Stefanie Preissner on her shoe removal policy at home

15.11 7 Jun 2023

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15.11 7 Jun 2023

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Asking people to take their shoes off in your home is about hygiene above all else.

That's according to journalist Stefanie Preissner, who said she can get surprising reactions from some people when she asks them to remove their shoes.

She told Lunchtime Live she can't understand why people think it's OK to wear outdoor shoes indoors.

"It's gross," she said.

"I don't understand why people think that it's OK to wear their dirty shoes that are an outdoor product into your house.

"It's not about cleaning the floor or having to hoover - it's about the hygiene of it.

"I find it baffling".

Stefanie said the reaction can be mixed.

"Culturally, in other parts of the world, people do not wear their shoes in the house," she said.

"In Ireland, the reaction you get from asking people to take their shoes off - it's like you've asked people to take their pants off.

"People are like, 'Sure they're clean, I've only been to town': in town you're standing on tar, you're standing potentially on feces, on endless toxins, on pesticides'.

"I don't want you walking that into my house, particularly when I have a baby on the floor - but even if I didn't, it's still disgusting".

Stefanie said she lets people know about the policy straight away.

"You can't be cool and laid back; you have to say, the minute they come in the door, 'If you want to come in, you're going to have to take your shoes off'" she said.

"I'll even text people - if they're like, 'We're going to call over at 2 o'clock', I'm like 'That's no problem - just FYI we're a no shoes household'.

"Just so people know, because if you give them forewarning - maybe they have a hole in their sock - but at least they're warned".

She even has a machine from China that covers people's shoes with "one of those blue, swimming/hospital shoe cover things."

"That's what I have for tradesman," she added.

Listen back here:

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