Feet stink up airport carpet

PALM BEACH, Fla., March 11 (UPI) -- Officials at a Florida airport said security workers want to replace two carpets at checkpoints they say have been ruined by passengers' smelly feet.

Palm Beach County Airports Director Bruce Pelly said at an advisory board meeting Wednesday that security officials at Palm Beach International Airport "are complaining of odor" left behind on the floors from the smelly feet of those who remove their shoes for the two security checkpoints, the Palm Beach Post reported Thursday.

"They just want the carpeting changed," airport spokeswoman Casandra Davis said.

Davis said airport managers are formulating a plan to replace much of the carpeting and tile inside the airport, but no plans have been finalized.

Sari Koshetz, a Miami spokeswoman with the Transportation Security Administration, which operates the security checkpoints, said officials would support changing the carpets. She said finding time to clean the carpet is difficult, as the checkpoints open at 4:30 a.m. each day and may not close until 1 a.m. if flights are delayed.

"Getting carpet shampooed and dried in that short time window can be a challenge," Koshetz said.