Residential and commercial carpet and tile cleaner serving Central Florida

(352) 508-4556

How beneficial is it to take off your shoes before entering your home?

How beneficial is it to take off your shoes before entering your home?

Americans remain divided on the subject of wearing shoes inside the house.  We've all seen this scenario on television: An actor enters the room, throws himself on the couch or bed, kicks up his feet…and he's still wearing his shoes. 

Make no mistake. Just like the rest of the world, many of us are thinking the same thing. Oh, gross!
For those who do see it that way, we're correct. Americans realize the dirty costs of tracking all kinds of disgusting stuff into their homes.

The main reason to take off your shoes? Poop.

Most cultures are fully aware that outdoor shoes are unclean, and in many countries, it's considered flat-out rude if you don't remove your footwear. Some hosts won't even allow outdoor footwear inside their homes at all. Except for Hawaii and Alaska, this is a world tradition; the United States has been slow to embrace.

96% of shoes contain fecal matter even if you don't step directly on it. Besides the fact that tracking poop into your home is revolting, it can be a severe health issue for anyone with a compromised immune system, children and the elderly. Shoes make microorganisms reasonably mobile, and you're tracking that all around the house, transfer of bacteria from your shoes to the floor is between 90 - 99%.

If poop isn't enough to get you to unlace your kicks, how about allergies? Footwear carries in a significant number of allergens like pollen, mold, and mildew spores. When allergists have consultations with patients, wearing shoes indoors is deemed a giant no-no.

Still not convinced? How about Ecoli? There are various strains of the bacteria E. coli, and not all will make you sick. But it's easily transferable from person to person, and some strains can make you pretty ill, causing stomach pains, explosive diarrhea, urinary tract infections, respiratory illness, and pneumonia, according to the CDC. Taking your shoes off at the door may be a big help. Consider the fact that a single cell of E. coli bacteria can multiply to over 2,000,000 cells of E. coli bacteria in just seven hours. The fewer infectious organisms you expose yourself or your family to, the healthier they will be.

Spit and mucus, allergens, toxic chemicals, pesticides, herbicides, fecal matter, dirt, mold, urine, and public restroom germs are just a smattering of what you're bringing into your home.

In America, the location has always played into the shoes-on-or-off lifestyle. For those in the northeast and mid-west, snow, ice, and mud make the no-shoes indoor policy a part of life. As such, homes are built with larger foyers or mudrooms to accommodate this culture. In sunny California, where weather is more stable, and real estate space costs a premium (lack of foyers), shoes worn indoors is much more common. If you want to implement what you've read, but going shoeless is not your thing, you always have the option of slippers or wearing indoor-only shoes.

Gator Clean can help your floors get off to a new fresh clean slate. Contact us today to schedule a cleaning. 

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What Your Neighbors Say About Gator Clean

Awesome work ethic and great customer service. They were on time and did a thorough job cleaning the ducts in our two story historic district home. 45 vents later and they never stopped until the job was done. Highly recommend Danielle and her team- wish they did windows! Thank you, Ladies!!

Leila Baker
August 28, 2025

Review from Google

Review from Google

We had a great experience with Gator Clean for our duct cleaning! From start to finish, the team was professional, courteous, and right on time. Daniele took the time to explain what they were doing and even showed us before-and-after photos of our ducts—which were way dustier and lots of mold than I realized! The whole process was quick, tidy, and made such a difference in the air quality in our home. It feels fresher already. Highly recommend them to anyone looking for a thorough, honest, and friendly service.

Stephanie Duncan
August 7, 2025

Review from Google

Review from Google

Great team! Daniele returned my phone call right away. We made an appointment for the following week and they arrived as promised. Great job cleaning my air ducts and dryer vent with taking care to protect my home. They were a pleasure to have in the house. Thanks for an excellent experience!

Kathy Ruben
August 4, 2025

Review from Google

Review from Google

I had a great experience with this company, especially thanks to Daniele! From the very beginning, her communication stood out—she texted me when she was on her way and arrived right on time. She was responsive, professional, and made me feel truly heard when she arrived. Daniele was not only knowledgeable about the work, but also took the time to explain things clearly and offered helpful tips for maintaining air quality in my home. She was personable, professional, and made the whole experience smooth and stress-free. I really appreciated her attention to detail and customer care. Highly recommend!

sadie shalane
August 1, 2025

Review from Google

Review from Google

This company was awesome. Danielle and her team were extremely detailed they documented the entire process of the duct cleaning services from before/after photos- to noting anomalies- to recommendations on hvac maintenance. Fast, efficient, clean. It’s hard to recommend contractors nowadays but this one exceeded expectations.

William Gray
July 25, 2025

Review from Google

Review from Google

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Gator Clean

Gator Clean is a residential and commercial carpet and tile cleaning company, serving Lake, Sumter, Marion and surrounding counties.

(352) 508-4556

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Normal Business Hours:
Monday-Friday 8am to 7pm
Weekends by appointment