If you discover holes in your shirts and sweaters, there are probably clothes moths in your wardrobe. Before more items of clothing fall victim to the pests, you should act quickly. Lavender is said to work wonders against moths. But is that really true? Find out here!

Lavender: Does it really help against moths?

It’s actually true: lavender helps to repel clothes moths in the long term – this has even been confirmed by scientific studies. The pests don’t like the typical smell of lavender and therefore prefer to stay away. It doesn’t matter whether you use fresh or dried lavender. Mothballs 🛒 or small scented bags with lavender scent 🛒 are also available in stores. Alternatively, you can also make your own lavender scented sachet.

Make your own lavender sachet

Do you have lavender in your garden or on your balcony? Great! Cut off a few flowering sprigs and fill the flowers into small bags 🛒. If you like, you can also use dried lavender for this. Seal the bags with a string and then place them in your closet to keep the moths away.

Lavender can also be used to prevent moths from settling in your wardrobe in the first place. Another advantage: lavender is a natural household remedy that does not harm humans or animals.

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When lavender does not help against moths

If you use lavender over a longer period of time to combat the pests, the moths may become accustomed to the smell. The deterrent effect will therefore wear off over time. To prevent this, you should regularly replace the lavender scent in your closet.

Sometimes, however, the smell of lavender is simply not enough to get the problem under control. Then only chemical products or a glue trap will help. But it’s always worth a try! And if your shirts and sweaters do fall victim to clothes moths, you can find a simple method for mending the holes here.

Sources: oektotest, praxistipps.focus
Preview image: ©Pinterest/Hometalk.com

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Can you imagine life without a dishwasher? Probably not! Washing up in the sink is time-consuming and if you make mistakes, the dishes won’t get properly clean. Most of us use our dishwasher regularly to clean cups, cutlery, bowls and plates. But have you ever put your shoes in the dishwasher to get them clean again? Find out why you should do this and what other things you can easily clean in this miracle appliance here!

Unusual things you can clean in the dishwasher

A dishwasher is designed to clean things. To do this, water is heated, mixed with detergent and then sprayed under pressure onto the dirty items inside. Why not use it to clean other household items in addition to the usual suspects from the crockery drawer? You can even put lampshades, brushes and even your shoes in the dishwasher.

Note: The heating elements are located at the bottom of the dishwasher, where the temperature is highest. Delicate items should be placed higher up in the dishwasher.

Glass lampshades

They bring light into rooms – and it makes quite a difference whether they are clean or not. Wash the dirty lampshade in the top drawer of the dishwasher. The rooms will shine in new splendor.

Cleaning the shower head in the dishwasher

Shower heads calcify or become blocked after a short time if used regularly. You can simply dismantle them and clean them in the dishwasher – as hot as possible – together with pots, for example.

Cleaning shoes in the dishwasher

To remove unpleasant odors and dirt, you can easily clean fabric sneakers in the dishwasher. Remove coarse dirt, insoles and laces beforehand. Rubber or plastic flip-flops and rubber boots can also be cleaned in this way. Shoes or slippers made of leather or with an inner lining, on the other hand, still need to be cleaned by hand.

Hair accessories

Combs, hairbrushes, hair elastics and hair clips can easily be cleaned in the dishwasher. To do this, first remove all hair so that the sieve of the dishwasher does not clog. You should also not clean any products made of real wood in the dishwasher. It is best to place the hair accessories in the cutlery basket.

Headgear and sports equipment

Hats and baseball caps develop unsightly sweat marks, especially in summer. Shin guards also get dirty quickly. However, headwear in particular quickly loses its shape in the washing machine, but they are in good hands in the dishwasher. However, make sure that there are no dishes in the dishwasher at the same time and replace the dishwasher tabs with a few drops of washing-up liquid.

Plastic toys

Children’s toys get dirty quickly. As little ones are constantly putting them in their mouths, they should always be clean. Small figures and other plastic toys can therefore be cleaned in the dishwasher basket.

Dog toys

Dogs can also become infected from their toys – especially if they are still young. However, you should never clean dog toys in the dishwasher together with normal dishes.

Sponges and dishwashing brushes

Kitchen sponges are almost always slightly damp and therefore the perfect breeding ground for bacteria. The situation is similar with dishwashing brushes. Simply wash them in the dishwasher once a week with the dishes and you can be sure of cleanliness and hygiene when washing up.

Kitchen utensils

There are so many small things in the kitchen and bathroom that are difficult to clean by hand. You can make household cleaning easier for yourself by cleaning the following small items in the dishwasher:

• Butter dishes
• Sugar bowls
• Salt and pepper shakers
• Soap dishes
• Soap dispenser
• Toothbrush holder
• Nailbrushes
• Make-up brushes made of plastic

Tip: If you want to clean small items in the dishwasher, you should place them in a net beforehand so that they do not fall through the racks.

Larger kitchen items

If you look around the kitchen with open eyes, you will certainly find other things that could do with a thorough clean. Kitchen grids, microwave plates, extractor hood grilles and fridge inserts can also be cleaned in the dishwasher.

Dirty potatoes

Not only objects, but also food, benefit from the dishwasher’s wash program. If you put dirty potatoes in the dishwasher before eating them, a quick rinse without detergent will remove all the dirt. However, the heat will cook the potatoes a little, so you should use them immediately afterwards.

Dishwasher: Indispensable – not just for dirty dishes

Did you know that the dishwasher can take so much of the work out of household cleaning? But before you get started, you should bear the following in mind: Not everything can be cleaned in the dishwasher. Sensitive items, certain pots and pans made of aluminum or copper as well as items made of certain materials, with special surfaces or coatings are better cleaned by hand. A look at the instructions for use can provide information here.

But with our list, you now know that you can also clean shoes in the dishwasher, as well as many other things that you previously had to laboriously clean by hand.

Sources: cleanipedia.com

Over time, knives, forks and spoons will become dull if you clean them in the dishwasher. To get them shiny again, you can use a soft cloth and polish the cutlery. But there isn’t really time for this in our hectic everyday lives. A simple trick provides the solution: a little aluminum foil in the cutlery basket of the dishwasher is supposed to prevent this problem. But is this really true?

Dishwasher: both a blessing and a curse

Dishwashers make household chores much easier and are indispensable for many people. Nevertheless, not everything always runs smoothly: cloudy glasses, food residue on the dishes, tabs that don’t dissolve properly and, above all, lackluster cutlery are among the most common problems.

Who has the time or inclination to polish every single spoon or fork by hand? It’s much quicker and much easier with the following dishwasher trick. Simply crumple up some aluminum foil into a small ball and place it in the cutlery basket of the dishwasher. Make sure that the shiny side of the aluminum foil is facing outwards.

What aluminum foil does in the dishwasher

If you start the dishwasher with the aluminum foil ball in the cutlery basket, your cutlery will shine like new after the wash cycle. But why is that? It’s simple: the metal in the aluminum foil reacts with the chemical components of the dishwasher detergent. This results in an oxidation process that makes the cutlery look like new.

Placing some aluminum foil in your dishwasher also prevents rust stains from forming on the cutlery. This is because so-called flash rust, which can be deposited on the cutlery by metal rods and screws in the dishwasher, but also by screws on inferior cooking pots, is absorbed by the aluminum foil. In this case, the aluminium foil acts as a kind of lightning rod, as it oxidizes more easily than the higher quality stainless steel cutlery and is more “susceptible” to rust.

Note: Unfortunately, existing rust stains cannot be removed using this dishwasher trick. Even with low-quality cutlery, you will not achieve any significant success using aluminum foil.

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How you can prevent rust

To prevent rust, it is advisable to identify and remove all possible sources of flash rust in the dishwasher. Chipped areas on the casing of the dishwasher baskets, for example, are a typical source of rust. Here, the metal needs to be sanded down and resealed. Alternatively, you can also replace the dishwasher baskets if they are too rusty. You should also wash frying pans and saucepans with rusty handles or screws by hand to protect the rest of the dishes in the dishwasher from rust.

Rusty or dull cutlery is a thing of the past with this simple trick. By the way: If the aluminum foil ball turns dark in the dishwasher, it’s time to replace it with a new one. Have you ever tried this household tip?

Sources: freundin, chip, hausjournal

The temperatures are rising, the sun is shining from the sky and the plants in your garden are crying out for water! The warmer it gets, the more often you have to reach for the garden hose 🛒 and quench the thirst of your lawn, flowers & Co. There are a variety of hoses that are suitable for small, large, winding and extensive gardens. The classic hose is made of PVC plastic and is available in various lengths. The longer the garden hose, the more difficult it is to store. There are a few tricks for storing it so that it doesn’t become a tripping hazard. You can find out what these are in this article.

Creative ways to store garden hoses

Most garden owners probably have a hose cart 🛒 or a hose box 🛒 to safely store the 20-, 30- or 50-meter long specimen after watering. That’s too boring for you? No problem!

A repurposed plant container

Perhaps there is still a large planter in your garden 🛒 that has been waiting in vain for a pretty planting. If you’re not sure which tree or shrub you should put in there, simply use it to store your garden hose for the time being. To do this, fold the hose into loops after use and store it safely in the planter. Similar to the planter, you can also use a large flower pot 🛒 for storage.

Tip: It is particularly clever if you cut a hole in the pot or planter and connect the garden hose directly to the water.

An old rim

This type of garden hose storage can already be seen in many gardens: An old rim is attached to the wall of the house or a pillar and the hose is simply wrapped around it.

Nicely hidden

If you primarily want to hide the garden hose, you can build a simple wooden box or shed. A planter box with hose storage blends particularly harmoniously into the garden.

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An old zinc tub for garden hose storage

Perhaps you still have an old zinc tub 🛒 at home. This is perfect for storing your garden hose. Simply find a suitable place in your garden to put the tub and your garden hose will have a permanent and stylish place.

Tip: Attach an old zinc pot 🛒 to the wall and wrap the hose around it in a similar way to the rim. A board attached to the pot provides additional storage space.

As you can see, it doesn’t take much effort to find an individual storage solution for the garden hose. Simply use the things you already have in the garden.

Source: diyncrafts.com

Do you love the smell of freshly brewed coffee in the morning and can’t start the day without the invigorating effect of the popular hot drink? Then welcome to the club! Whether it’s a cappuccino, latte macchiato, espresso or a simple cup of black coffee – as different as the preferences of the many coffee fans are, they are united by their enthusiasm for the early caffeine kick. But despite all the love for the brown bean, how often do you actually give your coffee pot a thorough clean?

Don’t worry, you’re not alone if you’re now bashfully thinking about some stubborn residue in your favorite pot. But there’s no need to panic! With a few clever home remedies, you can clean any coffee pot. Find out here how to get rid of those nasty deposits.

Dirty coffee pot: how easy it is to clean it

The good old coffee pot is rarely found on the table these days. In most households, fully automatic coffee machines or portafilter machines have long since replaced filter coffee. Coffee is prepared by the cup. For larger coffee tables, however, the (antique) coffee pot is still used. However, soiling is often a real nuisance, especially for jugs with a narrow neck. It’s not that difficult to clean the coffee pot if you know which household remedies can replace the tedious scrubbing.

Coffee pots 🛒, especially the older ones from grandma’s time, are characterized by a chic glaze, a small opening with a lid and a narrow neck. You can’t clean the coffee pot by hand, the opening is simply too small for that. And the neck of the jug in particular gradually collects deposits that are difficult to remove. But don’t worry! With a few tried and tested methods, you can get the inside of your jug sparkling clean again.

Method 1: Salt and lemon

For light soiling, a duo of ingredients that is probably already waiting to be used in your kitchen is sufficient: salt and lemon.

Here’s how it works:

• Add 2 teaspoons of salt and the juice of half a lemon to your coffee pot.
• Fill up with hot water.
• Close the jug tightly and shake vigorously or stir with a spoon.
• Leave the mixture to work for 30 minutes, rinse thoroughly and your jug will be as good as new!

Method 2: Baking powder or baking soda

If salt and lemon are not enough, you have to resort to stronger means. This is where baking powder or baking soda come into play. These kitchen wonders are real all-rounders and are particularly effective for heavy deposits.

And this is how it works:

• Empty a sachet of baking powder or baking soda into your coffee pot.
• Fill it up with hot water and stir.
• Leave the mixture to work for a few hours, preferably overnight.
• Rinse well the next morning – done!

Method 3: Dishwasher tabs and denture cleaner

If even baking powder or baking soda can’t dissolve stubborn residues, you’ll have to bring out the big guns. Dishwasher tabs or denture cleaner are real helpers in a pinch.

This is how professional cleaning works:

• Put a dishwasher tab or denture cleaner tablet in the coffee pot.
• Fill the pot with hot water.
• Leave everything to soak for about 30 minutes.

Tip: This way you can also clean vases that are difficult to access.

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After cleaning: Thorough rinsing is a must

Very important: No matter which method you choose, don’t forget to rinse thoroughly! Nobody wants to taste lemon residue or even a hint of denture cleaner in their next coffee. A little hot water, a few vigorous swirls and the pot is ready to go back into service.

With these tricks, you can effortlessly clean your coffee pot so that it’s sparkling clean again. So grab your freshly cleaned pot, invite a few friends over – the next coffee klatch can begin!

Source: lecker.de

Decorating the dining table makes it a real feel-good place. It’s a meeting place, a stage for spending time together and a reflection of your style. With the right decoration, it becomes the focal point of your home – functional, inviting and atmospheric at the same time. And the best thing is that you don’t need to invest a lot of money or a special occasion – just a good eye for detail and your personal sense of style.

Decorating the dining table: Ideas for every day and every season

The basis of a successful table decoration starts with fabrics and materials. A simple runner, natural placemats or a linen tablecloth bring structure to the table. Light colors such as beige, cream or sage look airy and friendly, while darker tones such as anthracite or navy blue provide elegant accents. Particularly beautiful: the contrast between a rustic wooden table and delicate textiles.

Seasonal elements also make your table lively. In spring, tulips or hyacinths provide freshness, in fall dried leaves, eucalyptus or small ornamental pumpkins work wonderfully. In winter, you can create a cozy atmosphere with cones, fir branches and warm candlelight. The following applies: Less is often more – rather choose a few elements that work together harmoniously.

Decoration with a personal touch and structure

Flowers are a classicwhich always works – but alternatives such as dried twigs or an arrangement of lemons and herbs also bring life to the table. It is particularly effective if you play with heights: a large jug as the centerpiece, plus smaller vases or lanterns in different sizes – this creates depth and tension.

When decorating, pay attention to the table shape. A round table can accommodate central arrangements, while a decorative line consisting of several elements looks more harmonious on long tables. Personal items such as ceramic bowls, small mementos or special napkin rings also add character to your table. This makes it not only beautiful, but also unique.

Practical tips for everyday life and special occasions

For everyday life a simple basic decorationthat you can quickly add to if required. A neutral runner, a glass jar with dried flowers and a few cloth napkins look classy – without getting in the way. When visitors arrive or an event is coming up, you can upgrade in just a few simple steps: fold cloth napkins, light candles or place additional flowers.

Especially for festive occasions, the color choice plays a major role. Warm gold tones are suitable for Christmas, fresh green or soft blue in summer. Small gifts on the plate or name cards also make an impression and create a personal atmosphere. At the same time, your table always remains functional – because decorations can be beautiful, but never distracting.

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Checklist: Decorating the dining table made easy

• Create the basis: Choose a tablecloth, runner or placemat made of linen, cotton or jute
• Decorate seasonally: Arrange flowers, branches or fruit to suit the season
• Play with heights: Place large vases, small candle holders and decorative objects in groups
• Set individual accents: Bring in personal objects, colors or accessories
• Design to suit the occasion: Enhance for guests with cloth napkins, candles or name cards

A fireplace is much more than just a source of heat. It can be the centerpiece of your living room or garden and create a cozy atmosphere. Decorating the fireplace properly makes it a real eye-catcher that emphasizes your style. Even if you don’t have a classic fireplace, you can create similar accents with an electric model, an ethanol fireplace or a fire pit in the garden.

Decorating a fireplace: Ideas for every style

The design of your fireplace depends on your personal taste and furnishing style. Particularly popular is the seasonal decorationthat you can adapt again and again. In autumn, warm colors, pumpkins and dried natural materials create a harmonious picture. In winter, fir branches, cones and candles add a festive touch to your fireplace.

If your fireplace has a ledge, you can use it to set the scene. Picture frames, vases or small sculptures are ideal here. For summer, glass vases with shells or sand look light and fresh. Make sure that the elements are arranged at different heights to create dynamism. If you prefer simplicity, a few selected pieces, such as a large candle or a minimalist bowl, are enough to create an elegant look.

Structuring the room with the fireplace

A modern fireplace can be accentuated with clean lines and neutral colors. Metallic details or geometric shapes go well with a minimalist style. For a rustic look, you can opt for natural materials such as wood, linen or ceramics. Piles of logs or a coarse basket next to the fireplace enhance the rustic charm.

If you are planning a special event, you can customize the decorations. For an elegant celebration, candlesticks in Gold or silver are particularly elegant. For a family evening, you can create a relaxed atmosphere with colorful garlands or seasonal ornaments. If the fireplace is not in use, you can decorate it with logs, cushions or a string of lights to maintain the cozy effect.

For more flexibility and safety

To ensure that your fireplace always looks fresh and inviting, it is worth changing the decoration regularly. Bowls, baskets or other flexible elements can be easily exchanged and adapted to the season or your mood.

With a real fireplace, you should make sure that the decoration heat-resistant and is not too close to the fireplace. Electric or ethanol fireplaces offer you more freedom, but also require some care to ensure that dust and dirt do not detract from the overall impression. With a little creativity and variety, your fireplace will become the focal point of your home.

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Checklist: Decorating the fireplace made easy

• Choose seasonAutumn, winter or summer – coordinate your decoration in terms of color and theme
• Use fireplace ledges: Emphasize the design with vases, candles or works of art
• Combine materialsWood, metal, glass and fabrics provide structure
• Place decorations safelyKeep distance from the fireplace, prefer heat-resistant elements
• Change regularlySet fresh accents depending on the season or occasion

If you’ve ever been surprised by a moth infestation, you’ll know how difficult it is to fight moths. But even if it’s difficult to get rid of the little beasts, our tricks can help you get rid of the pests again soon! Read on to find out which tips really help with pest control and what you should look out for.

Where do moths actually come from?

Moths enter your home through open windows or old carpets, blankets or used upholstered furniture. But they can also be brought into your home when you go shopping, as food such as flour is often already contaminated with moths.

How do I recognize moths?

The most common types of moths in the home are clothes moths and food moths. The term food moth refers to a whole range of species. For example, the dried fruit moth, the flour moth or the flour moth.

Clothes moths can be recognized by their light yellow to dark brown wings and indirectly, of course, by damage to clothing. The larvae of the moth cause the damage because they feed on keratin, which is found in animal products such as wool, fur, feathers, down and leather. Check your clothes, as well as curtains, carpets and upholstery, for small, irregular holes or bald patches.

Depending on the species, food moths are usually rather grey and often difficult to recognize, as the pests are small and inconspicuous. They prefer dry foods such as flour, rice, pasta, cornflakes, baking powder, cocoa, nuts and animal feed and contaminate them with their excrement and saliva. However, they do not pose a health risk and do not transmit diseases.

Fighting moths

Female moths usually lay between 250 and 300 eggs which, once hatched, eat their way through the contents of your wardrobe, leave droppings behind and continue to reproduce. If you do nothing to prevent this, you will have a moth infestation within a very short time, which will take a lot of effort to get under control.

Therefore, proceed as follows if you have discovered the pests in your home and want to combat the moths:

Wash textiles

If you are dealing with clothes moths, you should machine wash all infested items of clothing at a temperature of at least 50 °C. The insects usually do not survive the high temperatures.

Heat or cold

Delicate items of clothing that cannot be washed in the washing machine should be wrapped in a plastic bag and placed in the freezer for a week. This is because cold can also successfully combat moths.

Large textiles such as curtains, carpets or upholstered furniture fit neither in the washing machine nor in the freezer. In summer, place them in the blazing sun for several hours or blow-dry them on the highest setting to catch all the pests.

Be careful with leather sofas: They do not tolerate heat and can warp when blow-dried.

Remove food

If you are dealing with food moths, you should throw away all infested and adjacent food, as the small pests can easily eat through cardboard, paper, natural fibers and even plastic film.

Clean the cupboard

After you have removed all nests and affected textiles or food from the cupboard, you should first vacuum it out and then clean it thoroughly with vinegar cleaner. Finally, wipe it out again with warm soapy water.

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Clean the entire room

Finally, the room in which the moths have been located should also be cleaned. This includes skirting boards, cracks and crevices between cupboards, cavities, radiators and all areas that are covered by furniture. If not all areas can be reached easily, use a hairdryer again and blow-dry hard-to-reach areas at the highest setting to destroy all moth eggs and larvae.

Prevent further infestation

In order to protect yourself from another moth infestation, there are a few things you should bear in mind:

• Fit windows with fly screens
• Vacuum regularly
• Store unused clothing in plastic bags
• Clean out, rearrange, clean and air wardrobes several times a year
• only hang freshly washed clothes in the wardrobe (the smell of sweat, skin and hair dandruff attract animals)
• Wash curtains, carpets and cushions regularly at 60 °C
• Store flour, rice, pasta and muesli in glass or plastic containers
• Line your closet with scented sachets made from lavender, laurel, cloves or cedar wood

Moth traps

Moth traps can be used for the early detection and monitoring of moth infestations. These are so-called pheromone traps, which attract male moths with their attractants. These then stick to a layer of glue. This makes it easy to determine whether the pantry or closet is infested with moths.

However, the moth traps are not a method of combating moths, but rather a way of observing how severe the infestation already is. If more than 10 moths per week stick to the trap, steps should be taken quickly to combat them.

Ichneumon wasps

Ichneumon wasps are a simple remedy for moths. You can get them easily from DIY stores or online retailers. These are small insects that target the eggs of moths. They lay their eggs in those of the moths and feed on them at the same time. As soon as all the moth eggs have been eaten, the ichneumon wasps also die.

Make your own lavender sachets

You can buy lavender sachets relatively cheaply in shops, but they are also very easy to make yourself. All you need are dried lavender flowers, a cotton cloth, a cord and a pair of scissors. If you have lavender flowers in your garden, pick them between June and August and leave them to dry upside down for about a week. The dried flowers are then stuffed into the cloth and closed with the cord. They can then be placed in the closet where they will remain fragrant for up to two years.

If moths have taken up residence in your home, this is usually very unpleasant, as it involves a lot of work to get rid of them. Because they reproduce quickly, moths can quickly become a plague and cause considerable damage to various materials. Timely action and careful moth control are therefore necessary to get rid of the pests permanently.

Sources: moth-away, schöner-wohnen, otto
Thumbnails: ©pinterest/bobvila ©pinterest/top inspired