You work hard to keep your business clean, sanitary, and safe for your customers – especially during the current COVID-19 pandemic. But despite your efforts, a nasty yet unavoidable bacteria-filled culprit is putting your hard work to waste.

Wondering what we’re talking about?

We’re talking about your customers’ shoes. And how we can help with SaniStride (disinfecting mat system).

Here’s the thing.

Shoes Are One of the Most Bacteria-Covered Things Imaginable

There’s no nice way to put this so we’re just going to say it: your customers’ shoes are filthy, and they track a massive number of bacteria into your business – and could even be carrying the COVID-19 virus.

A study from the University of Arizona found that the outside of people’s shoes were covered in more bacteria than the average toilet seat. In fact, fecal bacteria appeared on 96% of shoes studied.

And a new report for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggests that shoes could also act as a carrier for COVID-19.

Your Customers’ Shoes Could Actually Get People Sick

This information isn’t just gross. These bacteria have the potential to make people unwell.

Shoes have been shown to frequently carry E. coli, a source of urinary tract infections and unwell bowels, as well as Klebsiella pneumonia bacteria and Seffatia ficaria which can cause respiratory tract infections.

Another study, this one from the University of Houston, also showed that 26% of shoes examined tested positive for Clostridium difficile, a bacteria that causes a potentially deadly bowel problem.

And those are just the bacteria that have long been known to appear on shoes.

But These Aren’t Even the Scariest Things That Can be Found on Your Shoes

In the CDC’s report, they detail a study of various surfaces at Huoshenshan Hospital in Wuhan, China – the epicenter for the coronavirus outbreak.

Their findings? Half of the samples taken from the shoes of staff members tested positive for the virus.

In fact, the CDC recommends that anyone who walks in a COVID-19 hospital ward should disinfect the soles of their shoes before walking out.

The Transfer Rate of Bacteria to Tile is Between 90% and 99%

The facts get worse before they get better.

Not only are shoes covered in bacteria – and possibly even COVID-19 – but it’s extremely easy to spread bacteria from people’s shoes onto the floor of your business.

In fact, the aforementioned University of Arizona study found that the transfer rate of bacteria from shoes to clean tiles ranges from between 90% to 99% — making it almost a certainty that these bacteria will make it into your place of business.

Unless you stop them from entering.

Let’s Put This Bacteria Problem Into Perspective

While bacteria are abundantly present on shoes, the likelihood of it getting your customers sick is relatively low.

The challenge is that the CDC study doesn’t state how much of the COVID-19 virus is needed to cause an infection, making it difficult to gauge just how big of a risk customers’ shoes really pose.

But one thing’s for sure: as the world works to beat the pandemic, you simply can’t be too cautious about reducing the spread of the virus.

So, making sure your place of business stays clean and sanitized will help keep your customers safer – and ensure they feel more comfortable while they’re there.

There Are Easy Ways to Minimize Bacteria Coming Into Your Business

You don’t want people tracking mud and dirt into your business, so you put down mats that clean their shoes on their way in.

You can treat bacteria – and even COVID-19 – on shoes in a similar way.

Northern Specialty Supplies recently began carrying SaniStride, a disinfectant mat designed to easily disinfect the bottoms and treads of shoes and boots. The SaniStride system has been independently lab tested to be 99.999% effective as a Shoe Sanitizer Delivery System for reducing the spread of the germs targeted by the sanitizer or disinfectant of your choice.

These mats create no waves, no splashing, no overflow, and no mess. Just quick and efficient reduction of the number of bacteria being marched into your place of business.

To learn more, or if you have additional questions, get in touch with us.