Lüften involves opening windows in order to air out a space and improve air circulation, replacing stale indoor air with fresh outdoor air. This can improve air quality in the room and keep the air from getting too dry.
Lüften is a part of the culture and a practical aspect of daily life in Germany, especially during the colder seasons when windows are typically kept closed. The idea is to briefly open windows wide for a short period of time, usually a few minutes, to allow for a complete exchange of indoor air.
What do Germans call it when they open all the windows?
A further degree of Lüften is Querlüften. Not for the faint of heart or those predisposed to chilliness, to Querlüft is to open all of the windows of a house or office for at least five minutes to allow air to flow freely and replace the “stuffy” air with fresh air.
"Lüften works simply by manually opening your windows either in the morning or in the evening to release an excess build up of carbon dioxide, mold, bacteria, allergens or condensation, while also allowing oxygen back into the interior environment," Riddei says.
The practice is known as lüften ("ventilate" in English) and involves opening the windows of your home every day in order to ensure that there is an exchange of air: the stale, dirty indoor air goes out and is replaced by fresh air from the outdoors.
They are manufactured with precision engineering and strict quality control standards. German manufacturers use advanced materials and technologies to create windows that can withstand harsh conditions, provide excellent insulation, and have a long lifespan.
How long to leave windows open to air out a house in winter?
During the winter months, you should open your house at least once a day, no matter how bitterly cold it is outside. It doesn't have to be for long, opening a window or door for even just a few minutes will create a cross-draught. The old, damp air will exit your home and fresh air will return.
Schleswig-Holstein, a state in northern Germany, is dropping Microsoft software across government offices. Starting this September, around 30,000 public workers will stop using tools like Word, Excel, Outlook, and Teams. LibreOffice and Open-Xchange will replace Microsoft apps.
When toasting with friends in Germany, it is crucial that you maintain eye contact. Legend has it that if eye contact is not sure and steady, you won't just suffer bad luck, but bad sex – and seven years of it to boot! Needless to say that no German will ever blink during a toast.
The general guidelines are to do it twice a day for 30 minutes in the summer, then reduce the time to 10-15 minutes in spring and autumn, and just five minutes in the wintertime. By opening the windows, you let the moist, warm out of your home and replace it with cold, dry air.
"Forget fighting over the covers or feeling every toss and turn - German couples have mastered the art of sleeping together without disturbing one another. Instead of one double mattress, they opt for two single ones within the same bed frame, paired with separate duvets for ultimate comfort and uninterrupted rest.
And for people living in (East) Germany from 1933 through to the end of the Cold War, this meant that privacy was paramount. They knew that any deviance from national, “patriotic” expectations could be severely punished. So Germans became very secretive in their daily lives.
By opening windows for a few minutes Lüften helps reduce humidity levels, preventing mold, mildew, and stale odors. The practice also flushes out pollutants, allergens, and bacteria that accumulate especially during the winter when heating systems tend to dry out the air and trap pollutants.
He traces the two-door house back to the combined dwelling house and animal stall—sometimes called a “housebarn” or Wohnstallhaus — which existed in every Germanic area of Europe in the first millennium. At first there were separate entrances to the animal stalls and the dwelling portion of these large houses.
Note that instead of using the progressive as in English (It's raining), German employs the simple present: “Es regnet.” (It rains). Die Sonne scheint.
Another key point for forming polite German phrases is the subjunctive II mode, which is, among many other uses, used to express wishes and form polite requests. Hättest du…? Would you have…? Könnten Sie bitte...?
Luften translates into “ventilation”. Germans typically build houses and hotels as airtight as possible to help with energy efficiency. While they do have heating as the winters can get very cold, many homes and other buildings do not have air conditioning. This can make it hot in the summer.
Stoßlüften, or “shock ventilation,” refers to a method of rapidly ventilating indoor spaces to improve air quality and reduce humidity levels. This technique is particularly relevant in the context of energy-efficient buildings where airtightness is a priority.
Due to mechanical requirements, the handle that operates the window hardware is installed on the window vent, opposite of the hinges. Thus, it tilts and turns with the window. Think of a large, outward turning window on the third floor and you understand quickly why tilt and turn windows are designed to open inwards.
Opening windows is one of the simplest ways to reduce condensation in the bathroom. Although opening a window may not be high on the agenda during a cold winter's morning shower, it's an easy way to help excess moisture and steam escape rather than clinging to the water vapour and landing on surfaces around the room.
Even without an open window, fans can improve air flow. Point fans away from people. Pointing fans toward people can blow contaminated air directly at them. Use ceiling fans to help improve air flow in the home whether or not windows are open.
For a strong ventilation, open the front and back door, along with windows on the path in between, to get the baddies out. Opening the windows also lets the outdoor microbiome mingle with your indoor one, diversifying the good bacteria in your home to help strengthen your immune system, says Justin Sonnenburg, Ph.
