleaner filter (Figure 6).

 
Test 4: Carpets Vs Hardwood Flooring
In two “shoes off” homes, we found over 20 times more bacteria on carpeted floors (Figure 3) than homes with hardwood floors. (Figure 4).

Five ways to clean more effectively
As the study found, many people do not know that their bad cleaning habits are actually make their homes dirtier, nor do they know what they need to do in order to clean more effectively.
Here are some top cleaning tips you need to know.
1. Use clean and dry cloths

It may seem obvious, but using the same cloth for multiple areas is one of the most common ways people unknowingly spread bacteria. This is particularly important for use on “high- traffic” areas, such as floors, door handles and kitchen surfaces.

Dawn Mellors of Melbec Microbiology, explains how you should be using your cleaning materials:
“Effective cleaning usually means using the correct products in the correct order. For instance, not using the same cloth for multiple areas, ensuring mop heads are clean and allowed to dry between uses, using clean water for mopping different areas, etc.”
2. Signs of damp? You need a dehumidifier
Damp surroundings can lead to fungus and bacterial build-up; high fungal counts, both of which can cause respiratory problems, particularly in those with allergies and asthma. They are especially good at reducing mould growth in damp rooms, namely in bathrooms and kitchens.
3. Grab a steam cleaner
Steam cleaning is an effective way to kill bacteria which could be growing on food sources. Mops are also as effective, but should be dried completely before use. Steam cleaning or mopping floors removes gross soil and hence reduces the food sources for bacteria.
4. Prevent spreading bacteria with a vacuum filter
A high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter is something many homeowners do not have, but is essential for those looking to remove bacteria from their home. Dawn Mellors recommends buying a HEPA filter for your vacuum if you are concerned about the spread of microbes:
“Vacuuming with a high-quality vacuum cleaner with HEPA filters removes allergens and some organisms. Vacuums without filters can spread organisms - especially fungi - around as they are blown into the air and dispersed”.
5. High-traffic areas need hardwood floors
Hardwood floors with rugs are much easier to keep clean than carpets, mainly because they can handle strong cleaning materials which kill stubborn bacteria lurking in the home. Dawn Mellors explains why carpets can be much riskier to your health, in particular to young children and babies:
“As the rug is only a relatively small area, it probably would not pose a threat to your health like a damp, dirty carpet may do. If the carpet is very dirty or damp, the main threat would be for babies who may be crawling on it.
The other threat from carpets is that they harbour dust mites which can increase allergic reactions and asthma.”

Editor’s notes
*Data was calculated in colony forming units (cfu). Colony forming units are the basic unit used to estimate the number of viable bacteria or fungal cells in a sample.
-ENDS-
Jenny Ho on 0161 827 3551 or
jenny.ho@mediacom.com

Modern Rugs. The UK's biggest and best selection of modern and contemporary rug designs

Jenny Ho on 0161 827 3551 or
jenny.ho@mediacom.com

This release was published on openPR.