Hi all,
I searched the subreddit and couldn’t find an answer to these questions. I would really appreciate any help:
1. The garbage and recycling unit for my building has a lock that requires a key, but also has this weird triangle metal thing beside it. At any given day, it’s a 50-50 chance that my key works or I need to spend ten minutes spinning this triangle to try to get it to align with the key like I am picking a lock. It’s both embarrassing and annoying. Is there something I am missing here? I have never encountered a door like this in my life.
2. Are there any brands that sell scentless laundry detergent and fabric softener? I have poked around my local REWE and Muller and can’t find anything.
3. My apartment fronts onto the Rhine and people are *always* looking in. Even with window shears. Is this a normal Germanism? Is there anything I can do to dissuade this or do I just need to get used to people watching me live my life?
[This is what the lock looks like.](https://imgur.com/a/KAvn1lp)
Edit: An additional question that I haven’t found a clear answer to. Almost everyone I have spoken with has said to keep the floor heaters to at least 18 C to avoid mould forming. I am from Canada and living in Hesse. The weather right now is 5 C and I find it really comfortable to have the windows open (both for temperature and humidity). Is it okay to reduce the thermostat to say, 15 C to avoid wasting energy if I want the windows cracked open?
10 comments
Not sure about point one. Might want to look if it has a brand name and Google that.
2. You should try a Bio laden (organic store)
Or a Reformhaus you can probably find something there but it will be more expensive than rewe.
3. It’s not nessesarily something German but you get used to it or try to reduce visibility by using a curtain or those opaque window stickers.
The same happend to me in the UK people would just stair straight into our living room.
That’s why people keep the curtains closed and many avoid ground level flats
1. I have never seen anything like this. Ask a neighbour or your landlord.
2. [Here’s a page ranking scentless laundry detergents](https://infosphinx.de/parfuemfrei/waschpulver-parfuemfrei/). You might have to shop around to find a store that sells them.
3. This isn’t a uniquely German thing, just natural human curiosity getting the better of people. If you have window sheers closed, they can’t actually see in (at least, they shouldn’t be able to), although it may feel as if they can. The old-fashioned solution is [fancy lace curtains](https://cdn.witt.info/images/b8b3dbb8d39a0c1721bd2a9820eff9e0) that are a bit more opaque, together with some decorative items on the window-sill so that people will be instinctively looking at them instead of peering into the room; but that might make people think that you’re a white-haired old lady with a glass cabinet full of porcelein figurines, which might not be the vibe you’re going for. When it gets dark outside and you turn on the lights, close the blinds as well.
1. Ask your Hausverwaltung/ landlord.
2. Go to dm or Rossmann. Both have „sensitiv“ detergent and softener. The store brands are great and affordable (DenkMit at dm and Domol at Rossmann).
But Müller has their own store brand aswell (Blink) and they offer scentless laundry stuff.
Sensitiv is the word you are looking for 😉 (But beware: Frosch sensitiv has perfume in it)
3. Chaoslu said it all.
The triangle thing: Does it look like [this key](https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dreikantschl%C3%BCssel#/media/Datei:Dreikantschl%C3%BCssel.jpg) could open it? Then it is probably for the trash collectors, who don’t have house keys.
You can get a *Dreikantschlüssel* to operate it in any hardware store, or order it online. The most common sizes are 7mm and 8mm. Maybe using that instead of the “regular” lock will be less trouble?
This triangle lock looks like it‘s for the garbage collectors. Saves the Hausmeister the hassle of having to unlock the doors or to take out the bins for them.
3. In North Germany it is fairly widespread to have no curtains _and_ to look into other houses.
@3 i bought[Milchglasfolie](https://www.google.de/search?q=milchglasfolie) different types and hues etc. works great and… you don’t need to clean the lower part of the window that frequently😉
Venetian blinds or Doppel blinds are a good solution for letting light in but keeping nosy stares out.
Regarding your edit: keeping the windows cracked for long periods of time is a sure way to get mold into your apartment. Please check the wiki and the guide regarding “stoßlüften”.
To 3.
If you have window shears and don’t have light on during the day, nobody can see inside your room. If you switch on the lights in the evening, you can close the curtains.
When you say your apartment fronts the Rhine, are people looking in from the water? Or is there a promenade between your house and the water? Are you sure the people are actually looking into your room? Maybe the front of your house is just pretty or you have some decorative stuff on the window sill. People promenading or making a boat ride do like to look around.