If you’ve ever spent time in Asia in countries such as Japan, China and South Korea, you know that people are expected to remove their shoes at the door. Far from being just a quaint (and to some, annoying) custom, leaving your shoes at the door makes a lot of sense. 

First, there are many toxins, such as herbicides and lead, that you can track indoors if you keep your outdoor shoes on. In fact, a lot of the lead dust found in homes — as much as 98 percent, according to one study — is tracked in from outside. And if your driveway has been sealed with coal tar-based asphalt, look out! Coal tar is a potent carcinogen, and the toxins readily break down and are tracked into homes on the soles of shoes. 

Second, you are liable to introduce all kinds of bacteria, including E. coli, into your home by way of your shoes. And of course, dirt gets tracked in as well, requiring you to clean your house more often, and dirt and grit cause more wear and tear on floors and carpets. Why waste time doing extra cleaning when you can cut back on a chore that few enjoy by taking off your shoes at the door? 

Granted, it could be socially prohibitive to require guests to remove their shoes, and having spare slippers for them to wear, as is often the case in Asian households, may be going a bit too far. But once your friends know your preference, they may remove their shoes voluntarily, or even bring along their own slippers when they come to visit.

So think about protecting yourself and your children by having everyone in the family take off their shoes when they come inside. You’ll have a healthier and cleaner home to enjoy if you do.