Dr Amir Khan has highlighted a simple daily habit that could significantly reduce hayfever symptoms: removing your shoes at the door. In a recent social media post, the doctor explained that shoes can carry pollen and other allergens into the home, prolonging and worsening allergy symptoms.
Why Shoes Are a Problem for Hayfever Sufferers
When you walk outdoors, pollen from grass, trees, and weeds can stick to your shoes. Bringing those shoes inside spreads pollen onto carpets and floors, where it can remain and trigger symptoms long after you come indoors. The Cleveland Clinic confirms that shoes track millions of germs, toxins, and outdoor allergens like pollen into your home, and leaving them at the door helps prevent allergy symptoms from lingering indoors.
Dr Khan noted that taking shoes off is not just a sign of respect but also reduces the risk of bugs and chemicals being traipsed around your home. He emphasised that pollen is not the only concern: dust, mould, and even pesticides from parks or golf courses can also be brought in on shoes.
Additional Health Risks: E. coli and More
Beyond allergens, shoes can carry harmful bacteria. Dr Khan pointed out that E. coli, linked to stomach and urinary tract infections, can enter your home through shoes. By removing footwear at the entrance, you limit exposure to these pathogens as well.
The NHS lists common hayfever symptoms including sneezing, coughing, a runny or blocked nose, itchy eyes, and an itchy throat. For some, antihistamines provide only partial relief, making environmental measures like shoe removal especially valuable.
Public Reaction: A Polarising Habit
Dr Khan's advice resonated with many. One commenter said: "I’ve been a mammy for 30 years, and as soon as my kids started walking and wearing shoes, I taught them to take their shoes off at the front door. They still do it to this day." Another added: "Yesss, and I was always made to feel like a weirdo for years asking people to do this!"
A third wrote: "We all take our shoes off, but I’ve got shoe covers if visitors don’t want to take their shoes off. I hate the thought of dirty shoes on my carpets." However, not everyone agrees: one woman said she prefers a shoe-on household because she doesn't want "people's sweaty feet" on her carpet.
Practical Tips for Reducing Indoor Allergens
To minimise pollen indoors, Dr Khan recommends designating a specific spot for shoes near the entrance. This simple step can keep pollen, dirt, and germs from spreading through living areas. The Cleveland Clinic also advises using doormats and regularly cleaning floors to further reduce allergen buildup.
Dr Khan acknowledged that not all dirt is bad and that some exposure can help train the immune system, but he added that he does not want "some of the outside stuff coming in," which is why he believes it's important to take shoes off at the door.
