You’ve heard of Hygge, and you can just about remember Feng Shui, but now there’s a whole new craze for you to get your head around – house burping. Yes, you read that correctly.
But what is house burping? How do you go about it and, perhaps most importantly, why? Grab yourself a cuppa, because we’ve got all the info.
Pardon me, but what is house burping?
Good question. To explain, it may help to share a little bit of history. House burping is the English nickname for the German tradition of Stoßlüften – or ‘shock airing’ your home.
The practice involves opening your windows, all your windows, as wide as you can, for a few minutes each day - even in winter.
Why does my house need burping?
A bit like with us humans, stale air and moisture in the home can build-up over time. The practice of throwing open the windows releases this unpleasantness (hopefully without the actual burping sound) and replaces it with the lovely, fresh air that Mother Nature intended.
As a bonus, giving your house a good burp is also great for blasting out bad smells, alleviating condensation, and helping to prevent the build-up of mould – so it’s not quite as crazy as it sounds.
How do I give my home a good burp?
House burping is more than just leaving your bathroom window ajar to aid ventilation after a hot shower.
It’s about creating a short, sharp burst (or burp) of air that travels through your home, blasting out the old, damp and stale air to bring in a new, fresh air flow.
1. Open all the windows as wide as you safely can.
2. Leave them open for a good 5 to 10 minutes, this is plenty of time for the air to circulate without losing warmth from your home. In spring and summer, you may want to leave them open for longer.
3. Make sure you leave internal doors open as well to create air flow throughout the home.
4. Close or return your windows to their usual position, take a deep breath, and go about your day.
When should I burp my home?
You should burp your home every single day - even in the winter months. In fact, especially in the winter months, as that’s when it’s most effective at helping to prevent condensation and mould from forming.
Why not make it part of your morning routine? Or schedule a quick burp after any activity that involves moisture – such as after you’ve had a hot shower, cooked a meal, or finished drying clothes.
So, burping my home isn’t bonkers?
No, as bizarre as it may seem initially, burping your home does make a lot of sense.
Benefits include reducing the build-up of damp, mould and condensation as well as the release of stale air and musty smells from the home.
Just remember to be mindful of any security concerns or any pets or small children that need to be kept safe - and don’t forget to close all the windows securely once your burping is done.
