People with pets or young children in their home have been issued a stark warning. Consumer champions at Which? have cautioned people that a common habit could be putting them - and you - at risk of being ill.

In a post shared on X, the experts said you can easily change the risk with a few simple steps. So what's the key thing to avoid? They posed a pretty disgusting question, asking: "Would you wipe dog poo on your living room floor? Then why are you walking around your home in your shoes?"

They went on to explain: "Studies found that the average shoe sole carries over 400,000 bacteria, including E. coli, which can be found in faeces. The study also found 96% of shoes picked up various types of coliform bacteria, and even though not all of these are harmful, there is a chance you're tracking toilet germs straight into your home."

In fact, The Mirror previously reported that "research from the University of Arizona found that 96% of shoe soles carried coliform bacteria, and approximately 27% carried E. coli, which is associated with gastrointestinal infections and urinary tract infections.

"Another study measured an average of 421,000 units of bacteria clinging to the outside of a typical shoe, with up to 99% of that transferred to clean floors within just a few steps."

The risks can be even greater in homes with children or pets, as mentioned, as these are the homes that are are more likely to come into contact with these germs or bring in additional contaminants. Which? continued: "Babies and toddlers crawl on the floor are also much more likely to pick up harmful bacteria that could lead to serious illness and let's not forget the damage.

"Shoes grind dirt into carpet fibres and scratch up wooden floors, costing you a lot of money in the long run. Even your pets aren't innocent - those paws are tracking in dirt and bacteria from the outside world too."

So what can you do? The experts say that people should:

• Remove shoes at the door: Establish a rule that everyone, including guests, leaves their shoes at the entrance.

• Provide slippers: Keep a set of slippers available by the door for guests who don't want to walk barefoot.

• Wipe pet paws: Get into the habit of cleaning your pet's paws every time they come inside, particularly after rainy or muddy walks.

• Clean floors regularly: Maintain a consistent schedule for cleaning your floors to keep the home hygienic.