Many of us lead busy lives, which often makes us forget about self-care, let alone foot care. Our feet often get neglected, even though they carry us everywhere, every day! It’s time to appreciate our feet. At Texas Foot Works, we want you to care for your feet. We have come up with some simple ways to practice good hygiene and remember to care for your feet at home.

• Leave your shoes and your work at the door. When you get home, it’s time to relax and enjoy yourself, whether it be with your favorite meal and TV show, or with your family. For everyone’s health and well-being, your work should be left at work and your germ-covered shoes should be left at the door. If you’ve really been all over the place, give your shoes a once over with anti-germ spray, inside and out.
• Have more than one pair of shoes to wear to work and put them into rotation. If you have to wear a suit and tie to work each day, it may be simpler to wear the same shoes each day, but you risk an issue with foot odor and bacteria build up. If you really only like one pair of shoes, get 2 or 3 pairs of the same and rotate them.
• Wearing slippers or indoor shoes in the house? Make sure they have grip if you have hardwood or tile floors. If you have carpet, the bottom should be smooth so that you do not trip up on the carpet pile.
• Mats, mats, mats. Having a mat in your kitchen will help you prevent backaches while cooking or cleaning. The same goes for any areas where you might stand for a long time – crafting table, painting easel, or standing desk. Bath mats and bathtub rubber mats will prevent slips and falls on wet surfaces.
• If you do not have carpet on the stairs, safety can be achieved with anti-slip strips or a stair liner to prevent slipping while going up or down the stairs. Children and older adults will thank you! (or you’ll thank yourself for keeping your family safe!)

Have concerns about foot safety and hygiene in the home? Have you been injured by slips or trips at home? Make an appointment today with our podiatrist, Dr. Jonathan M. Kletz. He and his team can help you at any of our Abrams (Dallas), Athens, and Gun Barrell City, TX offices. A healthy home helps to make a happy home!