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Door seals for gluing: Does this also work on uneven floors?
by Carolin Teufelberger
Optimally equipped: How to get your household ready for autumn
22.10.2020
Translation: machine translated
In addition to colourful leaves and pumpkin soup, autumn brings with it a few to-dos in your own four walls. The following tips will help you prepare your household for the golden season.
With the autumn season comes employees. There are a few things in and around your home that need your attention. You can munch on chestnuts by the crackling open fire later, because various areas of the home need special attention now. From shoes and doormats to radiators, window rubbers, guttering and garden furniture: they need special care before or during the cooler autumn months.
Cleaning radiators
Did you know that the heat output of your radiators decreases if too much dust collects there? Not only that: the fine particles can trigger a dust cough, which makes breathing in the dry autumn air even more unpleasant. That's why I recommend that you clean your radiators thoroughly. This includes dusting on and between the slats. First vacuum the entire radiator thoroughly. This way, you can get the worst of the dirt before you get to the finishing touches. With a fan brush, a feather duster or a special heater brush is the best way to get rid of the dust. A slightly more brutal method: take a hairdryer and use it to blow the dust out of the gaps. Don't forget to vacuum thoroughly afterwards.
Refresh your duvets
When you go outside in autumn, you put on a warm jacket. The same happens in the bedroom: The lightweight summer duvet gives way to the fluffy winter duvet. You often store your warm duvets in a cupboard in the basement during the summer months. Before you use them for the first time in autumn, I recommend washing out any odours and signs of wear. With a fine detergent this is easy to do. If the blankets and pillows contain down, a wool detergent is suitable. It is also important that you select a gentle wash cycle so that the blankets are not damaged. You will usually find details on the label about how to wash and dry the blankets. For the tumble dryer, we also recommend a tumbler- or tennis ball, to loosen the down that has been stuck together by the water. You can use the following rule of thumb when washing if you cannot find any care instructions: Microfibre, duvet, down and cotton duvets are best washed at 60 degrees Celsius. Silk, camel hair and cashmere blankets can be cleaned at a maximum of 30 degrees Celsius.
Placing doormats
If you don't already use floor mats all year round, I highly recommend them for autumn and winter. During these two seasons, you and your guests drag a lot of dirt, moisture and other things on your shoes from outside into your home. Doormats before and, if necessary, immediately after the front door help to prevent this. Plastic mats, on which you place damp shoes to drain and dry, are also helpful and protect your wooden floor or carpet. To prevent the floor mats themselves from looking like a dirty dirt track or even starting to mould after just a few days, you should vacuum them regularly. Wait until the dirt has dried. Then it's easier and you save yourself the hassle of brushing it out.
Protect your shoes
It's worth waterproofing your leather boots and other delicate materials so that you can wear them in autumn too. To do this, use the appropriate impregnation spray, which gives your shoes a water and dirt-repellent layer. The colour will also last longer. This also works for jackets and other items of clothing. I recommend impregnating fine and open-pored leather goods in particular - such as suede or suede. Even rain jackets can be treated with waterproofing spray. It is important that you also spray the edges and seams of all items of clothing. Wellington boots are the only shoes that do not need waterproofing. Clean them with soap and a brush before the start of the season. Then rub them with silicone oil to keep them supple and prevent cracks from forming.
Hibernating garden furniture
When the temperatures outside drop significantly, your activities tend to move indoors. So it's time to store your garden chairs and table. Plastic furniture does not require much care before storage: simply wash it briefly with soap, dry it completely and then pack it away. The same applies to rattan furniture. Wash any seat pads or cushions in the washing machine and store them in a dry place, for example in a cupboard or chest to prevent birds and rodents from using them to make their nests more pliable. You can leave aluminium or stainless steel furniture outside. If they are stackable, you can save space when storing them and, if necessary, cover them with a suitable cover. This means you don't have to clean them as much in spring before using them for the first time.
Prevent draughts
So that you can really enjoy those cosy hours on the couch, you should check all windows for leaks. They often no longer close properly because they have not been cleaned for a long time. You should also clean the window frames thoroughly. Doors also often have places where draughts occur because they no longer close properly. If cleaning does not help, you can use sealing tape to mask off the air-permeable areas on windows. If this doesn't work or you want a more decorative option, place draught excluders in front of the windows. This option also works for doors, as our colleague Carolin tried out herself.
Remove foliage
The bright colours that autumn gives the leaves may be beautiful to look at, but they are rather undesirable on the balcony or patio. The surface can be damaged on light-coloured floors and discolouration can occur if you leave the leaves lying around for too long. Regular wiping and picking up is advisable to prevent stains. If it is already too late, use stain remover salt, dissolve it in hot water and apply it to the discoloured areas. After leaving it on for a few minutes, wash it off and the worst stains should be gone. You should also remove any remaining leaves from the gutter to prevent it from clogging and causing water damage. Or you can install a protective screen.
Prepare the humidifier
The dry air caused by the warming heaters is a problem for many people in autumn and winter. To avoid suffering from a chesty cough, conjunctivitis or eczema during the cold days, I recommend starting the humidifier as early as possible. Humidifiers also reduce the risk of catching a cold. You should clean the humidifier before using it. Wipe the outside with a damp cloth. To clean the inside, add a few splashes of vinegar to the evaporating water. The vinegar water cleans and descales the appliance while disinfecting it at the same time. You should also clean or change any filters if you can no longer get them clean.
Do you know any other tips for preparing your household for autumn? Or do you know of any other products that will help you master the housekeeping pitfalls of the third season with ease? Then let us know in the comments column. If you don't want to miss any more tips and tricks about household management, then follow me by clicking on the "Follow author" button.
Raphael Knecht
Senior Editor
raphael.knecht@digitecgalaxus.chWhen I'm not stuffing my face with sweets, you'll catch me running around in the gym hall. I’m a passionate floorball player and coach. On rainy days, I tinker with my homebuilt PCs, robots or other gadgets. Music is always my trusted companion. I also enjoy tackling hilly terrain on my road bike and criss-crossing the country on my cross-country skis.
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