Let’s start with the translation. Literally, Stoß means “shock, impact or thrust” and lüften means “ventilating.” Stoßlüften therefore translates to “shock ventilation.”
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The concept behind that is rather simple: For about five minutes, you turn off the radiator, open all the windows and let the cold air stream in. Then you close the windows again and turn all the heating back on again. That allows a flush of cold air to stream into the room and make it fresh again.
The outside temperature doesn’t matter – if it gets too cold you can always put on a coat after all.
Here’s an example: If you have ever been to a German school, chances are that you might have noticed a note stuck to one of the classroom walls. That note probably stated some rules for a better room climate.
And following up after the point “Turn off the radiator when you leave the room,” it probably said something like “Mehrmals täglich stoßlüften.” (Shock-ventilate the room multiple times a day.)
Many teachers follow that rule, which usually leads to a wave of discontent from the students' side. The teacher will then tell them to stop complaining and to dress warmer.
Stoßlüften isn’t just good for the people in the room – it also prevents tor room to get mouldy. Especially in schools, when many (often sweaty) teenagers sit in one room for a long time, the levels of air humidity become quite large. Some good ol' Stoßlüften helps the air to circulate again.
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At a young age, children in Germany get used to the concept of stoßlüften. Photo: DPA
Examples:
p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times}
Zieht euch eure Jacken an, wir machen eine Stoßlüftung!
Put on your coats, we’re doing a shock ventilation!
Ich hasse Stoßlüften.
p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times}
p.p2 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times; min-height: 14.0px}
I hate shock ventilation.
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God, I hate this practice too! My (otherwise) wonderful German wife is always suddenly throwing open the windows in just the same way. But as for the mould theory, which she also expounds whenever I complain, then how come British rooms that never have this shock tactic inflicted upon them do not seem to grow mould on the walls. I somehow think there’s more to creating a gorgonzola cave with walls dripping with fungus than keeping the windows constantly shut!