Wind turbines on your own roof are arousing enthusiasm: generating electricity from renewable wind – even at night and in winter, when solar systems tend to be dormant. But the technology is still in its infancy. New research aims to change this – so is a mini wind turbine already worthwhile?

Wind energy around the clock – ideal as a supplement to a solar system

Solar systems reliably produce electricity during the day, but at night and in months with little sunshine they hardly contribute any energy. This is where mini wind turbines could score points. Especially in windy locations such as coastal areas or hills, small wind turbines promise to be a useful addition – they close the gap when photovoltaics fail.

The main problem with mini wind turbines is their efficiency. Wind on rooftops is usually too irregular because buildings, trees or neighboring houses swirl it around. Researchers are therefore trying to counteract this with new technical solutions: In the German-Dutch project “Wind & Regio” near Emden, Prof. Dr. Iván Herráez and his team are developing automatic adjustment mechanisms for the rotor blades, modular construction methods for site adaptation and an AI-supported control system for speed optimization.

The aim is to increase output, make turbines low-maintenance and economically attractive – initial tests are underway and series production is planned for the next few years.

Location determines success

The right location is crucial. Mini wind turbines need undisturbed wind at a sufficient height. On urban roofs or wind-protected balconies, they usually only generate small amounts of energy. If you want to place more than just one symbol, you should analyze site data in advance – roofs with a direct west or north-west orientation and heights above surrounding obstacles tend to deliver better results.

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Is a wind turbine worthwhile today?

The “Wind & Regio” project shows that small wind turbines could soon be technically advanced and economical. The combination with a solar system promises a year-round energy supply that increases independence from the grid. However, varied field tests are necessary – it will only be possible to say which models are suitable after completion in 2028.

Currently, a mini wind turbine is already worthwhile, especially for:

• sufficient wind potential
• good site selection
• technical research as a decision-making aid
• Combination with photovoltaics for year-round self-consumption

Interesting perspective, but with lead time

Mini wind turbines on the roof could close the gap when solar systems slow down at night & in winter. Research such as “Wind & Regio” is developing solutions, but there are still questions to be answered before practical implementation – such as efficiency, site analysis and suitability for everyday use.

Those who already want to generate energy in an environmentally conscious way are often even more efficient with good photovoltaics and electricity storage. Small wind turbines are an exciting glimpse into the future – but not yet the gold standard for rooftops.

Source: t-online

Living in a small apartment has its advantages – but of course also its challenges. All your belongings still have to find their place. Often no square meter goes unused. But it’s when it comes to cleaning that the actually well-used space becomes a problem. But rearranging every time before you want to vacuum or mop? Extremely annoying!

This is exactly where the DEEBOT mini scores points: The new vacuum mopping robot from ECOVACS is said to be able to get into every nook and cranny thanks to its extremely compact design. The question that arises: Does it vacuum just as powerfully as a big one? Well, we tested it in the editorial office and saw what it can really do.

Compact and stylish: first impressions

First the facts: With a diameter of just 28.6 cm and a height of less than 10 cm, the DEEBOT mini is actually one of the most compact robot hoovers on the market. It fits easily under low furniture or in nooks and crannies where conventional models often get stuck.

The included MINI-OMNI station also fits into even the smallest of apartments. It automatically vacuums the dust, dries the mops with hot air, refills the water tank and even cleans itself – all in an area no larger than an A3 sheet of paper. At less than 40 cm high, you can easily fit it into the tightest corner of your home. And it looks pretty stylish too: The transparent water container reveals the technology inside and turns the household helper into a small design statement.

Does the DEEBOT mini pass our crumb corner test?

One of the key strengths of the DEEBOT mini is its cleaning performance. With a suction power of 9,000 Pa, it provides very good results even on carpets and hard floors.

Its ability to navigate intelligently through rooms is also impressive. The small robot navigates precisely, recognizes obstacles in its path and picks up dust and crumbs. The TrueMapping navigation ensures that the robot does not forget any areas. It even works with millimeter precision in poorly lit rooms. It is therefore particularly suitable for homes without much daylight.

Another highlight for households with pets is the ZeroTangle brush technology. While many robots are struggling with animal hair, nothing gets stuck here – saving time and nerves.

The little household helper is also surprisingly quiet in operation. While it is on the move, it works like this silencedthat you hardly notice it. Even the automatic emptying of the station remains pleasantly quiet at 70 dB.

This is how well the DEEBOT mini works as a mop replacement

In mop mode, the DEEBOT mini as well. Thanks to the OZMO turbo wiping technologywhich uses rotating high-pressure wipers, the floors were not only clean, but also shiny. What we particularly like about mopping: as soon as the mopping mode is activated, it automatically avoids carpets so as not to get them wet.

However, you can also set a Carpet crossing mode can be set. In this mode, the robot can cross carpets with attached wiping cloths – but only to get to another room. Especially if you have different floor coverings in your home – such as tiles in the kitchen and a carpet in the living room – this is a huge advantage.

The OMNI station dries the mops automatically at 45 °C after cleaning. This prevents bad odors and ensures that no bacteria develop. This is also a convincing feature, especially in small apartments where odors are more noticeable.

Simple control via smartphone

You can control the DEEBOT mini easily via the ECOVACS app. Using your smartphone – or your Apple Watch if you prefer – you can start and pause the robot and track the cleaning process. A little gimmick that we really liked here: In the app, you can add virtual walls to your home so that the robot leaves out certain areas.

Good value for money

The DEEBOT mini will be available from July 1 at a price of 499 euros 🛒. Three stylish colors ensure that the robot fits perfectly into your home: DEEBOT mini blue (available immediately), DEEBOT mini violet (as of July 24) and DEEBOT mini green (as of August 16).

Conclusion: The perfect helper for small apartments

The DEEBOT mini convinces. With its powerful cleaning performance, compact design and smart functions, it is ideal for small apartments. Whether it’s crumbs in the corner or a dirty floor – the small robot can handle everything with ease. If you are looking for a stylish, quiet and above all compact household helper for little money, the DEEBOT mini is sure to be the right choice.

The links marked with the shopping cart 🛒 are affiliate links. The products are researched to the best of our authors’ knowledge and some are also recommended based on personal experience. If you click on such an affiliate link and buy something through it, our editorial team will receive a small commission from the online store in question. For you as a user, the price does not change and there are no additional costs. The income helps us to offer you high-quality, entertaining journalism free of charge.

If you’ve ever had water damage in your home, you know how time-consuming repairs can be. Parquet flooring in particular is quickly affected by moisture. If you don’t react quickly enough and remove the water, the fine wooden floor will swell. The trick of ironing swollen parquet is circulating on the Internet. But does it really work? Here you can find out when the iron 🛒 can actually help – and when you should keep your hands off it.

Ironing swollen parquet: Myth or ingenious trick?

The idea behind the tip is as simple as it is tempting: heat and pressure are supposed to dry the wood and bring it back into shape. If the iron can make dents disappear from clothes, why not from parquet? Sounds logical, doesn’t it? Unfortunately not.

Ironing swollen parquet may sound promising, but in most cases it’s a bad idea. Why? Because the problem lies deeper – literally.

Moisture problem beneath the surface

Swelling of parquet is often caused by penetrating moisture. This penetrates deep into the wood fibers and changes their structure. However, you can only reach the top layer with an iron. The damage on the inside remains – or gets worse.

Heat can ruin the wood

An iron produces a heat of over 200 degrees. If your parquet is varnished or sealed, there is a risk of fire from this punctual heat. The surface can be damaged: discoloration, burns and cracks are not uncommon.

The problem remains unsolved

Even if ironing seems to help in the short term, the moisture still remains in the wood. Without fixing the actual cause, such as a water leak or excessive humidity 🛒, the problem will soon return – often worse than before.

What you should do instead

Ironing swollen parquet is therefore not a good idea. Try the following methods instead:

• Eliminate the cause: Check your home for possible water leaks, poor seals and excessive humidity. Ideally, this should be between 40 and 60 percent.
• Targeted repair of parquet damage: Light sanding and resealing can help to smooth the surface. In the case of severe damage, it is usually necessary to completely replace individual planks.
• Call in a specialist: If you are unsure, you should contact a parquet company or a floor layer. Professionals know exactly how to repair parquet damage correctly.

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When the iron can still be useful

The trick with the iron is of course no coincidence. There are indeed situations in which the hot iron can be useful – but not for swollen parquet.

Dents in the wood

If a heavy vase has left unsightly dents on your parquet floor, an iron can work wonders. Place a damp cotton cloth on the dent and carefully run the iron over it. The moisture and heat will restore the compressed wood fibers to their original shape.

Slight scratches

If superficial, small scratches are visible on the wood, the iron can also help here, provided you proceed carefully. Again, use a damp cloth, which you place over the scratches, and carefully iron over them. The moisture and heat will allow the wood fibers to straighten up a little.

The idea of ironing swollen parquet is tempting, but not recommended. The damage is often deeper and requires a thorough repair and root cause analysis. For dents or small scratches, however, the iron can actually do your fine wooden floor some good.

Source: t-online.de

The links marked with the shopping cart 🛒 are affiliate links. The products are researched to the best of our authors’ knowledge and some are also recommended from personal experience. If you click on such an affiliate link and buy something through it, our editorial team will receive a small commission from the online store in question. For you as a user, the price does not change and there are no additional costs. The income helps us to offer you high-quality, entertaining journalism free of charge.

You’ve probably already been through a move or two, haven’t you? When you think back, you might also remember the stress involved. Moving house is often not only emotionally challenging, but also physically exhausting. But with a few tricks, you can at least make packing your moving boxes easier – this will not only protect your back and nerves, but also your belongings. Find out here how you should pack your moving boxes 🛒 so that you can at least eliminate this stress from your future memories.

The great art of packing moving boxes

In principle, it’s quite simple: put the heavy things at the bottom of the box and the light things on top. In reality, however, things turn out differently and in the end, everything is stuffed into boxes that are far too small. That’s over now! You’ll be well prepared for your next move if you follow these tips on how to pack your moving boxes correctly.

Get moving boxes in good time

Leaving things until the last minute makes little sense when moving house. The first boxes should be packed a week before the removal van arrives at your door, with things that you don’t need every day. Roughly calculate one box per square meter of living space – the actual number of moving boxes will of course also depend on the number of people living in the household and the number of possessions. Choose specially reinforced book boxes for books 🛒. Instead of buying new moving boxes before packing, you can also rent them or use reusable plastic boxes.

Tip: Take the time to clear out before packing the moving boxes. That way you won’t be lugging unnecessary things from one home to the next.

Pack systematically – room by room

It sounds trivial, but pack your belongings room by room in your moving boxes. Even if the magazines from the living room still have room in the bathroom box, this will only cause confusion when unpacking. And make sure that the handles on the boxes always remain free – so don’t pack the boxes too full.

In addition to a clear room name (e.g. “kitchen”), you should also write a brief overview of the contents (“pots, pans, knife block”) and a consecutive number on the boxes. Create a simple inventory list on paper or using an app – this will help you find the right item in a stack of 40 boxes in seconds.

Tip: Save two moving boxes as a reserve. In the end, these will hold all the odds and ends that are still lying around in the apartment.

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Packing books, crockery and glass correctly in moving boxes

Bookworms have a particularly heavy load to carry when moving house, because books are not only full to bursting with imaginative stories, they can also be quite heavy. Divide your books into several moving boxes and place them spine to spine on the bottom of the box. This will prevent unsightly dog-ears.

To pack your glasses and crockery in a break-proof way, you should use packing paper, bubble wrap 🛒, towels, socks, tea towels or comforter covers as padding instead of newspapers. This is because the printer’s ink can leave unsightly marks on your porcelain.

Tip: Make sure that your moving boxes do not exceed the 20 kilogram mark when packing. If you want to transport several heavy boxes, a sack truck is recommended 🛒.

If you follow these tips when packing your boxes, you are guaranteed to avoid the expected chaos on moving day. Our checklist for your move provides additional clarity. Pack systematically, keep an overview and take a moment after the work is done to open the first box in your new home – ideally the one in which you chilled the champagne. Cheers to a successful new start!

Source: immowelt.de

The links marked with the shopping cart 🛒 are affiliate links. The products are researched to the best of our authors’ knowledge and some are also recommended from personal experience. If you click on such an affiliate link and buy something through it, our editorial team will receive a small commission from the online store in question. For you as a user, the price does not change and there are no additional costs. The income helps us to offer you high-quality, entertaining journalism free of charge.

Do you have kitchen roll in your fridge? The absorbent and tear-resistant paper is usually stored under the sink or in a special holder 🛒. But there are a few tangible advantages to storing it in the fridge. Here you can find out how to use kitchen paper not only to keep food fresher, but also to keep your fridge clean.

Kitchen roll in the fridge has these advantages

Kitchen roll or kitchen paper is indispensable for many people in the kitchen – whether it’s for wiping up spilt milk or dabbing meat. But kitchen roll is also really useful in the fridge.

Vegetables keep longer

Vegetables and salad quickly become mushy or moldy in the fridge due to condensation. If you place kitchen paper in the vegetable compartment in the fridge, the moisture is absorbed and the food stays fresh and crisp for longer.

Kitchen roll is also a good help for foods that should not come into contact with certain other foods during storage. This applies to mushrooms, for example, which should be stored separately from leafy vegetables (lettuce, parsley, white cabbage, etc.). To protect them, you can simply wrap the food in question in a piece of kitchen roll.

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The fridge gets clean faster

Another advantage of kitchen paper in the fridge is that it absorbs dirt. Instead of wiping out the fridge again and again or struggling with stubborn encrustations on the shelves, you can simply use the kitchen paper as a base, dispose of it once it is dirty and replace it with new paper.

However, if you want to use kitchen roll in the fridge, you should bear the following in mind:

1. According to Ökotest, not all kitchen rolls are suitable for contact with food as they contain the potentially carcinogenic substance chlorpropanol 3-MCPD.
2. To protect the environment, you should buy kitchen rolls made from recycled paper. Alternatively, you can of course also use tea towels.

Despite all the enthusiasm for this versatile household helper, you should also know that there are 5 things for which kitchen roll is unsuitable. There are also alternatives to kitchen roll for many household tasks.

Sources: familyhandyman, br

The links marked with the shopping cart 🛒 are affiliate links. The products are researched to the best of our authors’ knowledge and some are also recommended from personal experience. If you click on such an affiliate link and buy something through it, our editorial team will receive a small commission from the online store in question. For you as a user, the price does not change and there are no additional costs. The income helps us to offer you high-quality, entertaining journalism free of charge.

Washing dishes is an activity that needs to be done every day. After all, a regular three meals a day produces a lot of dirty cups, plates and cutlery. Many households use dishwashers instead of hand washing. But which of the two methods is better for the environment and cheaper? Find out here!

Dishwasher versus hand washing: which method is better?

The idea that washing up by hand uses less water and energy than washing up in a dishwasher is an obvious one, but it is not always true. This has been discovered by an initiative of the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWi). Find out here which cleaning method can really reduce your water and electricity costs.

What are the benefits of the dishwasher?

According to the BMWi initiative, when the dishwasher is fully loaded, up to a third less electricity and almost half less water is used compared to washing dishes by hand. A comparative study by the University of Bonn shows even more savings potential: washing dishes by hand consumed an average of 46 liters of water. In contrast, the same amount of dishes could be washed in the dishwasher with only 15 liters of water. Newer models sometimes use even less water.

5 tips for using your dishwasher even more efficiently:

1. Fully loadedEvery tenth wash cycle could be saved if the dishwasher was fully loaded every time.
2. Avoid pre-rinsing: Modern machines also clean dishes without pre-washing. Rinsing under running water is therefore unnecessary in most cases.
3. Select an economical programAn economy or short program is completely sufficient for light soiling and uses less electricity. The Eco program, for example, takes up to four hours, but requires less electricity as the water is only heated to 40 °C.
4. Cleaning the dishwasher sieveA clogged strainer prolongs the wash cycle, causing the dishwasher to consume more energy. Therefore, clean it at regular intervals.
5. Ensure good conditionsPay attention to the water hardness and dose detergent, salt and rinse aid accordingly.

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What are the advantages of hand washing?

Compared to dishwashers, hand washing uses detergents that are less aggressive. Dishwasher tablets contain phosphates, which remove incrustations and burnt-on food, but are harmful to the aquatic environment. When washing up by hand, on the other hand, it is sufficient to soak the dirty dishes or scrub them with a sponge and a little washing-up liquid.

To wash dishes by hand as sparingly as possible, you should always fill the sink with warm water and washing-up liquid instead of cleaning the dirty dishes under running water. Depending on how many dishes need to be washed, it may make sense to change the water in between. Always make sure to wash the dishes that are the least dirty first.

Number check

According to researchers at the University of Bonn, washing dishes by hand consumes an average of between 0.2 and 16 kilowatt hours and 14 to 447 liters of water. The dishwasher uses between 1 and 2 kilowatt hours and 15 to 22 liters of water for the same amount of dishes. This means that in most cases, using a dishwasher costs significantly less water and electricity than washing dishes by hand.

Conclusion

Which method is really cheaper in the end depends above all on the correct behavior of the consumer. If you use and load your dishwasher correctly, you can save more water and electricity when cleaning dirty dishes than someone who washes dishes by hand without any planning. On the other hand, thoughtful washing up by hand can be cheaper than using an incorrectly loaded dishwasher. In addition, washing up by hand avoids the use of aggressive and chemical detergents, which in turn benefits the environment.

Sources: t-online, br, geo

You reach for kitchen roll several times a day to wipe up splashes of fat, wipe out your pan before washing it or dab a piece of meat. But have you ever wondered what exactly is in kitchen roll and whether it is really as safe as it seems? In this article, you’ll find out what you should look out for when buying kitchen roll, which ingredients are problematic and how to use kitchen roll sustainably.

Practical, but not always safe

Kitchen paper is as much a part of everyday life as salt and pepper. Once used, it ends up straight in the bin. That’s why it’s worth taking a closer look: Many kitchen rolls are made from virgin pulp – i.e. from trees that have been felled specifically for this purpose. Some of this wood comes from countries with a high risk of deforestation, such as Brazil, South Africa or Russia. Recycled paper is clearly the better choice here, as it not only saves energy and water, but also a lot of CO₂.

How to recognize sustainable products

Choose kitchen rolls made from 100% recycled paper. They use significantly fewer resources during production and protect the forests. Also look out for seals such as the “Blue Angel”, which identify environmentally friendly products. Nevertheless, even recycled kitchen paper is a disposable product. A cloth that you can use several times is often sufficient for simple cleaning tasks.

Kitchen roll does not belong in the organic waste

Although some manufacturers advertise it as “biodegradable”, you can only dispose of kitchen roll in the organic waste garbage can in exceptional cases – namely when it is used as packaging for kitchen waste. Otherwise, used kitchen roll belongs in the residual waste. This is the only way to keep organic waste free of foreign matter.

Kitchen roll and food: this combination can be risky

Many people use kitchen roll to dab food. This is where things get critical: in a recent test, laboratories found bisphenols such as BPA and BPS in almost all kitchen rolls – even in products made from recycled paper. These substances are considered to have a hormonal effect and can be harmful to health. The chemicals dissolve particularly strongly when greasy food remains in contact with the paper for a long time.

How to use kitchen roll correctly – without risk

Avoid direct contact with food – especially with recycled kitchen rolls. It is better to use them only for cleaning or soaking up liquids. If you want to be on the safe side, use kitchen towels for food preparation that are expressly labeled for this purpose or only use kitchen paper for short periods of time.

Choose kitchen roll carefully – and use it sparingly

Kitchen roll remains a practical helper, but should be used wisely. Choose products made from recycled paper, look at the ingredients and avoid unnecessary contact with food. This will not only protect you, but also the environment.

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Kitchen roll is an indispensable part of everyday life, but it has its downsides. When buying it, look for recycled quality, avoid unnecessary contact with food and dispose of it correctly. With a little mindfulness, you can also make a small but important contribution to your health and the environment with kitchen roll.

Follow Geniale Tricks on WhatsApp to make sure you don’t miss any more tips and tricks in future!

Source: Ökotest

Aspirin for white laundry – it sounds crazy at first, but it’s a real insider tip! No matter how hard you try to wash your white laundry properly, it will eventually get it: the dreaded gray haze. Once it’s there, the clothes seem to sink more and more into a dirty shade of gray with every wash. All you need is a simple ingredient from your medicine cabinet to put an end to the problem. The trick actually works – and better than you think!

How aspirin whitens the laundry

So: Grab five 325-mg aspirin tablets and first dissolve them in eight liters of hot water. You can also break the tablets so that they dissolve more quickly.

Now place your greying clothes in the solution and leave them there for eight hourspreferably overnight. Make sure that all items of clothing are covered by the water. Alternatively, you can add the tablets directly to the wash cycle in the machine, but the better option is to dissolve them in a separate container.

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Post-treatment of laundry

After the aspirin bath, dry the laundry or wash it normally in the washing machine if you prefer. Incidentally, the tablets also remove yellow deodorant stains and blood.

However, to remove blood, it is essential that you soak the aspirin in cold water and soak the garment for around two hours. Never remove blood stains with hot water, as this causes the protein in the blood to clump together, making it even more difficult to remove!

Aspirin contains a weak acid which causes the great effect. And you can always find a few headache tablets in the medicine cabinet. This saves you a trip to the drugstore to buy overpriced special cleansers.

Source: Ludwigshafen24