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Removing wax stains from wood is very easy. Especially in the wintertime, people like to make themselves comfortable with candles. But when wax gets on the wooden furniture, it’s annoying. But the following tricks will help you remove the wax.

Once you weren’t careful and some wax got onto your beloved wooden table. Or you discover a wax stain on the beautiful wooden floorboards. But how do you remove the wax without leaving scratches on the wood? We have collected simple tricks.

1) Remove the wax from the wood with a hairdryer

Removing wax stains from wood can be really easy. Because all you need is some kitchen paper, a hairdryer and vinegar water for polishing. Accordingly, first, heat the candle wax with the hairdryer until it can be removed with a paper towel. Then briefly wipe the affected area with cleaning vinegar water and the wax stain will have disappeared.

2) Get rid of stains with an iron

The principle is the same as with the hairdryer. Because in order to be able to remove the wax stain on wood, you have to heat the wax. To do this, place a cloth or blotting paper on the wax stain. Then go over it with the iron until the wax liquefies. Then wipe everything clean with a cloth. Also, read tips on how to clean the iron.

3) Remove wax stains from wood with hot water

If you want to remove the wax stain on wood without much effort, use hot water. As with the other methods, take an old cloth and place it over the stain. Then pour hot water over it and wipe away the stain as soon as it liquefies. But be careful not to burn yourself! You should also be careful with untreated wood. Because that could get water damage. In addition, note tips for removing wax stains and candle wax and how to remove grease stains from wood.

“But the rain forest is cut down for your soy” – this is still a popular bogus argument against a vegan or vegetarian lifestyle. Apart from the fact that soy is a staple food for very few vegetarians, the content of the argument is also very weak.

Who eats tofu contributes to deforestation? We are certainly not the only ones who can no longer hear this and have got to the bottom of this claim.

Rainforest deforestation because of soy?

It is true that more than three quarters of the global soybean harvest comes from Brazil, the USA and Argentina (see FAO). In Brazil in particular, deforestation for arable land is a well-known problem.

However: The vast majority of the soybean grown worldwide is processed into animal feed; according to various sources it is 75 to 85 percent. A large part of the remaining soybeans becomes soybean oil. This means that the proportion that is processed into other foods for human consumption – such as the often cited tofu products or soy drinks – is comparatively small.

Soybeans also grow in Europe

However, one could argue that rainforests may have been cut down for soy. Theoretically yes. In practice, this is very unlikely, at least for German goods. Soybeans, from which tofu, soy drinks or other plant-based alternative products are made for the German market, almost always come from Europe, often even from Germany and neighboring countries. While that doesn’t solve all of agriculture’s problems, of course, at least in Europe, there’s no real need to worry about deforestation for soybean cultivation.

So if, at the next debate about plant-based nutrition, you are once again confronted with the claim that as a tofu consumer you are to blame for the destruction of the rainforest and are therefore actually no better than meat eaters and can actually save yourself the whole thing – who or what she can now calmly answer that this is unlikely because our soy does not come from rain forest regions at all.

On the contrary, the rainforest is much more likely to be cleared to make way for animal feed and therefore meat. So if you are seriously concerned about the rainforest, it is better to avoid meat and milk than soy products.

And no, that doesn’t make vegetarians and vegans better people, because there are still tons of pitfalls and conflicts that need to be weighed up. And it certainly doesn’t apply to all countries. But it might help, at least here, to counter paralyzing bogus arguments and make some meat fans think.

This is where the soybeans for tofu and soy drinks come from

We have researched – as an example and without claiming to be complete – at the large retail chains and some well-known brands where the soy for their tofus and drinks comes from. Although the selection only represents a section of the market, the results provide a very clear trend: the majority of the major supermarket chains and brands source their soybeans from Europe.

Tips to prevent dough from collapsing. We have collected a few tips for you so that your cake does not collapse while baking and keeps its beautiful shape.

Why cakes collapse:

Anyone who likes to bake knows the problem. The dough rises nicely in the oven and then collapses. But why is that? And how can you prevent the dough from collapsing? The reason why cakes collapse is usually the gluten they contain. Because this is released when kneading and stirring too intensively. Then it acts like glue and binds the dough. Consequently, the cake will collapse.

Tips to prevent dough from collapsing

If you like to bake and bake often, there are tricks to help you keep the dough from collapsing. You should always keep in mind that every type of flour contains gluten, which can be responsible for the breakdown. Therefore, use the following tips for healthy baking yourself:

1) Do not knead and stir dough for a long time

In order to prevent the dough from collapsing, the contained gluten should not be released. Since this happens when kneading and stirring the dough, only a little kneading and stirring is allowed. Consequently, 30 seconds or one minute will suffice. But avoid kneading the mass for several minutes. Also note tips for letting yeast dough rise properly.

2) Add flour at the end

Another good tip is to add the flour last to the dough. The same applies to the home remedy baking powder and starch. Because this means that it is not mixed for so long and the gluten is not released. In addition, the dough will not clump as quickly and your cake will keep its nice shape.

3) Preventing the dough from collapsing in the oven

If you want to prevent the batter from collapsing while baking in the oven, keep the oven door closed. Because with dough with baking powder, no change in cold air must disturb the baking process. In addition, every time the oven door is opened, heat escapes, which the oven then has to produce again. Consequently, every opening costs energy and money. So let the cake bake in peace and watch it through the glass pane to save electricity. So only open the door for a cooking test or to cover the cake with aluminum foil, for example, if the top is getting too brown. If you want to save energy, you can switch off the oven 10 minutes before the end of the baking time. Then the cake bakes in the still hot oven with the remaining heat.

More tips to prevent the cake from collapsing

In addition to the tricks already mentioned, you should observe the following rules when baking so that your cake does not collapse and baking cookies with the family is a success:

  • Bake with room temperature ingredients.
  • Don’t let the cake cool too quickly.
  • Temperature and oven function depend on the type of dough.

Parents always want to do everything right and protect their children. And rightly so, because especially in the first months and years of life, newborns and small children depend on the protection of their parents. Therefore use valuable tips for child protection.

Protect children in everyday life

There are many dangers lurking in everyday life. It can be dangerous not only outside but also in your own four turns. Adequate child protection is therefore important and should be taken seriously by adults. Small children in particular want to explore their environment and cannot distinguish between dangerous and harmless things. Consequently, parents need to protect their children and should pay attention to a few important aspects in the home and outside. Because if you know about possible dangers, you can identify and eliminate them more quickly. This gives your child a safe start in life.

1) Create a safe home

It’s hard to believe, but according to a study, more than 80 percent of injuries in small children requiring treatment can be traced back to accidents in the home or other facilities. It is therefore an essential precautionary measure to make your own four walls childproof. Consequently, make sure that stairs are fitted with gates and houseplants are out of the reach of small children. You should also check the garden and ensure more child protection here. Are there open water points, such as ponds, watercourses, or rain barrels? Then make them inaccessible with a fence or cover. Because even a few centimeters of water depth can pose a danger for small children.

2) Door lock to protect children

Doors also pose a danger. Small children can quickly get bad injuries here. As soon as the dear little ones become mobile, you need a good mechanical door lock. Then your child cannot leave the room unnoticed or get stuck in the door. Here you can remedy the situation with a small bell that you simply tie to the door to protect children. As soon as the bell rings, you know that your little treasure is on a journey of discovery. Likewise, always lock the apartment or front door so that your child does not go hiking unnoticed.

3) Safe toy and use

As a child, pretty much anything becomes an interesting toy. You should therefore remove all dangerous objects and store them safely so that your child cannot steal them. But that’s not all. You should also carefully examine the toys that your newborn babies or children bought specially. Because most everything is tried out with hands and mouth. It is therefore important that your children’s toys are safe. Quality and test seals will help you with this.

4) Identify hidden dangers and protect children

Dangers are not always as obvious as a knife or scissors lying around. The situation is different if the danger is not visible to the eye. Chemicals and pollutants in particular often remain undiscovered. These include, among other things, softeners and dyes contained in clothing, such as aniline. These get on the child’s skin and can cause irritation there. The whitening agents used in children’s clothing for visual reasons are also suspected of triggering allergies. When buying new clothing, it is best to look for the “oeko-tex” seal or the European eco-label in order to be able to protect your children. In general, it is worth making the household more sustainable.

5) Pay attention to the ingredients of care products

It is also advisable to take a close look at the ingredients of creams and shampoos. Because even care products that are advertised for babies and small children can contain additives that are unsuitable for sensitive children’s skin. This is particularly problematic with chemicals that have a similar effect to hormones in the body. In animal experiments, these showed reprotoxic effects. When it comes to caring products, parents should therefore turn to manufacturers of natural cosmetics to protect their children. You can also easily make natural cosmetics yourself, so you know exactly what’s in them.

6) Protect children in traffic

It is also dangerous for children and adults on the road. Since children are not sufficiently sensitized to these dangers at a young age, you should never take your eyes off your children on the road. So leave her in the stroller or take her by the hand. In addition, it can be helpful to make them aware of the dangers and to explain them. You should also be careful that they don’t run away or get lost. Child protection is therefore essential, especially in road traffic. Playgrounds or playing in the sandbox should also be accompanied or observed up to a certain age.

7) More security on escalators

Today, escalators are found almost everywhere, especially in department stores, subway stations, train stations, and airports. So they are part of our daily life and nobody would think of an accident. But they can also be dangerous, especially for children. Therefore, they should never play on escalators. Likewise, small children should always be accompanied by adults for sufficient child protection. Other tips on how to behave on the escalator are as follows:

  • Never step on the black treadmill; because here the danger is particularly high.
  • Be careful with plastic sandals, sneakers, or plastic boots, the up to the four-millimeter wide gap between the movable steps and the fixed sidewall can become a trap.
  • Do not sit on the escalator, because clothing such as scarves, coats and long hair can get caught in the gears of the chain drive through the gaps, and, in the worst case, lead to strangulation. This also applies in particular to the ends of the escalator.
  • And this is how you do it right: stand in the middle of the escalator, hold on to the handrail, don’t wear overly long scarves, and hold the children by the hand.

You can find many more informative tips and advice on the subject of safety in the e-book on child safety.

Coffee: strange, bizarre or funny – the perception of some extraordinary stories is different for each viewer. In the past few weeks we have again found and collected some interesting mishaps, finds and deeds.

I forgot 24,000 euros while getting my coffee

Munich is known for its prosperity and the rather high prices for rents, goods and gastronomy compared to the rest of the country. So when you hear that two coffees have reached a value of 24,000 euros, you hold your breath. One inevitably wonders whether the coffee was served with gold leaf or expensive spices in a fancy restaurant, or whether these are particularly large cups of the most expensive coffee, Kopi Luwak. The story behind it is completely different.

At Munich Central Station, shortly before their train departed, two gentlemen quickly each got a coffee-to-go. A short time later, father and son noticed that they had left their shoulder bag in the shop there. As if losing a bag with normal contents such as a cell phone, wallet and documents wasn’t bad enough, in this case 24,000 euros in cash was a whole new type of loss. A conscientious member of security from the restaurant immediately reported the finding of this bag to the police. After the find was taken care of and the officials had counted the money, they were amazed. In addition to the 24,000 euros already mentioned, the two gentlemen’s passports and credit cards were also found. Luckily, there was no big search because father and son got in touch relatively quickly. For all those who now think badly: The origin of the money could be proven and was properly registered. Of course, the two men didn’t just carry the money around with them for fun – no – it was intended for an operation on their sick father in Germany. In the end everything turned out well again. The father thanked the finder for his honesty and the son promised to take better care of his belongings in the future. What a story!

Coffee container as a hiding place for drugs

Once again something was hidden between a load of coffee from Brazil that definitely doesn’t belong there. However, the dimensions are unmatched. Said container came from Santos in Brazil and was shipped to Antwerp. Afterwards we went to Switzerland comfortably by train. There the journey ended for the brown beans and the stowaway, because a sports bag was found when the freight container was opened. This was well filled, because the contents were 191 kilograms of cocaine with a market value of around 70 million francs. That’s the equivalent of around 65 million euros. For this amount you can treat yourself to a lot of delicious coffee specialties every day for a really long time. This find was of course immediately reported to the responsible police. According to this, it is the largest find of cocaine in Switzerland to date. For this reason, it is suspected that the drugs were not intended for the Swiss market. It is much more likely that this delivery was intended for the intermediate station in Antwerp. It is assumed that the unloading and distribution of the parcels failed there. Perhaps one had simply overreached oneself with this enormous quantity. Antwerp is generally known as one of the largest drug hubs. The degree of purity of the drugs is also significant. This is more than 90% instead of the conventional 40%. Either way, we cannot understand this act and would rather enjoy a coffee – and that 100%.

The lemonade made from coffee is refreshing and sweet, instead of aromatic and slightly bitter. It tastes like a hint of orange and honey.

Coffee cherry lemonade

The world of coffee is diverse and full of surprises. Or would you have thought that there is a fruity fresh lemonade made from coffee? It is an absolute trend drink, which is a great alternative, especially in summer. Instead of the typical coffee aroma, the drink is more reminiscent of orange soda. The soda is made from the coffee cherry, which is otherwise a waste product in coffee production. In fact, the coffee bean is only a small part of the entire coffee cherry. In this way, the “selosoda” showerhead contributes to the extensive use of the coffee plant. This protects the environment and tastes really good at the same time.

selosoda – This is how the coffee lemonade came about

Lara Zumbaum, who was once responsible for beverage brands in marketing at mymuesli, had the innovative idea for the lemonade made from coffee. In fact, one-third of the coffee cherries harvested go to waste when used industrially. The outermost layers are thrown away, although there is still a lot of flavor variety and natural caffeine. Lara Zumbaum recognized the potential and developed selosoda. After the founder initially used the coffee cherries as tea, the idea of ​​a soft drink came up. The very sweet coffee cherry allows for a tasty coffee waste-tea based lemonade that is less sweet and made with no additives.

In the meantime, however, selosoda was threatened with extinction, because the approval of the coffee cherry as a foodstuff was revoked in the EU in 2017 – because it was not consumed in significant quantities in the EU before 1997. But the founder decided against giving up and decided to rethink: Now the focus is on the green, unroasted beans – Selo Green Coffee is born. The taste deviates somewhat from the original selosoda, but the cold drink has lost neither its freshness nor its aroma.

This is what coffee lemonade tastes like

Anyone who thinks that the lemonade tastes like coffee is wrong. In addition to the coffee cherry, the ingredients are organic citrus juice and carbon dioxide. Although there is only 15.6 grams of natural sugar in one liter, the soda tastes sweet and both orange and a little honey. The lemonade cannot serve with a bitter coffee taste, although the caffeine content corresponds to that of a double espresso. That is why it is also ideal as a refreshing pick-me-up on a warm summer’s day. The lemonade made from coffee just complements the diverse world of coffee drinks.

Is cocoa found only in chocolate? Is cocoa really unhealthy? What exactly is cocoa?

What exactly is cocoa?

Cocoa describes a variety of things. At the very beginning is the cocoa tree. This ripens particularly in sunny areas and bears the so-called cocoa pods. Once these have matured, they can be opened. Inside are the pulp and seeds. We know the latter in this country as cocoa beans. At the beginning, however, the seeds look very different – rather soft, light and white in colour.
Only the fermentation ensures that these transform into our classic brown cocoa beans. During this fermentation process, certain substances are released that later provide the chocolate flavor we crave when the beans are roasted. After that, a wide range of products such as cocoa drinks, chocolate or even cosmetics can now be manufactured.

Where is cocoa grown?

Similar to the coffee plant, the cocoa tree also needs a very special environment in order to thrive perfectly and blossom fully. The tropical heat around the equator is best suited for this. More than 40 countries around the world are now dedicated to the cultivation of cocoa. There are numerous growing areas, particularly in Asia, Latin America and Africa. However, around 75 percent of the total harvest comes from South Africa. The following countries are among the areas with the strongest cultivation areas:
Peru
Ivory Coast
Indonesia
Nigeria
Nicaragua
Papa New Guinea
Ghana
Brazil
Incidentally, the cocoa tree must never stand in direct sunlight. Therefore, the plants are often grown in the protection of the rainforest or planted together with mixed cultures such as coconut palms or citrus fruits, which cast shadows over the cocoa trees with their leaves.

These types of cocoa exist

Incidentally, there are four major types of cocoa beans, between which a distinction is made:
criollo
Trinity
Forastero
Arriba
The Forastero cocoa is generally considered to be the most well-known variety and is the most cultivated worldwide. But the other cocoas can also be found in the trade and offer various advantages depending on preference and taste. Incidentally, the seeds of the cocoa tree contain a large number of healthy ingredients. However, most of these are lost during drying (fermentation) and subsequent roasting. First of all, however, it should be said that the remaining ingredients also make cocoa a real super food.

How healthy is cocoa now?

As is almost always the case with cocoa, “It depends”. Cocoa can be divided into two categories. On the one hand there is the natural cocoa, which as pure cocoa powder has up to 350 calories per 100 grams. These are caused in particular by the fat content in raw cocoa. On the other side is the industrially produced cocoa. Here the calorie content can vary greatly and depends on the extent to which the powder has been de-oiled and sugared. With a cocoa content of mostly less than 25 percent and a high amount of sugar, this variant often has twice the number of calories as natural cocoa.

There are many variations of chai tea. It is always aromatic and very tasty. But how is it properly prepared? Learn more here.

Chai Tea – Indian specialty

Chai tea has been a classic drink in India for centuries. The aromatic tea with milk is served here for all occasions. Meanwhile, the rest of the world enjoys this tasty hot drink. There are always new variations, and chai tea is an integral part of any beverage list. But what makes Indian Chai tea so special?

Masala Chai – what’s in it?

In its pure form, chai tea is black tea that is refined with a blend of spices. It is therefore a spice tea. The term Chai Tea is a Western interpretation of the name. The term Cha originally comes from North Chinese and means tea. At that time it was spread along the most important trade route, the Silk Road. In this way, the original term cha became the word chai (pronounced chai) or cay.

Chai also stands for tea in India. The tea is therefore also correctly called Masala Chai. Because masala means “mixture” in the Hindu language. The spice mixture is not clearly defined. Cloves, cumin and other spices find their way into the mix. The following flavor carriers are used particularly frequently:
cardamom
blackberry leaves
Cinammon
star anise
cloves
Ginger
The tea mixture should be stored in an airtight container. Otherwise, some of the spices will quickly lose their fine aroma and the tea will then no longer have the typical spicy taste.

Enjoy modern interpretations of chai tea

In India, chai tea is almost always made from black tea. However, the constantly growing tea culture outside the country is happy to experiment with taste. So today there are a variety of interesting tea blends. Green tea, black tea, rooibos tea and tea blends from different varieties add variety to the teacups. Since the black tea blends are often very tart in the base note, these variants are very well suited to switching from a strong spiciness to a slightly milder taste.
Chai tea with rooibos is a good alternative for people who want to enjoy tea in the evening or are sensitive to caffeine. For those who like it really exotic, there are seasoning mixes with fruit or aromatic vanilla. A dash of milk is a must if you want to enjoy Chai tea in the traditional way. There are a number of variations of this today. With the help of fluffy milk foam, the classic drink becomes the popular Chai Tea Latte.

Observe the correct brewing time

The brewing time of the chai tea is determined by the base mixture. Green tea has a different brewing time than black tea. Especially with these two types of tea you should keep an eye on the brewing time. If this is too long, the tea can taste bitter very quickly. Rooibos tea tastes perfect after about five minutes, but can steep longer if necessary without an unpleasant taste developing. When buying chai teas, be sure to pay attention to the information on the brewing time. Just try a little with your own mixtures.
The tea can also be refined with various flavors in the form of syrup or special milk. Almond milk and coconut milk are popular additions among vegans. A dash of vanilla flavor turns the tea into a whole new drink. A good balance between sweet and tart is the best basis.

Enjoy chai tea at any time of the day

A black tea-based chai tea is a great morning pick-me-up. A chai tea with a herbal tea base helps to relax and switch off after a long day. If you want to recharge your batteries, you can use a green chai tea with lemon extract. The varied chai tea or latte is therefore always a good choice.

Tips and home remedies for removing ink stains from leather and clothing. Ink stains usually cannot be removed from clothing by washing. We show how it still works.

Simple ink stain removal tips

Every mother knows the problem and helplessness when ink from a ballpoint pen or fountain pen is found in the child’s clothes. Or when the printer cartridge has run out and is now soiling the beautiful wooden table. And everyone asks the same question: How do I save the beautiful piece of clothing? And is there even a way to save your favorite pair of trousers or your expensive sofa? Yes, there are. Because simple home remedies can remove stubborn ink stains or ballpoint pen stains. This means that no expensive or chemical cleaning agents are required. So use the following tips:

1) Remove ink stains from clothing

You don’t need a harsh and polluting chemical stain remover to get rid of the ink. But simple means from your household. Therefore, first, wash the stain with clear water. Then treat it with some salt or use cleansing lemon juice. Finally, let the respective home remedy work for about half an hour and wash it as usual. Similarly, deodorant stain removal tips and grass stain removal home remedies will help you.

2) Remove ink from upholstered furniture with hairspray

You can use hairspray to remove ink stains from clothing or upholstery. To do this, spray the dirty areas with the hairspray. You can then clean the area with a damp cloth. Also, note other tips for cleaning and caring for upholstery.

3) Remove ink stains on leather

Proper cleaning of leather is important. Otherwise, leather quickly looks unkempt and old. To get rid of ink stains on real or faux leather, use a soft cloth dampened with warm milk. Then you have to go over the spots with light movements and without pressure on the affected areas.

Evaporated salt offers you another option for leather goods. Moisten the salt with water and apply it to the stains. Don’t rub! Then let it work for 2 days and then remove the salt. Finally, wipe the affected areas with a soft cloth and spread a few drops of turpentine over them. You can also clean and remove ink stains from patent leather products with petroleum spirit.

4) Tricks to prevent ink stains

It’s best not to give the ink a chance to ruin your favorite bag or piece of furniture in the first place. Therefore, protect your belongings by preventing ink stains. You should follow a few tips for this. For example, you could put some cardboard under the printer or just put capped ink pens in the pockets.

Tips and tricks for removing rust stains from clothes. When using household ingredients rust stains are removed from surfaces and clothing. Before you simply remove rust stains, you should treat the rust stains thoroughly.

Remove rust stains from clothing

Stubborn rust can sometimes stain clothing. Especially if you want to remove rust from the grill grate in summer or do other work with rusty objects. Then quick action is required. But before you treat the rust stain, you should test the fabric for colorfastness in a hidden spot. If the clothing is colorfast, you can use simple home remedies to remove the rust stain. But here, too, there are a few rules to be observed so that the cleaning of the clothes is completely successful.

1) Vinegar to remove rust stains

In order for you to be able to successfully tackle rust stains, it is important to pretreat the stain with home remedies. Consequently, make a solution of 1 part vinegar essence and 8 parts water. Then treat the stain on the clothing with this solution. Then simply rinse the fabric thoroughly with clear water.

2) Remove lemon juice with salt to rust from clothes

You can also mix 1 part cleansing lemon essence with 8 parts water and use it to treat the rust stain as described above. Or mix lemon juice with salt and rub it into the dampened stain. Then let it take effect (overnight for severe stains). Finally, simply brush off the salt and wash the garment in the washing machine. Also, note how you can clean work clothes with salt.

3) Use baking soda to clean the stains

The tried and tested household remedy baking soda is also suitable for removing rust stains. To do this, put the powder on the affected area and pour some water over it. The bubbling reaction then ensures that the dirt particles are loosened. If necessary, repeat the process several times. In addition, read useful tips for removing the rust from cutlery and crockery.

Be careful when dosing and using home remedies. Home remedies such as baking powder or citric acid should be carefully tested on the garment beforehand. Because these can fade the clothing or attack sensitive fabrics.

4) Sour milk or buttermilk for rust

You can also soak the rust-stained garment in sour milk or buttermilk (preferably overnight). This applies in particular to colored laundry. After sufficient exposure time, rinse the garment well. Then put it in the washing machine, as usual, to be able to finally remove rust stains. You will also learn how to remove tar stains from work clothing.

5) Spot remover from the internet

Some home remedies may not produce the desired result. But don’t panic. If it has to be quick, you can use the stain remover from Dr. Use Beckmann to pretreat the stains.