to think people should keep their shoes on in public rooms?

Thank you Greyduster.
On Mumsnet there are a whole lot of people who have shoes off rules in their house- so much so that I thought maybe I ought to offer, but I found in RL people were all telling me to keep them on.
It all seems rather Hyacinth Bucket to me- and thought she was supposed to be a joke!
I do of course take them off if I have been on a muddy walk or it is very wet etc.

Yes, many modern mums are aware of the dangerous bacteria trampled into their carpets by street shoes, some of the deadly.

This short article says it all

Oh the link has broken .. will try again

In a recent study, researchers at the University of Arizona found nine different species of bacteria on people's shoes. These types of bacteria can cause infections in our stomachs, eyes and lungs.

The study also found bacteria live longer on our shoes than in other places. As we walk, we constantly pick up new debris that feeds the growth of more bacteria.

The researchers tested to see if bacteria on shoes would transfer to the tile floors in a house. More than 90 percent of the time it did. Carpeting harbors bacteria even more.

'GMA's' Test Results

"GMA's" test results were "dirtier than a toilet seat," said Jonathan Sexton, a research assistant at the University of Arizona's College of Public Health. "Toilet seats generally have 1,000 bacteria or less, and these are in the millions so there's a lot more bacteria here."

I hate to think what is on people's bare feet then! I have never understood why people want me paddling around in bare feet rather than my sandals.

Better keep children off the grass - or making mud pies or anywhere else that isn't sanitised. I am sure that is why there are more allergies whereas when I was young people didn't bother and I can't remember it being a problem.

I wash my feet daily... don't you Leticia?

Apparently grass is cleaner than pavements.

Anya: "In a recent study, researchers at the University of Arizona found nine different species of bacteria on people's shoes. These types of bacteria can cause infections in our stomachs, eyes and lungs.

The study also found bacteria live longer on our shoes than in other places. As we walk, we constantly pick up new debris that feeds the growth of more bacteria.

The researchers tested to see if bacteria on shoes would transfer to the tile floors in a house. More than 90 percent of the time it did. Carpeting harbors bacteria even more."

And the same Uni also found that:

"the filthiest culprit in our homes is the kitchen sponge or cloth...........a kitchen sponge is 200,000 times dirtier than a toilet seat, and a dishcloth is 20,000 times dirtier."

Professor John Oxford at London Uni found that:

"Some people have more faecal bacteria in their grocery bag than in their underwear.........but we all touch these perhaps startlingly dirty things every day, and on the whole we don't get constantly ill"

Scary isn't it?

I walk round barefoot as I haven't found a pair of shoes that don't hurt my arthritic feet.

I think a survey should be undertaken. Perhaps by that same university department.

"Are older women, of the types that are attracted to Internet forums, more likely to be amongst the neurotic of the population? If yes, did their neuroticism start before or after joining such forums?"

jingle - good to have you making me laugh again.

I don't expect others to remove their shoes when they visit but always check whether I should do so when I'm the visitor. When visiting Muslim homes, shoes are off at the door, no need to ask, just do it.

I'm fairly obsessive about either chucking j cloths or bleaching any cloths I use in the kitchen. I don't use those anti bacterial wipe things because they block up the sewers or need to be buried, don't break down easily. I do believe some folks have become totally obsessed with germs. Mind you, I used to have hens, went horse riding, brushed and groomed horses, mucked out stables and share my life with a dog or 3. No hope really is there

Definitely after. jings!

You could do with expanding the brief of such a survey to include 'paranoid wreck' and 'dyslexia' or would that be a seperate thread perhaps?

I wash my feet daily, Anya but that was 7.30am. Since then I have done a supermarket shop, an hour of Zumba and a several mile walk - so all in all I think that were I to pop next door for a cup of tea my sandals would be a better bet than my feet. However, I have read the reports about dishcloths, perhaps I ought to present my neighbour with a new cloth rather than risk her bacteria!

Following that logic Lettiicia I'm surprised you take your shoes off when you go to bed!

I have washed my feet again by then, Anya!
Also- if you want to be logical - I keep them on for comfort ( people have such cold floors) and they wouldn't be comfortable in bed (and they won't be cold either)

Anya! I've just got that joke! You mean old - oompah.

Perhaps we should all have a bowl of soap and water by the door- and towel- so that we can prevent visitors arriving with bacteria!

Leticia you're alright so long as your neighbour doesn't still suck her toes.

Jingle.

You took your time there jingl

Leticia you keep your feet on for comfort?

be still my inner pedant

And the bowl by the door wouldn't actually prevent visitors from 'arriving with bacteria' - you'd have to tackle their feet before they left their house and then carry them by germ-free rickshaw to your freshly-scrubbed doorstep!