You’re sure to have a dishwasher running regularly in your home, right? The more people there are in a household, the more often the hard-working kitchen appliance has to do its job. While plates, cups & Co. get sparkling clean, you can sit back and relax. However, if at some point your dishwasher starts to stink or the dishes no longer get really clean, you should take action. The problem is often due to a neglected dishwasher filter! Cleaning the dishwasher filter is one of the most important maintenance tasks that you should carry out regularly – but don’t worry, it’s easier than you think.

Why is the dishwasher strainer so important?

We often simply put plates, pots and bowls in the dishwasher without rinsing them first. Except in the case of heavily baked-on residues or extremely dirty dishes, everything goes straight from the dining table into the dishwasher. Of course, it is inevitable that all kinds of food residues will still be on the dishes.

These food residues, as well as grease residues and other particles, are loosened during washing and caught by the dishwasher sieve. If this sieve did not exist, these residues would clog the dishwasher pump. Without regular cleaning, this helper quickly turns into a problem creator.

But hand on heart: when was the last time you cleared your dishwasher sieve of those nasty residues? Just like the lint filter in the washing machine, this part of the dishwasher is often neglected. But that’s over now! With our tips, cleaning the dishwasher sieve is child’s play!

When should you clean the dishwasher filter?

You should take a closer look at the sieve every 2 to 4 weeks at the latest. With intensive use or if you often wash greasy pots, even weekly. You should act immediately if you notice the following warning signs:

• Unpleasant odors from the machine
• Dirty puddles of water on the floor
• The dishes no longer get properly clean
• Visible food residue in the sieve

How to clean the dishwasher strainer – step by step

Admittedly, cleaning the dishwasher sieve is not your favorite activity. In fact, it can be quite disgusting the longer you put off cleaning it. So get over it now the first time and don’t let so much time pass until the next cleaning:

• Preparation: It is advisable to clean the dishwasher sieve directly after a wash cycle. Switch off the machine and allow it to cool down. Remove the lower basket.
• Remove the sieve: The sieve usually consists of several parts. Unscrew the upper sieve anticlockwise, then you can simply lift out the lower sieve.
• Rinse thoroughly: Rinse both parts under warm water. Remove stubborn residue with an old toothbrush or a soft sponge.
• For heavy soiling: Soak the sieve in warm water with a little washing-up liquid for 15 minutes. Baking soda or citric acid help with limescale deposits.
• Put it back in: Insert the lower strainer first, then the upper one and turn it clockwise to tighten.

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Tip: When cleaning the sieve, you can check it for damage and cracks. If the component is broken, replace it immediately – a broken sieve can damage your entire machine, resulting in expensive repairs or a new purchase.

Cleaning the dishwasher sieve only costs you a few minutes, but extends the life of your machine considerably and ensures hygienically clean dishes. Your dishwasher will thank you with reliable service!

Source: utopia.de

Zucchinis are hobby gardeners’ friends. No wonder – after all, the plants from the pumpkin family can be grown in pots or on the balcony. But be careful: zucchinis can be poisonous.

Increasingly frequent poisoning from zucchinis

In 2015, a report made the rounds that a hobby gardener had died from his home-grown zucchinis. Consumer protection ministries in various federal states regularly warn of poisoning from cucurbits, which include zucchinis. How can this happen?

To reassure you: For a zucchini to become poisonous, several unfavorable factors must come together, which is relatively unlikely. In addition, you can easily recognize a risky fruit by its taste. The following factors can contribute to the potential danger, as they promote the formation of the so-called cucurbitacinsthe toxic bitter substances.

This makes zucchini poisonous

1. the proximity of other cucurbits

If you also have ornamental pumpkins in the bed near the zucchini plant, there is a risk of Risk of cross-breeding. Ornamental pumpkins are not edible as they contain cucurbitacins to protect them from predators. If such crosses occur, the seeds of the resulting fruits can lead to problems.

2. the use of home-grown seeds

Cucurbitacins have been bred out of commercially available seeds, and such seeds normally pose no danger. However, if the hobby gardener uses home-grown seeds, there may be a risk from back mutation (see point 1) to form the toxic bitter substances.

3. intense heat and sunlight

An aspect that should be taken into account, especially in hot summers like this one: If the plants suffer from Heat or drought stresscan also lead to the formation of bitter substances.

4. very large fruits

The content of bitter substances increases the longer the fruit ripens. Not only for this reason, but also because of the more aromatic taste, zucchinis are best harvested young.

How can you recognize poisonous fruit?

It’s actually quite simple: if a zucchini tastes bitter, you shouldn’t eat it under any circumstances, not even in small quantities! The pensioner from Heidenheim made this mistake in 2015. Despite the inedible taste, the 79-year-old ate a zucchini casserole made from home-grown fruit and later succumbed to the consequences. This is of course an extreme case. The possible consequences of fruit contaminated with cucurbitacin are Nausea, vomiting, stomach cramps, diarrhea and possibly worse symptoms of the digestive tract, in some cases even severe gastroenteritis with fatal consequences. Another example: In Schleswig-Holstein in the summer of 2019, a 78-year-old woman had to be treated in hospital for three days after eating several pieces of bitter zucchini.

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Of course, this is no reason to give up tasty zucchinis. The risk of actually getting poisonous fruit is almost non-existent in the trade and only exists in your own garden if the above-mentioned circumstances are combined. The main thing is to follow the simple rule: if it tastes bitter, dispose of it immediately!

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Sources: spiegel, mlr.baden-württemberg

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.