The German Practise of 'Lüften' Isn't Just a Trend – I Used to Live There, and Swear by This Home Ventilation Method, Even in the Winter

I lived in Germany for a year, and even in the dead of winter, I spent every afternoon with my windows open. Don't get me wrong: it felt unnatural at first, but after a while, I realized why so many Germans swear by 'lüften' – the process of airing out your home.

I moved to the tiny Bavarian town of Bamberg at the end of the fall, and by the time I had unpacked my belongings, temperatures had plummeted. I can't say I was keen to be exposed to the elements – my bedroom overlooked the Regnitz river, and ice had begun to settle on the banks – but every German I met would swear by the mysterious 'lüften'.

Soon enough, I found myself routinely opening my windows to ventilate my space – and years later, back at home in the city, I do the same. In fact, lüften is becoming one of the most popular cleaning traditions from around the world; you might even recognise the process as 'house burping'.

Why You Should Try Lüften or 'House Burping' This Winter

You'd be forgiven if lüften sounds confusing and 'house burping' seems simply unappealing. Yet in German households, it's part of everyday life. Within a month of living in Germany, I would open my windows without thinking about it – usually after lunch, before the evening chill arrived.

Translating to 'letting air in', lüften is all about welcoming fresh air into your home. Naturally, it's ideal in the summer, when rooms can become stuffy and warm, but I embraced it during the colder months, too.

The reason is simple: even during winter storms, home ventilation is the key to improving the air quality in your home – especially if you live in a city. Routinely opening your windows can reduce contamination and prevent the buildup of mold.

How Long to Leave Your Windows Open

If you're wary of letting heat escape your home during cold temperatures, 'house burping' is, fortunately, a speedy process; traditionally, it doesn't require you to leave your windows open for long.

While I quickly became accustomed to opening my windows every day, I would never ventilate my home for longer than 30 minutes at a time during cold snaps – and experts say that even 5 minutes is enough to allow fresh air to circulate.

'You can open your windows for between 5 and 20 minutes,' says Tamer Sayed, a licensed HVAC technician and the owner-operator of Tamas Mechanical. 'I suggest doing this twice a day: once in the morning and once in the evening.'

Naturally, leaving your windows open can cause indoor temperatures to fluctuate, but Tamer emphasizes the importance of regularly airing out your home.

'The main benefit of lüften is improved ventilation,' he explains. 'It reduces humidity indoors, which is crucial in preventing mold growth inside the house. Plus, as the indoor air becomes drier less humid, it becomes easier to heat during winter. This reduces energy costs and boosts comfort during the season.'

What to Shop

Lüften is a brilliant habit, but it isn't always possible to leave your windows open. If you're looking for a speedy way to improve your air quality, investing in one of the best air purifiers is a great alternative.

Lüften might seem like a buzzy Internet trend, but it really is a failsafe way to improve ventilation in your home. After a year in Germany, I was definitely converted – and I won't be stopping anytime soon.