The Case for a Daily House Burp
Kristin O Karlsen/Unsplash
Belch Away: Burping might be considered impolite a lot of the time, but in Germany, it’s encouraged — for houses, that is. “House burping” might be an American term, but the practice of lüften is a longstanding German one: opening all windows of a home at least once a day to air it out, even in winter. Germans take lüften seriously. Many landlords ask their tenants to sign agreements promising they’ll do it for several minutes every day to control mold growth.
The Benefits: Experts say letting stale air out and fresh air in every day is a smart idea to prevent mold and cut down on indoor air pollution. The Environmental Protection Agency recommends opening windows to decrease exposure to volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted from furniture, household cleaners, candles, and more. Lüften can whoosh away smoke from cooking, lower carbon dioxide levels, and reduce virus particles and other germs in the air.
How to Do It: Do it at least once a day for a few minutes. If you live in a high-traffic area, plan very short burps for later at night or midday, not peak commuting times. Choose windows that don’t face busy streets. Open opposite windows for cross-ventilation.
