Tomato season is in full swing: your harvest basket or market stock is overflowing. Before the fruits become overripe or even end up in the bin, it’s worth taking a look at sensible ways to preserve them. Freezing tomatoes is a particularly simple and effective method. Alternatively, you can boil them down or dry them – depending on how you want to use them later.

Freeze tomatoes: An airtight solution

Tomatoes contain around 95 percent waterwhich is why they lose their firm structure after freezing. This is exactly what makes them ideal for sauces, soups or stews – wherever consistency is not the main focus, but flavor is.

Before freezing tomatoes, wash them thoroughly and remove the seeds. stalk. You can freeze them whole or cut them into small pieces. If you don’t want the skin to bother you later, it’s worth blanching them first: Heat briefly in boiling water, then rinse in cold water and peel off the skin. Then simply put them in freezer bags or tins and and seal airtight. Tomatoes will keep in the freezer for about six to nine months.

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Making the most of frozen tomatoes

Frozen tomatoes are best used straight away. further processin a sauce or stew, for example. This preserves the flavors better than if you defrost them slowly. If the skin is still on, you can simply peel it off under hot water – even when frozen.

For a better dosage, it is advisable to peel tomatoes before freezing. dice or quarter. This means you can always take exactly the amount you need. Alternatively, you can also boil or dry tomatoes to preserve them for longer and save space.

Preserve nutrients when freezing

Freezing changes some heat-labile nutrients such as vitamin C, which is partially broken down. However, the lycopene content – a natural colorant with an antioxidant effect – remains stable and can even become more available through heating.

Other vegetables such as broccoli, carrots or spinach retain most of their nutrients when frozen correctly. With the right preparation, you can ensure fresh ingredients all year round and reduce food waste.

Checklist: Freezing tomatoes made easy

• Preparation: Wash the tomatoes and remove the stalk – leave whole or cut as required.
• Blanch: Optional for easier peeling – heat briefly in boiling water and quench.
• Portioning: Fill with whole tomatoes, chunks or cubes depending on the intended use.
• Pack airtight: Seal well in freezer bags or tins to avoid freezer burn.
• Label: Note the freezing date – shelf life approx. 6 to 9 months
• Use: Ideal for sauces, soups, stews – use straight from the freezer.

_{This article was partly created with the help of a machine and carefully checked by the editorial team before publication.}

It’s high season for strawberries – and you’ve collected more hulls from the weekly market or a trip to the strawberry field than you can eat in the next few days? Then you should process the fruit quickly, because strawberries spoil quickly. A simple solution: freeze the strawberries. This allows you to preserve their fruity taste for months – ideal for smoothies, desserts or baking.

If your freezer doesn’t have enough space, you can also boil or dry the berries. And if they are already too soft or moldy, they belong in the organic waste garbage can – not in the compost, as they can quickly go moldy there.

Freezing strawberries – how to do it right

If you want to freeze strawberries, the correct preparation is crucial. First, the berries are washed thoroughly and dried well. Residual moisture encourages the formation of ice crystals, which can affect the texture after thawing.

Then remove the green leaves and the stalk. Whether you freeze the strawberries whole or halved, depends on the intended use. Pre-freezing has proven to be a good method: Place the berries individually next to each other on a tray and freeze them for two to three hours. You can then transfer them to freezer bags or tins – this way they don’t stick together.

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Tips for storage and use

To preserve the quality of frozen strawberries, airtight packaging is particularly important. High-quality freezer bags or stackable tins prevent freezer burn and help to preserve the frozen strawberries. protect the aroma. Label the packaging with the freezing date – strawberries can be kept in the freezer for up to eight months.

You can use the frozen berries straight away – for smoothies, yogurt or fruit ice cream, for example. For cakes or muesli, we recommend a slow defrosting in the fridgeto preserve the taste and consistency as much as possible. Thaw best only thaw as much as you need.

If freezing is not possible after all, you can use strawberries as an alternative to jam, puree or fruit sauces ideal for a tasty stock even out of season.

How do cold and storage affect nutrients?

Freezing strawberries is one of the most gentle preservation methods. The delicate berries retain most of their valuable ingredients, especially vitamin C. It is important that they are frozen as fresh as possible – preferably immediately after purchase or harvest.

Compared to other preservation methods, such as preserving with sugar, frozen strawberries often perform better: they do not require any additional sweeteners or preservatives and retain their natural taste. Other foods such as spinach, herbs or broccoli also benefit from freezing – provided that they are properly prepared.

Checklist: Freezing strawberries made easy

• Wash and dry: Clean berries thoroughly and dry completely to avoid ice crystals
• Remove the stalk: Cut off green leaves and stems – freeze berries whole or halved
• Pre-freeze: Freeze strawberries individually on a tray to prevent them from sticking together
• Airtight packaging: Use freezer bags or tins, seal as airtight as possible
• Label: Note the freezing date – strawberries keep for up to 8 months
• Use: Frozen ideal for smoothies, defrosted perfect for cakes or muesli

_{This article was partly produced with machine assistance and carefully checked by the editorial team before publication.}

Summertime is berry time – and sometimes you just end up with one basket too many in the kitchen. Maybe you picked blueberries yourself or couldn’t resist them when you went to the market. But what do you do if you can’t finish the berries in time? To Mold and mushy spots freezing is a particularly effective method. Alternatively, blueberries can also be boiled down, dried or used directly in smoothies, muesli or baked goods.

Freeze blueberries: Fruit must be dry

Freezing blueberries is uncomplicated and preserves their fruity taste for many months. Proper preparation is important: wash the berries thoroughly and then allow them to dry well. Wet berries tend to form ice crystals when frozen – this can have a negative effect on the texture.

Lay the dry blueberries out side by side on a baking tray lined with baking paper and pre-freeze them for two to three hours. Due to the so-called Shock freezing the berries can later be removed individually from the freezer bag. After pre-freezing, you can transfer them to airtight freezer bags or stackable freezer tins. Blueberries will keep for up to a year at a constant -18 °C.

After defrosting, blueberries are slightly softer than fresh, but retain their flavor. They are ideal for baking recipes, compotes or smoothies.

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How to store blueberries optimally

If freezing is not an option, you can also store blueberries for a few days in the Refrigerator. It is best to store them flat on kitchen paper in an open container. This prevents excess moisture from sticking to the berries and keeps them fresh for up to seven days.

For a longer shelf life, it is also worth preserving them – for example to make jam or fruit spread. Another method is drying: the berries are dried in a dehydrator or oven at a low temperature to make a fruity-sweet snack with a long shelf life.

What happens to the nutrients when freezing?

When freezing, most of the valuable ingredients of the blueberries. Vitamins such as C and K as well as antioxidant plant substances survive the cold shock well – especially if the berries are processed fresh. A small proportion of the heat- or light-sensitive vitamins may be lost, but this loss is minimal.

Other fresh foods such as herbs, bananas or vegetables are excellent for freezing. Stocking up regularly not only saves money, but also reduces food waste in everyday life.

Checklist: Freezing blueberries made easy

• Prepare: Wash the blueberries thoroughly and leave to dry completely.
• Pre-freeze: Spread the berries individually on a tray and freeze for 2-3 hours.
• Pack airtight: Transfer to freezer bags or tins and seal well.
• Label: Note the freezing date on the packaging – maximum shelf life: 12 months.
• Use: Frozen for smoothies and yoghurt, defrosted for cakes, compote or porridge.

_{This article was partly produced with machine assistance and carefully checked by the editorial team before publication.}

They are controversial: Bath mats and bath rugs repel many, while others consider them indispensable. However, washing bath mats is hygienically important. There are two things to bear in mind to prevent damage to the washing machine!

Washing bath rugs and bath mats

It is inevitable that dust, dander and hair will accumulate in bath mats and bath rugs. Moisture can also cause mold to form in the fibers. And last but not least, to prevent the spread of athlete’s foot, it is important to wash your bath mat, rug or bath mat regularly.

This can normally be done easily in the washing machine. But before we explain what you need to bear in mind, let’s first answer the question of how bath mats and bath rugs actually differ.

Bath mat or bath rug: What’s the difference?

Bath rugs are generally made of synthetic fibers such as polyacrylic or polyester. They are also larger and heavier than bath mats. Bath mats, on the other hand, tend to be smaller and are usually made from natural fibers such as cotton.

However, the transitions are fluid and there are also regional differences in the names. For this reason, both bath rugs and bath mats are mentioned equally in this article, although the problems with washing primarily relate to the larger bath rugs.

Two mistakes when washing with the washing machine

There are two mistakes to avoid when washing bath mats and rugs.

1st mistake: Too heavy

An old household rule says that you should always leave a hand’s breadth of space in the drum to protect the washing machine from overloading. Many experts now consider this rule to be outdated, as the washing drums of modern machines are full before the maximum weight is reached.

However, this only applies to items of clothing. However, bath mats and bath rugs are large and heavy – and they soak up a lot of water, which increases their weight even more. This can be a problem when spinning in two ways:

• In the more favorable case, the washing machine’s imbalance control comes into play: this balances out the spin cycle or cancels it. The bath rug comes out of the washing machine soaking wet.
• In the worst case, the unbalance control does not work and the washing machine can be damaged – over time – due to the heavy weight: Expensive bearing damage is imminent.

With or without unbalance control: A permanent heavy load can shorten the service life of your washing machine. For large, heavy bath mats and bath rugs, you should therefore always pay attention to the maximum load limit of the washing machine.

2nd mistake: Too hot

Bath mats and bath rugs often have a rubber coating on the underside 🛒. This is to prevent slipping on smooth tiles. Bath mats and rugs with a rubber coating should be washed at a maximum of 40 °C on a gentle cycle. If you wash them at 60 °C or higher, the rubber coating can come loose and stick to the inside of the washing machine. If the detached rubber pieces stick to inlets and outlets as well as sensitive parts, this can restrict the function of the washing machine and result in expensive repairs.

Bath mats made of pure cotton and without rubber can of course also be washed at 60 °C.

You should therefore read the manufacturer’s care instructions carefully before washing bath mats and rugs. Because even if they do not immediately cause damage to the washing machine, the mistakes can cost a lot of money in the long run.

Sources: frag-team-clean, familyhandyman

Washing dishes in the dishwasher is very simple: put the dirty dishes in, press the button and you’re done. But wait a minute! It’s not quite that simple, after all, not every piece of crockery and cutlery can withstand machine washing. If you’ve ever wondered whether a particular item is dishwasher-safe or dishwasher-safe, you should read on quickly.

Manufacturer symbols are supposed to help here – and at the same time cause confusion, as consumer advocates criticize. Not only are the symbols inconsistent, but only very few people are familiar with their meaning, which leads to extremely annoying surprises.

What does the crockery symbol mean?

The glass and fork symbol, which is often found on crockery and storage containers, is probably the most confusing. Here you can find out why it is sometimes printed, but sometimes not, and why the symbol basically says nothing about whether the dishes can go in the dishwasher.

Everything that is intended for the preparation or storage of food needs to be labeled accordingly. This makes it possible, for example, to distinguish a salad bowl from a decorative bowl. There is an exception for crockery and cutlery that is clearly intended for food contact – such as a bread knife.

The glass-fork symbol guarantees that no harmful substances are released into food when used correctly. However, it does not matter whether the label is on the product or on the packaging. The NRW Consumer Protection Agency criticizes this. It is calling for uniform and permanent labeling on tableware.

Important: The glass and fork symbol does not mean that the dishes can automatically be put in the dishwasher! Plastic kitchen utensils in particular can be damaged in the dishwasher, causing them to deform or release harmful substances.

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Dishwasher-safe or dishwasher-safe? What’s the difference?

There is no mandatory labeling as to whether dishes can be put in the dishwasher or not. The information provided by manufacturers is therefore neither standardized nor binding. The only difference is the “dishwasher-safe” label.

• Dishwasher-safe: If a manufacturer describes its crockery as “dishwasher-safe” or “dishwasher-suitable”, then it can go in the dishwasher. However, how often and at what temperature remains uncertain. So you need to be aware that these dishes may well deform or lose their color in the dishwasher. The symbol also looks different depending on the manufacturer.
• Dishwasher safe: However, there are clear standards for the “dishwasher-safe” label. And the water jet symbol is also standardized. However, as certification as “dishwasher-safe” is quite complex and expensive, it is generally only found in the catering sector or on high-priced products. The number above the water jet symbol indicates how many dishwasher cycles the dishes are guaranteed to withstand without damage.

Conclusion

Before you put dishes in the dishwasher, you should find out whether they are suitable for it. The glass and fork symbol has nothing to do with this! On the other hand, most dishwasher symbols are inconsistent. They do not guarantee that the dishes will survive several wash cycles or wash cycles at high temperatures. Here you have to rely on your eye – and replace brittle, discolored or deformed dishes if necessary.

Source: verbraucherzentrale.nrw

In many households, the dishwasher is in use several times a week. But contrary to popular belief, the machine does not clean itself during the wash cycle. Although it may seem obvious that the combination of warm water and dishwasher detergent cleans the inside of the appliance, this is (unfortunately) not the case. If your dishwasher smells after the wash cycle and the dishes are no longer really clean, you should clean your dishwasher – preferably with vinegar!

Simple household remedy ensures cleanliness

Cleaning household appliances is a rather unpopular task. Or when was the last time you cleaned your vacuum cleaner? And the dishwasher should also be thoroughly rinsed at regular intervals – at best every 4 to 8 weeks. There are special products on the market that promise hygienic cleanliness. The best cleaning agent is already in your cupboard!

All you need to clean your dishwasher is a little vinegar. It is best to use table vinegar, as the acid concentration of table vinegar is quite low at 5% – and it is also diluted by the rinsing water! This prevents damage to the rubber seals of your machine. You can simply pour the vinegar into the detergent compartment.

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Cleaning the dishwasher with vinegar: How this popular household remedy works

Vinegar has always been known as a powerful limescale remover. And so it also ensures that limescale deposits inside the dishwasher are gently removed. Select a program with high temperatures for the wash cycle, the dishwasher should be empty. You should avoid pre-rinsing.

To enhance the effect of the vinegar, you can sprinkle two tablespoons of baking soda on the bottom of your empty dishwasher. You’ll be surprised how clean and shiny your dishwasher will be after the vinegar wash cycle! Now nothing stands in the way of clean dishes.

FAQ

Source: merkur.de

On weekdays, you are not allowed to throw used glass into the bottle bank after 8 pm. This rule is widely known. But did you know that there are other pitfalls when disposing of used glass that you should avoid at all costs? For example, are broken drinking glasses allowed in the bottle bank and do the lids have to be removed from screw-top jars? And what color does blue glass belong to? Glass recycling is a good thing, but it can also be confusing. Here are the five most common mistakes when disposing of used glass.

This is how important used glass recycling is: 5 common mistakes

Used glass recycling makes an important contribution to environmental protection and sustainability. It is an easy step that everyone can take to conserve resources and protect the environment. However, you should avoid the following five mistakes at all costs:

1st mistake: Disposing of used glass with a lid

Screw caps, crown caps and other lids have no place in the bottle bank. They are themselves recyclable materials that can be recycled and therefore belong in the yellow bag.

It is true that modern systems can filter out most closures and then recycle them. However, this is not entirely loss-free and also increases the energy consumption of the system.

Depending on the location of the glass container, however, you may even be asked to dispose of your used glass with a lid. Some local authorities take this measure to prevent wasp infestations or to prevent lids from accumulating around the glass container.

2nd mistake: Disposing of drinking glasses

Not all glass is the same. To recycle used glass, it is melted down. For this to work properly, the collected glass must have the same melting point.

This is the case with old pickle jars, beer bottles or cosmetic jars. Not with normal drinking glasses, windows or light bulbs. This glass has a higher melting point.

Therefore, only used glass that was previously used as packaging for food, drinks or cosmetics should be disposed of in the glass container. Dispose of the rest in the residual waste.

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3rd mistake: Rinse used glass before disposing of it

Under no circumstances should you dispose of full jars and bottles. This would make a terrible mess in the bottle bank.

On the other hand, it is also not a good idea to rinse used glass before disposing of it. After all, recycling is about conserving resources. The used glass is cleaned in the recycling plant anyway. Rinsing it at home is a double waste of energy and water.

Tip: If you want to avoid mold, you can rinse your old glass with used water: for example, with leftover pasta or mop water.

4th mistake: Do not rinse honey jars

With honey from the supermarket, however, you should definitely rinse out the jar before disposing of it in the glass container. And do it thoroughly! The reason for this is American foulbrood, which can destroy entire bee colonies. In this article you can find out more about why honey jars should be rinsed out.

Tip: Rinse the honey jar with hot milk, so you have something tasty to drink right away!

5th mistake: Ignore the color

Old glass should be turned into new glass. To do this, it is important to separate the old glass by color. Therefore, make sure that only white glass is thrown in with the white glass and brown glass with the brown glass.

But what about used glass whose color cannot be clearly assigned? For example, blue glass? Blue waste glass or waste glass of indeterminate color belongs to green glass. This is because green glass is the least likely to show whether incorrect colors have been smuggled in.

If you dispose of your used glass correctly, you are making an important contribution to environmental protection. And now you also know which mistakes you should avoid in the future.

Sources: utopia, bvse

Doing the laundry, wiping out the fridge, cleaning the windows or making the beds – cleaning and keeping the household tidy are among our least favorite everyday tasks. We would rather fill our free time with nice things – but we don’t want to live in filth either. The compromise is usually a jam-packed weekend doing all the housework that was left undone during the working week. But it can be really easy to keep your own four walls tidy! With a well-thought-out cleaning plan and a bit of a system, the chaos can be quickly tamed. Find out here how you can create your own personal cleaning plan to finally gain more (free) time for the finer things in life.

Why a cleaning plan makes sense

Ticking off completed tasks from a to-do list gives most people a good feeling. The joy of having completed a section of a larger whole motivates us to take the next step. Creating a cleaning plan can also motivate you to declare war on the chaos in your home.

Creating a cleaning plan has many advantages:

• It creates structure and an overview.
• Cleaning becomes a routine instead of a tedious major project at the weekend.
• Housework is spread over several days.
• You save time and nerves in the long term.
• Your home stays constantly clean.

How to structure your cleaning schedule

An effective cleaning schedule takes into account different time intervals, as there are household tasks that need to be done more regularly than others. The appropriate time intervals are defined by your personal sense of cleanliness. If fresh bed linen is important to you, you should change it weekly instead of just once a month. For small households, on the other hand, it may be sufficient to only take out the garbage once a week. The following overview can be a rough guide if you want to create your own personal cleaning schedule:

Tasks that should be completed daily (basic order)

You can keep the chaos in your home in check with just a few simple steps. You should do this every day:

• air and make your bed
• wash the dishes or load and unload the dishwasher
• wipe down the surfaces in the kitchen and bathroom

Tasks that should be done twice a week

This time interval is more of a rough guide. Depending on how many people live in your household, it may be necessary to vacuum more frequently, for example. You should vacuum every three days:

• clean the toilet
• vacuum the apartment
• take out the garbage
• do the laundry
• Wipe down all door handles (often forgotten, but they are a germ trap!)

Create a cleaning plan: Weekly tasks

These weekly tasks should also be included in your cleaning plan. You should do them once a week:

• Dust thoroughly
• mop the floors
• change the towels in the bathroom and kitchen
• clean the bathroom thoroughly
• clean the mirrors in the apartment

Tasks that should be done monthly

For basic hygiene, you should do this once a month:

• change your bed linen
• knock out the carpets
• vacuum the upholstered furniture
• clean the refrigerator

Quarterly household tasks

These household tasks are more time-consuming and are therefore often put on the back burner. However, they should not be missing from your cleaning schedule. Every three months you should:

• clean all windows
• clean the washing machine
• clean the oven
• Wipe down all doors
• Descale your kitchen appliances
• wipe out the kitchen cupboards

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Spring cleaning is due once a year

The term “spring cleaning” covers tasks that only need to be done once a year. These include

• washing curtains and drapes
• cleaning comforters, pillows and mattresses
• sorting out your clothes
• polishing your wooden furniture
• cleaning the extractor hood
• defrosting your fridge and freezer
• Thoroughly cleaning the carpets

Tips for a successful cleaning plan

Admittedly, that’s quite a long list! But instead of being demotivated by it, you’ll soon realize that the regular tasks will come easily to you. If you integrate them into your daily routine, they will no longer feel like housework. The following tips can help you implement your cleaning plan:

• Be realisticThink about how much time you can and want to spend cleaning.
• Consider your life situationHouseholds with children or pets usually need more intensive cleaning routines – but also plan enough family time!
• Divide the tasks intoIn multi-person households, it is worth dividing up the duties.
• Use technologySmart cleaning robots and cleaning schedule apps can help you stay on top of things.
• Have the right cleaning products ready: Everything goes faster with the right equipment.
• Schedule fixed cleaning times: Set specific days or times of day when you do the respective tasks. For example, you can wipe over the bathroom shelves and the wash basin tap while brushing your teeth.
• Reward yourselfAfter the work is done, you can be proud of yourself and do something good for yourself!

Creating a cleaning plan made easy

When creating a cleaning schedule, it is important that you pay attention to your individual needs and design it according to your personal taste. Whether you keep it digitally or prefer to hang a printed schedule on the fridge – the important thing is that it suits you and your everyday life.

With a well-thought-out cleaning plan, annoying house cleaning becomes a manageable routine. You’ll be amazed at how much time and stress you’ll save if you do small tasks regularly instead of putting everything off. So, get to work on your cleaning plan – your future, more relaxed self will thank you for it!

Source: wohnglueck.de

If you want to make yourself a cup of tea or a quick soup in between meals, the kettle is the first choice. However, you often don’t use up all the water you’ve just boiled and some is left over. Can you leave the water in the kettle and boil it again the next day, or should you throw it away? According to a survey by the SGS Institut Fresenius, 53% of respondents throw away the water from the previous day, while 47% continue to use it. But is that a good idea?

Why do we throw away water?

Limescale deposits quickly build up in the kettle, making the water less appetizing. In addition, many people are concerned that bacteria will spread if the water is left in the kettle for a long time.

Many also fear that harmful substances could be released into the water from the appliance itself. Microplastics or nickel cause many people great concern when using the kettle. But is this concern justified or is tipping it away simply a waste of water?

Boil water again? What the experts say

The Fresenius Institute sees no problem in boiling water again. Concerns about nickel and bisphenol A being released from the appliance are unfounded. However, it is important that the appliances bear the GS seal. Household appliances that are tested for this seal only rarely show any questionable levels of contamination. In addition to the electronics, many kitchen appliances are also tested to ensure that the materials used are safe. You are always on the safe side with a glass stove.

The institute is also reassuring when it comes to the fear of bacteria: Although there are germs from the environment that could multiply in kettles over long periods of time, these are usually killed by boiling the water again. So for your normal use, you can leave the water in the kettle and boil it twice: That’s no problem!

A question of taste

What may worry you is the chalky taste. This is because the limescale only dissolves when the water is heated and then settles in the appliance. When the water is boiled a second time, the taste may therefore be different – but this is not harmful. If you don’t like your tea like this, you can of course simply use new water.

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These people should not leave the water in the kettle

The Bavarian Consumer Center also shares the view that reboiling stale water is generally harmless. Nevertheless, some people are advised to use fresh water instead. This could be people with a very weak immune system, pregnant women and babies.

For most people, the water from the previous day is therefore perfectly adequate and does not pose a health risk. And if you prefer to use fresh water: You should never just tip the leftover water away. It’s great for pouring or ideal for ironing, because: Boiling the water beforehand makes it a little softer. Are you more of a dumping or reusing team?

Source: t-online, sueddeutsche

There’s nothing better than freshening up your garden furniture after a long, cold winter to create a second outdoor living room. But what is it? There are unsightly mildew stains on your seat covers! Your once shiny cushions are stained and yellowed. To avoid having to buy new cushions, find out how to clean your garden cushions here. With a few simple tricks, you can get them back into shape.

Basic cleaning: The first step to success

If you want to make yourself comfortable in your garden, you can’t do without garden cushions, as they turn your garden furniture into a real oasis of well-being. But even if you store your seat cushions in a suitable box during the winter, wind and weather can damage your cushions. This can result in mildew stains and, in the worst case, even mold. The reason for this is the moisture that settles on the upholstery during the cold season and can lead to unsightly discoloration due to insufficient ventilation.

Before you tackle stubborn dirt, you should start with a deep clean. Shake the upholstery vigorously to remove loose dirt. For heavier soiling, you can use a soft brush or your vacuum cleaner with an upholstery nozzle.

Cleaning garden upholstery in the washing machine

If your covers are removable and machine washable, you can simply clean the garden cushions in the washing machine. Make sure you select a washing program with low temperatures so as not to damage your covers. A look at the washing label will show you the maximum temperature at which the seat cushions can be put in the washing machine. After the wash cycle, you should allow the cushions to air dry – ideally in the shade to avoid color changes.

To remove mold spores using a wash cycle, you would have to clean your garden cushions at 50°, some stubborn types of mold even need 70° to completely disappear from the cushions. These temperatures are usually too high for the seat cushions.

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Home remedies for mildew stains and mold

If you want to remove mold and mildew stains from your garden upholstery, the following home remedies will help you:

Vinegar and water bath: Fill your bathtub with water and add plenty of vinegar essence. Now place your garden cushions in the bath and leave them to soak for at least twelve hours. Then rinse the covers thoroughly with water or, if possible, put them in the washing machine.

For spot stain removal, mix one part vinegar with three parts water and spray this solution directly onto the stain. After a few minutes, carefully brush off the mold.

Baking soda paste: Baking soda can also help you remove stains. Make a paste from three tablespoons of baking soda and two tablespoons of water. Apply this to the stains, leave it to work and then brush it off.

Sodium hypochlorite: This active ingredient from the pharmacy can help with particularly stubborn mildew stains. Apply it carefully and observe closely, as it can bleach out fabrics. As soon as the stain disappears, rinse thoroughly with clean water.

Tip: Sometimes a “bath” in the sun is enough to remove stains from garden upholstery. The UV rays act like a natural bleaching agent.

Correct storage: prevent mold

Even the best cleaning is of little use if your garden cushions are not stored correctly. To prevent mildew stains and mold, you should follow a few rules:

• Store in a dry place: Make sure your cushions are completely dry before you store them. Moisture is the main reason for mold growth!
• Ventilated storage space: Store the pads in a well-ventilated, dry room. Special garden chests with ventilation slots or a dry garden shed are ideal.
• Do not pack airtight: Avoid airtight plastic bags, which can form condensation. Breathable storage bags are more suitable.
• Ventilate regularly: Take out your stored cushions from time to time and let them air out, especially if the storage room could be damp.
• Waterproofing: Before storing, it is worth impregnating with a special spray that forms a dirt and water-repellent protective film.

With these tips and tricks, you can not only clean your garden cushions effortlessly, they will also stay beautiful for longer. So you can enjoy your garden season carefree – on fresh, inviting cushions that invite you to linger. And if a stain doesn’t come out: Think of it as an opportunity to give your outdoor area a fresh look with new cushions!

Source: stilartmoebel.de