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The yellowed laundry looks unkempt. But how can you effectively clean yellowed laundry and make yellowed clothing white again? To make this work, we have collected the best home remedies for removing the yellow cast. As a result, yellowed shirts and dresses are a thing of the past.

Especially on special occasions, white and clean shirts are needed. Of course, it’s uncomfortable when the suit has been hanging in the closet for years and the shirt collar is now yellow. Then it’s time to clean your yellowed laundry.

Why does laundry get a yellow tinge?

Yellowed laundry or a gray haze over the white laundry is annoying. Because we prefer our laundry to be sparkling white and clean. But why is my laundry yellowing? The reasons for yellowed and gray laundry are mostly the wrong care. It is possible that you use the wrong products for your laundry or wash them incorrectly. Too low a temperature when washing or a washing machine that is too full can also prevent your laundry from being brilliantly white. Also, note that you should wash sensitive clothing by hand.

Home remedies for cleaning yellowed laundry

But not only the wrong care can cause a yellow cast. Long storage in the closet also causes yellowed shirts. Shirt collars in particular discolor quickly. Then simple home remedies will usually help you get your yellowed laundry white again. Also, note the tips for washing yellowed curtains and curtains.

1) Use of vinegar

If you want to get yellowed laundry white again, then clean it with the household remedy vinegar. To do this, fill the sink with water and add half a cup of vinegar. Then let the affected laundry soak in for about 30 – 40 minutes. Then wash everything with clear water. During the whole process, you should pay attention to the washing temperature. Because it shouldn’t get too hot.

2) White laundry thanks to baking soda

You can also use the all-rounder baking soda instead of vinegar. Accordingly, put half a cup of baking soda in the full sink. You can also put the baking soda directly into the detergent compartment of your washing machine and thus clean the yellowed laundry. You can also use the home remedy baking powder.

3) Clean yellowed shirts with soda

Soda is an environmentally friendly detergent alternative. Since washing soda is alkaline, you can use it to make your yellowed laundry white again. However, you should not use it to wash animal fibers such as wool or silk. Because they can break it. Consequently, only wash synthetic fibers or cotton with this product. For this, add a teaspoon of the soda to the usual detergent. In addition, read our tips on washing and caring for wool.

4) Citric acid against yellowing

The use of citric acid also helps you to clean your yellowed laundry. To make your laundry bright white again, fill the sink with water and put the yellowed laundry in it. Then add 1/2 to 1 cup of citric acid and let it sit. Finally, wash your laundry as usual.

5) Milk as a natural bleach

You can also turn yellowed clothing white again with a mixture of milk, water, and ice cubes. Even our grandmothers took advantage of this. To do this, you have to leave the yellowed or graying clothing in the mixture for several hours. However, you should only use this to clean shirt collars. Because the production of milk is usually associated with animal suffering and there are enough alternatives.

6) Clean shirt collar with shampoo

If you need to clean your shirt collar, you can use shampoo or shampoo. Because it dissolves the body fats from the clothes. So you are prepared for the next wedding invitation. So spread the shampoo on the collar with your fingers and let it work. Then put it in the washing machine.

7) Bleaching agents against yellowed laundry

With bleach, you can make your yellowed laundry white again and yellowed shirts can also shine in a new white. To do this, buy them in the drugstore and add them to the white laundry when you wash them. However, the use of bleach is controversial because it pollutes the environment. Therefore, it is better to choose environmentally friendly alternatives and note our other tips for environmental protection in the household.

8) Heavy-duty detergent for cleaning yellowed laundry

Whether yellowed shirts or T-shirts with the heavy-duty detergent you get them well cleaned. Because it contains bleach to lighten white laundry. If you use the heavy-duty detergent, wash your laundry at the highest possible temperature (stated on the label) or use an intensive program on your machine. Also, the machine should not be loaded too fully. This improves the washing result. In addition, also note the most important tips for doing laundry.

Clever tips for making carpet non-slip. If you fasten the carpet to the floor, you can ensure more safety in the household. You also prevent the carpet from curling.

Anyone who has children or animals in the house knows the danger of slippery carpets. The children quickly run over it and slide away. In the worst case, they can injure themselves. That’s why you should make your carpet non-slip.

Make non-slip carpet yourself

There are now many non-slip runners or anti-slip mats to buy. But what if your favorite carpet is not a non-slip carpet? Do not worry! Because you don’t have to throw it away right away. Instead, you can make your beautiful carpet non-slip yourself and thus ensure more safety in the household. You can use one of the many tricks for this. Also, use helpful tips for carpet cleaning.

1) Use rubber rings for more security

It is very annoying when the carpet keeps slipping. But there is a simple trick to keep your carpet from slipping. For this, use simple rubber rings, which you otherwise use for preserves. Then glue these to the corners of your rug. And he’s not slipping anymore. Also, note tips for getting carpet fringes neat.

2) Make carpet non-slip with double-sided tape

Similar to the rubber rings, the double-sided tape will help you. So stick the tape on several spots on the back of your carpet. You should definitely attach the adhesive tape to the corners. As a result, you have a non-slip and safe carpet. Also, note how you can freshen up carpet colors.

3) Use a special slip spray

You can use a special spray to prevent your carpet from slipping in the future. All you have to do is spray the back of your carpet with it. Then slipping is effectively prevented. Also, note effective tricks for removing long hair from carpets and tips for keeping carpets fresh for longer.

4) Buy a non-slip adhesive mat

You can also buy many different non-slip underlays for your carpet online. These are made of rubber and are cheap. And the good thing about these sticky mats is that you can easily cut them to fit your carpet. So it fits perfectly underneath. In addition, note the tricks for repairing dents in the carpet.

Findings from a new study by researchers from Bristol, London, Würzburg and Munster question the much-touted effects of caffeine. According to the research, coffee (or tea) does not provide consumers with an energy boost or a caffeine hit. Strictly speaking, coffee consumption in regular coffee drinkers only prevents the tiredness and listlessness that would result from caffeine withdrawal.

Does coffee really wake you up? The study was conducted with 379 participants, including both non-coffee drinkers and regular coffee consumers. After a 16-hour caffeine abstinence, participants were given either caffeine pills or placebo pills. Subsequently, the self-assessed attention and performance of the subjects were determined. Some of the regular coffee drinkers who had taken a placebo complained of headaches and felt tired. People who rarely or never drink coffee, on the other hand, had no problems after taking a placebo. Coffee drinkers who received a dose of caffeine felt normal afterwards, their levels were normal. Overall, none of the test groups’ performance values ​​were higher than those of the non-coffee drinkers with placebo. Accordingly, it can be concluded that there are no benefits for activity or performance from caffeine consumption.

Anyone who cannot start the day without coffee has made a mistake about the effects of caffeine. In principle, caffeine can wake you up because it docks onto receptors for the body’s own tiredness molecules called adenosine and blocks them. However, coffee no longer has a really stimulating effect, especially for regular coffee drinkers. On the contrary: a body that is used to regular caffeine consumption reacts to withdrawal with symptoms of fatigue, headaches or a feeling of reduced performance. So the caffeine only has a balancing effect on the symptoms that arise from “caffeine addiction” or habituation. The effect of caffeine on people who drink coffee regularly or a lot is reversed, the stimulation that coffee drinkers feel is felt. The scientists have thus reduced the illusion of coffee as a stimulant. However, this will hardly affect the popularity of the drink…

Masala Chai is a mixed drink originally from the Asian area. The Indian word “Masala” can be roughly translated with “spice mixture”, with the “chai” being derived from the Chinese word “Chá” for tea. Masala Chai consists of black tea, sugar or honey, milk and a special spice mixture and is particularly popular because of its stimulating effect. Chai is a good alternative for latte macchiato lovers.

Masala Chai – a special kind of tea drink
Masala Chai is the national drink in India and is also celebrating its trendy in Europe as a trend drink. In addition to self -preparation, the acquisition of tea bags in tea shops and coffee shops, Masala Chai can now also be obtained as a capsule for the Nespresso coffee machines.

Masala Chai – a drink with many recipes

The classic ingredients for the Masala Chai include a strong black tea, which is often brewed from a strong assam, as well as milk, sugar or other sweeteners. However, the special aroma is awarded to the Masala Chai by the spice mix that varies from family to family in India. Traditional spices for the Masala Chai are cloves, cardamom, anise, fennel seeds, cinnamon and ginger that can be found in almost every recipe variation. The spices used, especially as a stimulating mode of action, develop. Cardamom in particular should have a positive effect on life energy and digestion after teaching.

The fact that almost every family has handed over their own recipe for the Masala Chai, peppercorns, Indian laurel leaves and nutmeg can also be considered as seasoning ingredients. Instead of sugar, honey is also used as a sweetener depending on the region and taste.

Traditional preparation of the Masala Chai

For the preparation of a Masala chai, the water is boiled with the milk, sugar or honey and spices. The tea leaves are only added after a cooking time of about a minute. After a drawing time of at least ten minutes, the Masala Chai is piled up and served through a sieve. Here is the recipe:

3/4 cup of water
2-4 green cardamom capsules to smash (comes from the ginger family family)
1-2 thin slices of fresh ginger
4 cloves
1 cinnamon stick
A pinch of anis
3/4 cup of milk
1 teaspoon black tea leaves
Sugar or honey to sweeten

However, before the Masala Chai is drunk in India, he receives its typical creamy consistency by creating several times with a trowel and the foaming. As a rule, you let it pull around 5 minutes in total. Furthermore, tea is generally poured in India from the cup to the saucer to cool and drink the drink. Tip for summer: prepare in large quantities and enjoy it cold.

Pumpkin Spice Latte is a popular hot drink, especially in the fall. We’ll show you how easy it is to prepare your own Pumpkin Spice Latte.

In order to drink Pumpkin Spice Latte, you don’t have to go to a joint of controversial multinationals like Starbucks. In this article we will show you how you can make the popular hot drink yourself.

Making Pumpkin Spice Latte yourself has many advantages:

You decide for yourself which ingredients you use.
There is less waste from disposable cups.
You can use less sugar.
you save money
Tip: You can prepare the Pumpkin Spice Latte particularly quickly if you have Pumpkin Spice and pumpkin puree in stock.

Pumpkin Spice

Mix all of the spices together according to the instructions in the Pumpkin Spice: Spice Blend Recipe article. Store the autumnal spice in tightly closed jars in a dark, cool and dry place.

pumpkin puree

You can also easily make the pumpkin puree for your Pumpkin Spice Latte yourself. In the article Fine pumpkin puree: How to make it yourself, you will find out how it works. Keep the fresh pumpkin puree tightly closed in the refrigerator. Stored cold, it stays fresh for up to five days. Alternatively, you can freeze it in small portions. Tip: Use ice cube trays to freeze, as you only need a tablespoon of pumpkin puree to make one serving of Pumpkin Spice Latte.

Pumpkin Spice Latte: The Recipe

Ingredients:

1 teaspoon nectar
1 tbsp Pumpkin Spice
1hot espresso
150 ml milk or foamable plant drink
1 tablespoon pumpkin puree

Directions:

Place 1 teaspoon of agave nectar in a small bowl. Note: If you like your Pumpkin Spice Latte unsweetened, you can omit the agave syrup.
Mix the Pumpkin Spice well with the agave syrup until you get a smooth spice syrup.
Prepare the espresso.
Warm the milk and froth it.
Mix the frothed milk with the espresso, the spice syrup and the pumpkin puree.
Pour your Pumpkin Spice Latte into a coffee mug and decorate with a dollop of frothed milk.
Sprinkle the milk foam with a touch of Pumpkin Spice and enjoy the autumnal hot drink.

Ingredients for Pumpkin Spice Latte: You should know that

Whenever possible, purchase high-quality, organic spices when preparing Pumpkin Spice Latte. You can find useful tips for this in the article: Buy organic spices: the most important brands and online shops. Since all four spices are exotic ingredients from Asia, Africa or South America, you should also look out for a fair trade seal. You are committed to fair wages, good working conditions and environmental protection in the growing countries.

Coffee, too, has a long journey behind it before it reaches the supermarket shelves in Germany. Therefore, buy fair trade coffee whenever possible. Or would you like to try one of the regional coffee alternatives instead? Regional food has shorter transport routes and therefore leaves a smaller CO2 footprint.

Tip: If you don’t have an espresso machine or pot, you can also brew a strong filter coffee.

You can also prepare your Pumpkin Spice Latte vegan by using a foamable plant-based milk as a milk substitute. As a local alternative to agave syrup, you can use a teaspoon of honey.

Lavender tea is a versatile and proven remedy. It has a calming effect on the nervous system and can help with various ailments. Here you can find out how to make lavender tea yourself and what you should consider when preparing it.

Lavender tea has an intense aroma and a delicate scent. In addition, lavender tea is a good way to benefit from the versatile healing properties of the plant. Even the ancient Romans used lavender as a medicinal plant and as a bath additive. And the colorful blossoms are still very much appreciated in monastery gardens to this day.

Lavender flowers are used to make lavender tea. You can find out how to make the tea yourself below. If you want to buy lavender tea, you should definitely use organic quality flowers. Öko-Test found increased residues of pesticides and other pollutants in conventional teas.

This is how lavender tea works

Lavender can not only enrich your garden, the medicinal plant also has a wide range of health effects. The valuable ingredients of the flower are responsible for this. These include, among others:

essential oils
tannins
bitter substances
flavonoids
saponins
Lavender has been extensively studied in both animal and human studies. A study from 2013 dealt extensively with the effects of lavender, especially on the nervous system. The following properties of lavender were proven:

antibacterial
antiviral
anti-inflammatory
calming
pain relieving
anxiolytic
mood-enhancing
antispasmodic
circulation-enhancing
You can use lavender tea for various ailments:

Insomnia: Lavender tea can calm and help you fall asleep better. The tea is even said to intensify sleep. The best way to do this is to drink a cup of lavender tea before bed. Even if you suffer from jet lag, you can use lavender tea.
Depressive moods and anxiety: Lavender can have a calming effect on our nervous system and relieves anxiety. In addition, it brightens your mood. It is best to drink two to three cups throughout the day.
Indigestion: Its calming effect also helps with indigestion and can relieve abdominal cramps. It is important that you only let the tea steep for a short time. The highly concentrated essential oils could also irritate your mucous membranes.
Menstrual cramps: Lavender tea can relieve abdominal cramps and has a physically and mentally calming effect.
Respiratory diseases: Lavender can relax the airways and helps against viruses and bacteria, especially in the case of coughs and diseases of the bronchi.
Blemishes and acne: You can use lavender tea as a bath additive for external use on blemishes and acne. To do this, boil a liter of lavender tea and add the tea to your bath.
Lavender tea is generally well tolerated and also suitable for pregnant and breastfeeding women. A 2015 study looked at the positive effects of lavender tea on new mothers. The participants felt less exhausted and depressed, and lavender tea had a positive effect on mother-child bonding.

In addition to tea, lavender is also often used as lavender oil for medicinal purposes. Here, the content of essential oils is significantly higher, so the effect is different.

Make your own lavender tea

Only the colorful blossoms are used for homemade lavender tea.

At best, lavender grows in your garden. You should make sure that it is real lavender “Lavandula angustifolia” so that you can benefit from the healing effect.

How to make lavender tea yourself:

Harvest lavender:

Depending on the weather conditions, lavender starts blooming between June and August. As soon as the first buds open, but not all have started blooming, you should harvest them.
The best time is midday on a sunny day. Then the dew evaporated.
Cut off the buds with their stalks, this will make drying them easier.
Dry lavender:

Tie the harvested buds together by their stems into bunches and hang them upside down.
Make sure the buds are not exposed to direct sunlight or heat while drying.
After a week or two, the lavender flowers are completely dry. Then you can easily rub them with your fingers.
Use a knife or sharp scissors to separate the buds from the stems and place in a jar.
Store the dried flowers in a dry and light-protected place.
Preparation of the tea:

For one cup (250 milliliters) of lavender tea you need about two teaspoons of dried lavender flowers.
Boil the water first and then let it cool down to about 80 degrees. The effective essential oils are very sensitive to heat and should therefore not be boiled.
Let the tea steep for 8-10 minutes before removing the flowers.
If the intense aroma of lavender tea doesn’t suit your taste, you can tone it down with a little milk or honey.
Lavender is also great for tea blends. To increase the effect, you can mix the tea with St. John’s wort or valerian. In terms of taste, lavender harmonizes particularly well with:

chamomile
licorice
Linden Blossoms
rose petals

Make matcha tea perfectly is considered a high art in Asia. Because green tea is very healthy and is becoming more and more popular with us. Here’s how to brew it properly.

Making matcha tea: This is how the powdered tea succeeds

Brewing Matcha tea is a little more complex than with conventional teas. In order for the tea to be nice and creamy, there are a few things to consider. Because to be able to prepare it, you need a bamboo spatula, a bamboo whisk and a matcha bowl (a set is available from **Amazon, for example).

For the matcha tea you also need:

two to four bamboo spatulas or one to two heaped teaspoons of matcha tea powder
75 ml hot water (about 80 degrees Celsius)
1. Soak bamboo whisk

The bamboo broom, called “chasen” by professionals, should be placed in warm water for a few minutes. This makes it smoother and the tea can be whipped better.

2. Matcha powder sift

Matcha tea is only available as a powder. So that no annoying lumps form during the preparation, you should first pass the powder through a fine sieve. This way you can be sure that the tea will have a nice consistency and an even taste.

3. Mix the paste

Now put the powder in the bowl. The more tea you use, the thicker and creamier the matcha tea will be in the end. Pour in some of the hot water. With the Chasen you start beating the tea into a paste.

4. Brew tea

You don’t stir the matcha tea, but open it in a W-shape. To do this, draw a W in the matcha bowl in short, quick movements. Keep your wrist as loose as possible. Gradually add the rest of the water.

5. Enjoy

The matcha tea is ready when the consistency is even and the surface is creamy. Finally, carefully guide the chasen along the inside of the bowl. Now you can enjoy the tea.

That’s why matcha tea is so healthy

Unlike classic green tea, matcha tea uses the entire leaf. During production, the tea leaf is ground and pulverized. In this way, important nutrients are retained that are lost in conventional tea during production.

Matcha tea is particularly rich in antioxidants that protect cells from free radicals. It also contains a variety of vitamins. These include vitamin B1, B2 and B3, but also vitamin C, E and K. Nutrients such as calcium, potassium and beta-carotene also make it so healthy.

Matcha tea has a distinctive green color that can vary somewhat depending on the variety. You can recognize high-quality tea by the fact that it does not taste bitter, but rather has a slight sweetness.

After removing the cork stopper from the bottle, it is difficult to close the bottle again with exactly this. But with the following tricks, you can make the cork fit.

Open the wine, enjoy it and close it again. Sometimes not so easy. After removing the cork, it simply no longer fits into the bottleneck because it is too big.

The practical material cork

Cork is a very practical natural material made from the bark of the cork oak. It was used by humans centuries ago, e.g. as a closure for vessels or as a shoe sole. Nowadays we find it as a wine bottle stopper, a bulletin board, or even a bag. Because the material is poorly combustible, elastic, and resistant to mold growth.

Close the bottle again with the cork

In order to be able to close your bottle with the cork lid again, you have to make it fit. This is relatively easy and quick, with the following tricks. In addition, note the instructions for making wine yourself.

1) Adjust the cork with hot water

If you can’t get the cork back in the neck of the bottle after removing it, that’s perfectly normal. Because the material stretches a little. But if you want to close the half-full bottle with the cork again, put it in boiling water for about 60 seconds. The cork can then be easily shaped and you can use it to professionally seal the bottle. In addition, read useful tips on how to make food last longer.

2) Cut the end of the cork

You can also use a knife to make the cork fit. To do this, you can cut one end of the cork closure so that it tapers to a point. Then it should fit more easily into the neck of the bottle. And your wine stays fresh and enjoyable. Also, read how to clean narrow bottles and narrow vases.

3) Use alternative bottle caps from the Internet

If both of the tricks seem too complicated for you, you can also conveniently buy alternative bottle caps on the Internet and use them to close them. There is a wide variety of shapes and colors. So there is something for every taste. And you can make other great things with the old corks. Then you can optimally store wine and sparkling wine in the future.

Hardly any calories, low in fat and rich in vitamins when made correctly – homemade apple chips are a delicious snack for in between. We’ll tell you how you can make chips from apples yourself.

If you want to make apple chips yourself, you can use old apples, even if they have become a bit soft and shriveled. In addition, homemade apple chips are guaranteed free of sulfur dioxide or other preservatives compared to the supermarket version. In principle, you can use any variety, but Elstar and Boskop taste best (make sure they are organic!).

Air dry homemade apple chips

Ingredients:

apples of your choice

Directions:

Wash the apples, core them (an apple corer is helpful) and cut or slice them into slices about 2 to 3 millimeters thick.
Spread the apple rings individually on a baking sheet or rack. Alternatively, you can also hang up the apple rings with string to dry.
Set them outside in the warm sun to dry. But you can also let the apple rings dry in warm, dry places such as the attic or by the fireplace. With this method you do not need any additional energy.
Cover everything with fly screens, thin curtains or similar to protect the apple chip ships from flies and wasps.
After about two to three weeks, your apples will be dry.
The apple chips can be kept dry for several weeks in a well-closable container. Storage boxes made of glass or stainless steel are best.

Make apple chips in the oven

Ingredients:

apples of your choice

Directions:

Wash the apples, core them (an apple corer is helpful) and cut or slice them into slices about 2 to 3 millimeters thick.
Arrange the apple rings on baking sheets or racks. It makes sense if you borrow several baking trays or racks in order to use the energy of the oven optimally.
Put the apples in the oven at around 70 degrees for three to four hours to dry. Leave the oven door ajar with a wooden spoon. This allows the moisture to escape. It is best if you can use some of the residual heat from other dishes or cakes. This is how you save energy. Because this form of drying is very energy-intensive.
The homemade apple chips will keep for several weeks in an airtight container.

Dry apple chips in the dehydrator

If you make apple chips more often or also dry other fruit, it could be worth buying a dehydrator. The method is more effective than drying in the oven and more reliable than drying the apple chips in the air.

To make marzipan yourself, you only need two ingredients: almonds and sugar. With this recipe you can easily make your own marzipan.

What is marzipan made of?

Traditionally, marzipan consists of ground almonds, sugar and rose water. The proportions of the ingredients are decisive for the quality. According to the legal requirements, a maximum of 17% liquid, 35% sugar and 48% almonds may be used for the marzipan paste. However, manufacturers usually add more sugar for commercial marzipan. Only with very high-quality products, such as certain fine marzipan brands, is no additional sugar mixed in.

Make marzipan yourself: The basic recipe

For the homemade marzipan you need these ingredients:

200 g almond kernels with skin (alternatively walnuts)
150g powdered sugar
1 to 2 tablespoons of liquid (classic here is homemade rose water or from the pharmacy or health food store)
Preparation:

Boil the almonds in about a liter of water for a minute or two.
Pour the almonds into a colander.
Let them cool down a bit.
Peel them by squeezing them out of the skin with your fingers.
Crush the almonds in a good blender. Depending on the moisture content of the almonds, you will get a mealy to mushy mass.
Place the ground almonds in a bowl.
Sift in the powdered sugar.
Add a tablespoon of rose water.
Now knead all the ingredients by hand into a smooth dough. You may need to add some more liquid. (This also depends on whether you dried your almonds after cooking).
When the marzipan is ready, store it airtight in the fridge – e.g. in a screw-top jar.
Then the homemade marzipan is ready for further processing!

Depending on your taste, you can use other liquids instead of rose water. Orange liqueur or amaretto, for example, are suitable, but also a few drops of bitter almond oil. This makes the mass a bit bitter and more intense in taste.

Which almonds are best for marzipan?

Almonds belong to the rose family and probably originally come from Southeast Asia. Today the kernels are also cultivated in Pakistan, Iran or in the Mediterranean region. However, more than 80 percent of the almonds grown worldwide come from the USA, more precisely from California.

However, there has been a drought for several years. Almond cultivation plays its part: to harvest one kilo of almonds in California, about 10,000 liters of water are used. The high water requirements of the almond orchards are also critical in European growing areas.

So when you buy almonds, make sure they’re not from California. The long transport route halfway around the world also worsens the ecological balance. At best, buy almonds from Europe and from controlled organic cultivation.

Instead of almonds, you can also use regionally grown, organic walnuts for the marzipan. The process is the same and the taste is very similar to almond marzipan.