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Crawling silverfish in the kitchen or bathroom: many people are disgusted by this sight. The creepy crawlies dart around quickly and are hard to catch. However, you can get rid of the animals with the help of a few home remedies.

Silverfish love kitchens, bathrooms or basements

In contrast to their tropical and subtropical relatives, Central European silverfish live exclusively in human dwellings. You can usually find them in the kitchen, bathroom, toilet, laundry room or in the basement, because they love high humidity and warmth. The animals also prefer room temperatures between 20 and 30 degrees. The silverfish are nocturnal and hide in dark cracks, joints, crevices and holes during the day. This can be, for example, in wallpaper, floors, baseboards and skirting boards.

In the dark, the silverfish go in search of food in the apartment. Diet consists primarily of carbohydrates, such as hair, dander, dust mites, flour, cereals, baked goods, starchy glue or wallpaper paste, cotton, linen, silk, mold, paper and synthetic fibers, dead insects, and sugar. Silverfish are also able to go several months without food. Earwigs and spiders are known to be natural predators of silverfish. If the conditions in your apartment are right, the silverfish multiply rapidly. In dry and cold conditions, no propagation can take place.

Silverfish become sexually mature at around one year old and can live up to eight years if living conditions are favourable. Silverfish have probably been inhabiting the earth for 300 million years and are among the oldest animal species. Solitary silverfish can even be seen as beneficial in your home, as they eat allergy-causing dust mites and mold. Silverfish do not pose a threat to human health. It has not yet been proven that they transmit diseases. For these reasons, individual animals do not have to be fought. However, if silverfish appear in large numbers, this can be an indication of a mold problem in your home.

Silverfish can be a sign of mold in the home

If there is a suspicion that the humidity in the apartment is too high, you will see this in the silverfish population. If you notice that there are a lot of silverfish in your kitchen, bathroom or basement, it makes sense to consult a mold expert.

If you want to prevent a silverfish infestation, it helps to ventilate the room regularly and provide additional heat in damp rooms. The hiding places that the animals use during the day can be sealed off, for example. If this is not possible, daily, thorough vacuuming of the hiding places will help. If you suspect silverfish in the bathroom or toilet, you can scald the drains in the sinks and tubs with hot water and close the drains overnight. If you find the silverfish in the basement, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to accept earwigs and spiders that might also be there. The silverfish are namely on their menu.

There are also some home remedies for silverfish that can help you get rid of them. For example, the little animals do not like the scent of lavender and lemon at all. Lavender oil or a few squirts of lemon in the mop water are guaranteed to help get rid of the silverfish. Honey is also great for removing the pests from the home. Spread it on a piece of cardboard and throw away the glued silverfish along with the cardboard the next day. After a few repetitions, you gradually bring them out of the apartment. The potato trick works well too. To do this, place a hollowed-out potato on foil. If the animals eat into the potato during the night, you can wrap it in foil the next morning and dispose of it. A slightly harder method is baking powder mixed with sugar. After eating, the belly of the silverfish bursts and they die. Sticky traps* are not exactly animal-friendly either, but they serve their purpose. The animals stick to the trap overnight, which attracts them with a special scent and you can dispose of them together with the trap.

Get rid of silverfish – if necessary with chemical weapons

If you have some sympathy for the silverfish but still want to get rid of them, the best way to do this is with a glass trap. Ideally, you should use a large glass, such as a pickle jar, that is wrapped with crepe on the outside. This makes it easier for the animals to get in. There should be an attractant for the silverfish in the jar. For example cookies or oatmeal. The animals crawl into the jar overnight but can no longer escape because the inside of the jar, which is not covered with crepe, is too smooth. The next day you can release them outside of your home and they can go on living.

If nothing helps and you can’t get rid of the silverfish, you can opt for chemical weapons. There are very good sprays* that help against vermin*, including silverfish. Caution: Here, however, all instructions for use and warnings should be read, observed and then implemented before use. In order to protect pets and roommates, it is worth using a special silverfish trap* that does not use any chemicals at all. With bait boxes*, it is also advisable to follow the manufacturer’s specifications exactly. As a last resort, if nothing else helps, a so-called fogger could be used. A fogger fogs bugs out of the smallest cracks, but it should only be used with extreme caution.

It may be worth getting the professional advice of an exterminator. The professional recognizes the possible causes of the infestation and can act quickly and purposefully so that the silverfish infestation is not spread and a renewed, delayed outbreak of the population can be prevented.

Uncomfortable hiccups sometimes come out of nowhere and can be extremely annoying. We’ll tell you how burping occurs and which simple tricks and effective home remedies you can use to quickly get rid of hiccups.

This is what happens in your body when you hiccup

Babies hiccup even in the womb. However, there are different theories as to why the increased burping exists in the first place. On the one hand, it could be used to train the breathing reflex. Another theory is that this is to prevent fluid from entering the lungs.

What is certain, however, is that the diaphragm cramps during the hiccups. As a result, the glottis between the vocal cords closes reflexively. The inhaled air, which at this moment can no longer escape from the lungs, consequently hits against the closed vocal cords. According to the German Lung Foundation, this can cause the typical “hiccup” noise. Key nerves in the diaphragm (Nervus phrenicus) and in the brainstem count as triggers for the present spasm.

The most common causes: How do hiccups occur in the first place?

Hiccups can occur in a variety of situations. However, the unpleasant hiccups occur particularly frequently during or after eating – especially if the food was consumed too quickly. The belching is then caused by the increased swallowing of air. But also the immediate succession of hot and cold food or drinks can be a trigger for the spasm of the diaphragm. The situation is similar with strongly fluctuating temperature differences.

If you suffer from strong excitement or were frightened, the increased burping can also occur. Because in psychologically stressful situations, those affected usually tend to have hectic, restless breathing. Hiccups occur in a very similar way to the infrequent gulping of air when you eat too quickly. Heavy consumption of nicotine and alcohol is also a typical cause. Medications such as anesthetics or tranquilizers can also cause the unpleasant symptoms. If hiccups occur during pregnancy, the embryo is usually in a position that presses on the diaphragm.

Get rid of hiccups: These home remedies help best

A wide variety of home remedies and tips can be used as quick help against acute hiccups. Despite their differences, they all have one thing in common: the tricks are intended to distract those affected for a short time. Since hectic breathing in particular causes the diaphragm to cramp, it also helps to consciously relax it. Ultimately, the only way to find out which method is best for getting rid of stubborn hiccups is to try it out.

To get rid of hiccups, it is recommended to drink a glass of ice water or quite consciously think up answers to certain questions. These methods are intended to lead back to normal breathing through targeted distraction.
A popular home remedy for hiccups is a small portion of apple cider vinegar or lemon juice on a sugar cube. Thanks to the acid, the nerves are also briefly distracted.
If you drink fennel tea slowly, at best only by the spoonful, this can also help to get rid of annoying hiccups.
Laughter is not only fun, but also ensures a loosened and relaxed diaphragm.
If you let yourself be startled, it has a very similar effect to laughing. A jerky twitch in the event of a shock can allow the diaphragm to relax again after a brief contraction.
Holding your breath and swallowing dry several times is another good way to slowly regain control of your breathing.
Sticking out your tongue or rolling your back for a few breaths will also help calm your breathing. Both techniques ensure that breathing takes place more strongly over the abdomen and is thus more relaxed. As a result, the spasm in the diaphragm can relax.
Breathing regulation can also be achieved by holding your breath or breathing into a bag. This increases the carbon dioxide concentration (CO₂) in the blood and thus provokes deep, more even breathing. But be careful: you should not overdo it with this technique. Otherwise, circulatory problems and even loss of consciousness can result.

How to effectively prevent hiccups

To prevent hiccups, you should ensure an upright, straight posture when consuming food or drinks. You should also take your time eating and try to breathe as calmly as possible. Smaller portions also help. In addition, still, unsweetened drinks are generally better tolerated. On the other hand, carbonated liquids promote the occurrence of hiccups.

Chronic hiccups: You can do this if the burping is persistent

Usually hiccups only last a few minutes. The intensity can vary greatly – around four to 60 hiccups per minute are completely harmless. If the increased burping lasts longer than two days, experts speak of a so-called chronic hiccups. Those affected usually find this very stressful and exhausting. Not infrequently, lack of sleep and depression are the result. It is therefore particularly important that a doctor is consulted as soon as possible. Even if an exact determination of the causes of chronic hiccups is usually difficult, the symptoms can be alleviated with medication.

In some cases, other diseases are responsible for the chronic hiccups. On the one hand, these are inflammations in the esophagus, stomach or small intestine. If these are associated with swelling in particular, irritation of the diaphragm and its nerves is possible. On the other hand, nerve disorders, for example in the brain, can cause permanent restrictions and cramps in the diaphragm. In addition, hormonal diseases or infections, such as Ebola, are possible triggers for persistent, chronic hiccups.

Despite the digital age, annoying commercials are still common. As a flyer in the pedestrian zone, in the car, or in the mailbox, you are never safe. Now use the best tips for avoiding junk mail and unsubscribing to keep the mailbox free of really important messages.

What is promotional mail?

Advertising mail, flyers, or free magazines often end up in the mailbox unintentionally. Advertising flyers are the ideal means of distributing information very quickly in the local or regional environment. This usually happens as a personal handover in pedestrian zones, by being stuck behind car windscreen wipers, or by dropping it in mailboxes. However, an estimated 1.3 – 1.83 million tons of paper waste for unaddressed advertising material is generated every year. And that although most people do not want this advertising mail and find it annoying.

Tips against advertising in the mailbox

So that you can avoid annoying advertising mail, there are a few tricks to defend yourself against it. As a result, you avoid full mailboxes and unnecessary paper waste and can make your household more sustainable. Accordingly, proceed as follows:

1) Avoid unaddressed junk mail

This type of advertising mail annoys most people because it’s really just paper for the bin. It usually draws attention to the new pizza shop or the new nail salon around the corner. But now you can protect yourself well against this type of advertising mail. To do this, put a note or sticker in your mailbox that says “No advertising”. According to the Federal Court of Justice, companies must comply with this request.

2) Unsubscribe from addressed junk mail

Unfortunately, if the mailing is clearly addressed to your name and address, a simple sticker will not suffice. As a result, you can subscribe to the DVD Robinson list and unsubscribe from annoying advertising mail. But that only applies to advertising from companies that are members of the Association for German Dialogue Marketing Association. Accordingly, you must unsubscribe from advertising from other companies directly and in writing or prohibit delivery.

3) Get rid of free weeklies

Even for the free weekly papers, a sticker saying “No advertising” is not enough. In order to avoid this junk mail, you need to expand the request on the mailbox and clearly write, “No free newspapers, weeklies, or magazines.” Or contact the editors of the weekly newspaper directly and let them know that you would like to unsubscribe from the advertising mail. In addition, note tips on the right of withdrawal and return for internet orders.

4) Sue companies

If you find annoying advertising mail in your mailbox despite the measures taken, you can sue the company in question. But you should keep in mind that it could be a lot of work and expense for you. And that is usually not worthwhile, although you could consider this if you have legal protection insurance.

5) Annoying advertising on the car

The flyer that is perceived as the most annoying is certainly the one on the car. As a private person, you don’t have that many options to defend yourself. The supposedly good idea with the charge of property damage (scratches on the car) fails because of the evidence. One of the few chances to indirectly get a little right is to have the authorities check whether a commercial advertising leaflet has the appropriate approval. This is needed because road traffic is misused (there is now a corresponding judgment from the Düsseldorf Higher Regional Court). The penalty for distributing advertising leaflets alone without permission can be as high as 1,000 euros.

Avoid winter depression with these clever tips. Declare war on the winter blues and bad moods now. Stay healthy with natural home remedies and get fit through the winter.

Winter is slowly arriving and with the cold season, not only the temperatures but also the immune system and the mood often fall into the red.

What is winter depression?

The lack of sunlight and the gray weather are triggers for winter depression. These so-called seasonal depressions in winter often occur together with listlessness and fatigue and many people suffer from this annually recurring depressive mood. However, these winter depressions can be avoided with simple tips.

1) Healthy eating

Especially in winter, it is important that we equip ourselves with all vitamins because an adequate supply lifts the spirits and prevents depression. We need vitamin C for the formation of the happiness hormone serotonin, as well as for a strong immune system, which is why citrus fruits such as tangerines or oranges are both healthy treats and real vitamin C bombs. Other good suppliers of vitamin C are seasonal vegetables such as kale, savoy cabbage, or white cabbage.

How about a green smoothie made from kale and oranges? But vitamin B6, which can also be found in cabbage, green beans, and lentils, forms the depression killer serotonin. Do you like cracking walnuts in winter? This is great, because the omega-3 fatty acids found in walnuts and flaxseed are not only good for the brain but also good for avoiding winter blues. Also, note our home remedies to strengthen your immune system.

2) Supplement vitamins

We cannot get all the vitamins from our food in winter, which means that we are welcome to help with supplements. Most people are vitamin D deficient because vitamin D is only found in sunlight. This means that we are supplied with it even less in the dark season. Vitamin D deficiency manifests itself as a lack of drive and fatigue. Also, read our tips against tiredness.

Vitamin deficiency is considered to be one of the main triggers for depression in winter or for the so-called seasonally dependent depression. Here vitamin tablets help to replenish the memory. In general, it can be helpful to take additional vitamin tablets every day, but these do not replace a balanced diet. For those who prefer not to take pills at all, natural antidepressants and mood enhancers might be something for you. Black cumin oil is suitable as a home remedy for physical and mental well-being.

3) Warm baths or showers for depression

Cold and wet weather outside in winter makes you depressed? There is nothing nicer than pampering yourself with a warm bath and switching off. A cold bath or a relaxing bath is healthy for the body and soul. Bath bombs can color the water and lift spirits. The right scents declare war on winter depression: lavender has a calming effect, while citrus scents put you in a good mood. Why not bring summer into the bathroom with summery scents such as coconut or passion fruit? Scented candles placed on the edge of the bathtub create a pleasant atmosphere. Note our other ideas for body relaxation with bath additives and peelings.

Is no bathtub available? No problem – there are also great shower gels, peelings, and body lotions that sweeten your winter with the right scents. Incidentally, it doesn’t always have to be warm here, because contrast showers and a few minutes of cold showers revitalize you even in winter and get your circulation going. You can also massage yourself in the shower with massage sponges or use shower jelly. Fragrant body milk or body butter is particularly important to protect the skin from drying out. Applying lotion slowly helps to consciously perceive the body. For the ultimate wellness feeling, you can turn your bathroom into a wintry spa on your own four walls.

4) Invigorating drinks are good for winter blues

In winter, a good cup of tea is a must. Fresh ginger and lemon are the big hits here because they are not only healthy and strengthen the immune system, but they also help against winter depression. Simply pour warm water over ginger pieces and lemon slices and leave to infuse. Yogi teas, chai, and other Indian spice blends provide the energy boost you need. Try our great tips for making tea with temperature and brewing time.

Golden milk is also a miracle weapon: mix warm almond or oat milk with a little turmeric, ginger, vanilla, a pinch of aniseed and coriander, and if you like, a little cinnamon. Would you like even more spice? Some pepper and chili in the Golden Milk is healthy and gives you power. This Indian insider tip not only warms you from the inside and tastes wintry, but also impresses with its beautiful yellow color. But the classic is cocoa, which is also a true mood enhancer. Discover the healthy effects of cocoa as a miracle cure.

5) Get out into nature! The immune system is also happy

Especially in winter: put on a winter jacket and explore the area, because how do you say it? There is no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing. A wintry landscape invites you to walk and dream. Maybe one of the other parks offers good motives for photos?

Maybe you meet one or the other animal that you can still observe? Walks and fresh air help against brooding and circling thoughts. Connecting with nature brings new ideas and turns winter depression into winter motivation. The immune system and our mood will thank us if we don’t just hide away at low temperatures, but become active.

The growth of moss is particularly favored in wet and windy weather. Moss is particularly annoying on stones and moss also likes to accumulate on your own house wall. Over time, the moss growth can damage the joints until they finally begin to crumble.

Cola as an effective moss remover

However, there is a simple and effective solution to the problem: Conventional cola, regardless of the brand, can be used to remove moss and can also prevent any moss infestation.

Due to the phosphoric acid contained in the cola, the moss dies off within a few days and, thanks to the acid it contains, leaves an unfavorable environment for the growth of moss.

A trick without negative consequences

You don’t have to worry about staining the stones with this simple trick, as the dye in the cola isn’t strong enough to cause discoloration. The joints in the house wall are also not damaged by the cola.

This method can be used on any stone surface infested with moss. It is particularly effective on fine moss and therefore also suitable for hard-to-reach places. With a coke and a sponge or cloth, you can get rid of the stubborn moss so that the stone shines again in its original appearance.