Reaction To German Houses vs American Houses

[@xinitrc]

Answering your question regarding the water quality. Yes, German tap water is highly regulated and tested and safe to drink. We Germans often just get a glass of water from the faucet. And since we often like sparkling water, there are even "machines" for your home where at the push of a button you can just add the "missing" carbon dioxide. Regarding how hard the water is, it obviously varies very much, depending on if you are in a mountain or sea region of Germany. The comment about water being 10x harder than in the USA, that is the usual problem of having two different measuring methods in the USA vs. the rest of the world and the fact that in the USA, there are already additives in the water, like added chlorine.

[@Stolens87]

In northern Germany the water is quite soft as well but I think it is in southern Germany harder. In Bremen, we do not need to add something to the dish washers or kettle

[@Bronko_el_Paco]

It´s depent on the underground. Is there a lot of limestone like in north germany, then the groundwater get mixed with lime. When the water drys off you have still lime there which you can see really good on glas, but it has no effect on the drinking quality

[@arnolsi]

@@Stolens87 I live in southwest Germany and our water is very soft too. Springwater not from the ground.

[@Kihasu-hp9kf]

i have never brought slippers anywhere. People wear socks a lot inside their houses or flats. Hard water has calcium in it which is safe to drink but it deposits in your machines and will damage them if it builds up. So we use anti calcium chemicals in washing machines for example. But the amount of calcium in the water changes from region to region depending on the water source and the type of stones in the ground in that area. Also refrigerator sizes vary a lot depending on households, people living alone generally have smaller refrigerators than families, and at least with families a big freezer is often stored in the basement.

[@PotsdamSenior]

Too soft water is just as damaging because it's very corrisive. In some regions, calcium is added, for example by runnng the water over marble gravel. I lived in a region with 1° dH, and we had constant repairs on the dishwasher and washing machine.

[@Kihasu-hp9kf]

@@PotsdamSenior you learn something new every day. Never heard about that.

[@RFHeimi]

Flat is the word what we learn in english class in school. German is "Wohnung". About the water: It varies between regions. In urban areas and cities its quite hard (meaning a lot calcium/magnesium inside) which can lead to white chalk stains. But in other areas its quite soft. Has nothing to do with drinking quality btw.

[@hannessteffenhagen61]

"Flat is the word what we learn in english class in school. " I mean depends on where you went to school, not like that's standardised across the whole country. We had focus on american english and british english in different years.

[@melchiorvonsternberg844]

@@hannessteffenhagen61 And it depends in which time you were in school. For me, the school ended in the 80's. And I learned proper Oxford English. But we take also notes on American "specialities"...

[@la-go-xy]

Wohnung is the German word most used probably, but Appartment is in use as well (from French)

[@bambulkomccloud3983]

Door handles are just much more practical. Try to open a door knob with your elbow, if you have something in your hands.

[@Floxxoror]

Also it helps smart cats to open the door for themselves :P

[@randalette4286]

The slipper thing is rather weird. I never encountered a situation where I had to bring my own slippers with me. Most people I know are totally fine with you walking around their house and flat in socks. I also do not own any slippers and I grew up in a household where nobody use them as well. It is either socks or bare feet. The kitchen thing is really something of a hassle. It is often mandatory to take them with you. It is a lot of work to disamble your kitchen and to reinstall it. Oftentimes the new kitchen place has different plumbing or power outlets, so you have to come up with ideas how to adjust the kitchen which can be quiet expensive sometimes. In recent years people who move out can also ask the renters who want to take over their old flats if they wanna buy the already installed kitchen (often for half the original price or for free) and sometimes you just throw the old kitchen out and buy a new one for their new appartment (which is also pretty expensive). Kitchen rooms are often very different from each other and oftentimes the old kitches just won*t fit anymore. I personal wish for a bit more convienience in that regard. I hope there will be a time where it is totally fine to move out without the kitchen.

[@reinhard8053]

I didn't have a situation where I had to have my own slippers with me. But I sometimes do that because it is just nice to have your own slippers if the visit is a bit longer (whole evening). In winter with tile or stone floors and no floor heating the floor is rather cold. Most households have some slippers for guests. You can even buy a bag with several slippers in different sizes to be hung near the entry for guests. Street shows especially in winter are a no-go inside.

[@la-go-xy]

Kitchens: The interior is usually owned by the occupants and if they move they often sell it to their successors. For e.g. students the landlord often has a kitchen and even washing machine fitted.

[@rebelmoon9059]

Also wir hatten es in der Jugend kalt nix mit fussbodenheizung oder geschweige erst überhaupt ne richtige Heizung.. Ölofen gab's bis ich 11 war oder so

[@CM-xk5is]

Yes, we germans learn mostly british english in school. The thing with the kitchens is: The reason for it is not that we like moving our kitchens so much, it is that the landlord is responsible to keep everything in the operational state it was in when you started renting it. So when you rent out a flat WITH a kitchen, you (as a landlord) are responsible to fix any clogged sink, leaking faucet, broken stove or refrigerator. Most landlords try to avoid that, so you either have to buy the installed kitchen from him/the previous renter or install your own.

[@deniskramer3562]

1. Flat A flat or apartment is called "Wohnung" in German. We only say flat when speaking English. 2. Shoes in the house Yes, I often hear, that we Germans let our guests bring their own house shoes or walk on their socks or something like that. In fact I have never seen this in my hole life (of 55 years). 3. Kitchen Yes, in all my 7 moves the kitchen came with me. However, there are two types of kitchens in Germany: fitted kitchens, which are precisely measured and of course no longer fit in another apartment. And variable kitchens, which consist of individual elements that you can arrange however you like. And most people I know tend to have the second type. Fitted kitchens are more likely to be bought if you own your own house or apartment rather than renting. Because as soon as Germans own their own home, they don't actually move. 4. Water hardness and fridges The water hardness depends on where you live. It's the same in Germany as it is in America or China. So it's pure bullshit. And as far as the fridge and ice compartment are concerned: Germans tend to like to use fresh ingredients, which is why they don't need as much space in the fridge. The usual American simply needs something bigger to accommodate the vast quantities of ready meals. By the way: If you want, you can actually buy large refrigerators in Germany. 5. American food Of course you don't find ALL American products in Germany. Sometimes there are ingrediens in it that are forbidden here. And often the American products are just shitty as hell, so a German person would never buy it. 6. Washing machine in the kitchen Yes, I have it in the kitchen.

[@sternchen6414]

I know many germans who have their washing machine in the kitchen. I don‘t think it‘s strange or disgusting.

[@schnetzelschwester]

I once had my washing machine in the kitchen. I didn't like the smell of detergent in the kitchen where I had to eat. Not disgusting, but annoying.

[@ktadesse]

@@schnetzelschwester Use detergent without smell, difficult but possible :-) I hate smelly wash, meaning any artificial “smell” for god's sake: why! Wash should be clean and do not smell.

[@nettcologne9186]

- The house-shoe thing isn't so common in my region. I've rarely been asked to take my shoes off when I've been invited. - If I move into a new Wohnung (flat),I don't want to have old stuff from the previous tenant in my kitchen, so I prefer to either bring my well-kept kitchen with me or just buy a new kitchen.

[@dangolon]

German here to answer a few of your questions: 1st the house shoes / slipper, your host will probably have some for guests 2nd the hard water; It is drinkable no matter the hardness of the water, but hard water leaves behind so called water marks when drying 3rd the toilet; most new toilets are wall mounted but floor ones are also commonly used and tanks outside the wall are also common 4th the washing machine; Depending on the size of the bath and kitchen you will also find a washing machine in a German kitchen, in one family houses or big apartments there will be a dedicated room for laundry; side note, in my great aunts apartment the bath was to small for the shower so it is in the kitchen, it's a house from before the German Empire (1871) so it was the only option. 5th on heating; In new and renovated houses usually there will be floor heating and a heat pump for heating, the thing about heat pumps is that if you run them backwards you have a cooling unit and I (an electrician) see on a lot of new construction that they install pipes like the ones for floor heating on the ceiling for cooling

[@boom7713]

dont know where in germany this houseshoe/slipper thing is a thing. i never owned any. its socks baby. at home or at the party.

[@hw2508]

​@@boom7713 Really, as a guest you take off your shoes and walk on socks? At a party? How dirty are your shoes that the host is not able to tolerante you wear them for a couple of hours in his flat.

[@boom7713]

@@hw2508 yes! houseparty 30 people all on socks and the shoes in a big pile in front of the door. be wary to take the right shoes home! would be not the first time shoes get switched. Dont know where you are from, but its just the culture here. totally normal. its comfy and it works so why change it. shoes are for the street. socks are for the home.

[@hw2508]

@@boom7713 I'm from Germany. The part where you throw a party and know you'll need to clean the places anyways.

[@boom7713]

@@hw2508 und warum so abwertend du schuhträger

[@enoiladoe]

Washing machines in the kitchen aren't unheard of in Germany. It goes where the water connects and the space is. I usually just walk in socks if there are no slippers my size. We have a few pairs for visitors, but a whole collection covering all sizes would be too much. Hard water is perfectly safe to drink. It just a pain to keep from staining appliances.

[@maireweber]

Hard water has lots of minerals in it. Those minerals are great for human bones etc, but create water stains in showers and build up on heating elements. Water quality is lowered only by detrimental chemicals or organic matter, not by calcium or iron or other stuff our body needs.

[@Elholz]

To answer a few questions and to add a few points: 1. The flat vs. apartment thing is when speaking English. We generally learn British English in schools and will have a unit about other kinds of English every few years. At my school we were allowed to use American English after a few years but we were still taught in British English. Due to most English language entertainment coming from the US, a lot of people will use American words, so I don't actually know what is most commonly used. The german word for flat/apartment is Wohnung and the word for house is Haus. 2. Bringing your own slippers isn't all that common, at least in my experience. A lot of people will allow party guests to keep their shoes on, at least in rooms without carpets, as you will have to clean the floor after everyone leaves anyway. For just having a few guest over, people will often just take their shoes off and walk around their house with their socks on. (Most people I know also don't wear slippers in their own homes and instead walk barefoot or with socks) 3. Some people have said that taking your kitchen with you is only true for high end kitchens, but I've also helped some friends move with their relatively cheap kitchens. So you won't find 100% of flats being without a kitchen, but I'd say the majority are. 4. While refrigerator size usually varies based on the size of the household I'd say that even our big ones are smaller than what I feel like is the standard in the US (at least for middle class and up). But my experience with American fridges is mostly them being in the background of films or TV shows. 5. Hard and soft water just referres to the amount of calcium in the water. German tap water is completely safe to drink, but it can leave some residual calcium on your cutlery or your glass shower walls if you let them air dry. It can also build up in the pipes and cause clogging. The amount of calcium varies based on where you are and where the warer is souced from, as it is affected by thing like what kind of rock the ground is made of. 6. What she describes as a standard American toilet isn't unheard of here and you can actually find them in many homes, but that is a thing where a lot of Germans would have the "is this the 1950s" reaction that she talks about later, because they are seen as a bit old-fashioned. There are also many toilets in the style of her toilet that dont have the water tank inside of the wall, but most homes that have a more modern style will have them in a bit of protruding wall thar creates a shelf on top of the tank. 7. The washer/dryer location is usually chosen based on available space. Most houses will have a dedicated room, while most flats either have a communal washing room somewhere for everyone in the building or they will have their own washers and dryers in either the bathroom or the kitchen, based on available space in either room, but most people prefer the bathroom. 8. Most german double beds are one wide bedframe with two mattresses and separate blankes. Growing up I never understood the "partner stealing the blanket" cliche, because I didn't know that in the US a lot of people share one large blanket, that moves around for both people when one person turns in their sleep. With this approach that situation can only happen if your partner decides to actually take your blanket while they already have their own one, and that's a problem with the partner, not with the blanket. Also if you have two mattresses you won't feel every movement of the person on the other side of the bed, which greatly improves the sleep quality of a lot of people. 9. I don't think I've ever seen a door knob in a building that wasn't historic, or a government building or a school. And its also rare in those cases. Most of the door knobs in government building and schools are there to (probably) tell you that this is not a door that you can just walk through without permission. In some cases they are also not door knobs, but door knob shaped handles to allow you to pull on the door and you have to use a key to actually get it to open. 10. A lot of curtains in Germany are just decorational, or they are somewhat see through to allow sunlight in but make it harder to look in from the outside. The blinds she was rolling down can actually close completely, letting absolutely no light in, which is great if you work night shifts or live right next to a street lamp, like I do.

[@nikolagericke938]

To 9: when I was little in the beginning of the 70s, we lived in a flat from the 60s I think. There were doorknobs at the doors of the flats that you had to turn to lock, you could not lock it with a key from the inside. One evening my parents went out and I woke up and waited for them sitting in the staircase...

[@taniakrause9253]

I always wear ,, House Shoes'' but never expect a guest to wear them at my Home.

[@behemothokun]

About water hardness. That really depends on the Region. In my Region water is pretty soft.

[@Monsieur_Karma]

The hardness of water doens't effect the drinkability. To clarify it, the tap water in germany is permanently under surveillance. It is also tested once a day.

[@andreasschumertl5085]

Open the windows for a few minutes is called "Stoßlüften" ...

[@eisikater1584]

If you put the blinds completely down, the gaps will close and it will become pitch black. Interesting to hear that you and your girlfriend have the same preferences about sleeping temperatures than a former girlfriend of mine when we were in South India many years ago: She wanted it cold and air conditioned, I wanted it warm and maybe with a ceiling fan at slow speed to scare away the mosquitos. As we were backpackers with little money, she had to agree with me that we took the cheaper non-AC rooms, but wasn't happy with that.

[@bambulkomccloud3983]

Kitchens: If the person who takes over the apartment wants to buy your kitchen, you can leave it. Otherwise you have to take it out. One important this is that people don't move that often compared to other countries. But apartments where the people chance more often (e.g. student apartments), they usually have fixed kitchens. The part about the hardness of water is nonsense. It depends on where the water comes from in your area. If you're water is from lakes or rivers, it can be very soft. It's it's ground water it can be very hard. Or you can have a mixture. It really depends on where you live. You can have very hard water, but the next city can have very soft water. But that had no effect on how drinkable the water is. Actually, when you buy mineral water, it is basically hard water, because of all the minerals in there (hence the name). The regulations on the tap water are stricter than for bottled water. So it's safe to drink everywhere (except maybe in very very old buildings which still might have lead pipes).

[@reinhard8053]

It is not only river or lake but the geology where the water comes from. It might be quite different from one village to another. Generally you find that values of about 8 dH considered natural and healthy. My house has a water softener. For these you find values from 4-6 dH as good. Our water supply has more than 20dH which is very high.

[@ShadowOfStrikes]

to the 1st point: I would say it´s more uncommon to bring your own slippers, at least in my experience (and I´m german). Mostly we germans ask if we should take of your shoes if we´re new in someones home. The Owner than will tell you wat to do: take them off (and go on socks), let them on, or he provides you with some guest slippers. For Partys most people say: let them on for this occasion.

[@andreadee1567]

The idea to bring your own houseshoes to a party made me (German) laugh. When I invite people they don’t need to put their shoes off, because I have a wooden floor, no carpets. We call flats flats, because the English we learn at school is British English. For me it were strange, when we learned American English. In German we call our flat: Wohnung. Small flats with only one main livingroom are called Apartment.

[@NikolaiProkoschenko]

What almost nobody knows in Germany is that these windows, at least the ones installed in the last decade or so, have yet another function. You can turn the handle to 45 degrees between "open" and "tilt" position and pull slightly and the whole window will move just a couple of millimeters away from its frame, allowing some fresh air to enter the room constantly. It's a bit of a debate when this is useful, some way in summer, some say in winter, but it's an additional function anyway.

[@CatzHoek]

This lady is crazy if she squeegees her shower after every shower. I'm impressed how square people can be.

[@MarlonH8]

The kitchen-moving comment was on point, at least in my experience. Most families I've known (including my own) have moved their full kitchen along, whenever they were moving.

[@CoL_Drake]

In my whole life I never seen a flat that was to rent with a kitchen I looked at many and none had a kitchen. Then I rented one where the pre renter was still inside when I visited it and they sold me their kitchen but that was just possible because they had not moved out where you are demanded to also remove ur kitchen

[@sebahabu]

Air out = Stoßlüften = Stosslueften = pushvent

[@petebeatminister]

There is one big difference that get forgotten most of the time in videos like that. And that is this scary shredder the Americans have in their kitchen sink. In the US it is almost a must have, that you find in every kitchen. In Germany its completly unknown, and in most european countries as well, I think. I couldn't even tell where you can buy something like that in Germany.

[@NikolaiProkoschenko]

These things are not permitted in Germany. They are not outright banned, but the devices themselves mostly won't get approved for the market and almost everywhere you aren't allowed to attach them to the sewer system.

[@SG_82]

Not at all - shredding organic matter and sending it to the sewers would feed rats and other animals considered "vermin". So you're not finding them, because you're not supposed to use it because of the vermin-problem down the line.

[@derhinek]

Seriously I can't hear that kitchen thing anymore. I live in Germany for over 40 years, most time in Lower Saxony, a while in Hessia. I moved 8 times (eight times) and I never ever had to move with a kitchen. I had to bring an own kitchen once and I sold it to the next person that moved in after me. And my dishwasher moved with me twice, because the kitchens didn't have one included. Apart from that there always already was a kitchen.

[@3003wertpro]

When we germans speak english we use british words often because in school we learn that the british english is the "correct" english. In the other hand we use many US words we learn from US music, films and series.

[@markalexander71332]

That's a stretch. You never bring house shoes. Just take off your shoes. It's BS.

[@NikolaiProkoschenko]

As a rule the apartment door with have a handle on the inside and a knob (the non-rotating kind) on the outside. The idea is that you can let the door just close by the latch without using the key -- you can't open it using the knob from the outside and you don't need anything but the handle from the inside. Of course for additional security and when leaving for the day, you'd use the key to lock the door with the deadbolt, but for getting the mail or throwing out the trash? Just make sure you have the keys and slam the door.

[@duke6321]

The hardness of German water varies greatly from region to region and depends on geological conditions. In my hometown near Bonn, the water is very soft and corresponds to hardness level 0, so neither the dishwasher nor the washing machine nor any other appliance that is operated with tap water are necessary. The shower also shows no water or limescale stains. The statement that the water in Germany is generally hard is simply not true.

[@RoachKitty]

The thing with the washing machines is it depends on where the connection for it is. Sometimes it is in the kitchen, sometimes it is in the bathroom and even sometimes it is in the cellar. Some buildings will have a special place in the cellar vor your washing machine and dryer. But yeah, most of the time it is in the bathroom in germany. Since dishwashers are more common as before you need the connection in the kitchen for the dishwasher anyways. The water isn't so hard in every region. It depends on how far it has to make it's way up to you.

[@SweetSchnubbl]

The irish also say apartment and soccer. I reckon, thats where the Americans took it from The slipper story depends on whether or not youve got a carpet in your house I never took my slippers to a friends home. The tab water depends on the region, you live in, but its of high quality, you can rely on We need the space in the middle of the bed, in case your daughters bf wants to stay over night 😅 In german its called Besucherritze, which means visitors- gap

[@SG_82]

Shoes'n'slippers: Usually you are having 1-2 pairs for guests. If you party with a lot of people you eventually make an exception from this rule and let your guests keep their "street shoes" on, smaller parties are either bring your slippers or you getting some extra slippers beforehand ... it is considered rude to keep them on without being told/allowed to do so. Kitchen: Usually you take cabinets etc. with you. Only the oven is property of the landlord, so you're moving everything except the oven. Since a kitchen is something like the hearth of your home (at least to me), it feels quite natural to keep what you've chosen. Except you're tired of your old kitchen and the new inhabitants of your old flat take a liking of your choices and "inherit" it, usually you sell it with a discount in such a case. Hard water: It is Calcium making it hard, absolutely no health hazard. Tap water is one of the most regulated things in Germany. Laundry: Your washing machine goes where ever you have place to put it - in a flat it is either in the bathroom or in the kitchen.

[@mr.j8356]

Have my Washing machine in the cellar (no noise in the apartment). Most people have it in the bathroom or kitchen (I feel like it's 50/50). One Simple reason: those are the two rooms that usually have water piping preinstalled and they are usually tiled (no big deal if the floor gets wet.

[@Bezayne]

I'm german, living in the UK. Taking your shoes off when visiting someone is not unusual in either country from my experience, but it varies individually. Some people will ask for it, those usually will provide some slippers for you to wear. Others aren't bothered, like my parents never asked for it but in our home we had mostly tile or wood floors, aka easier to clean than carpet. About the kitchen - it tends to vary wether you find a fully equipped one in rented housing, or not. When I rented in Germany, I mostly had a fully equipped kitchen included. In the UK I have experienced both an in-built kitchen with washing machine, and one with just a cooker in it where I had to bring the rest myself. German tap water it generally totally fine to drink, water hardness does not affect that. Having to sqeegee a glass shower - yeah, can't be helped with hard water. Or not go for a glass shower - btw I had to do the same with a glass shower I had in the UK. Two mattresses in a double bed - not always the case, matter of personal taste. I myself prefer a single big mattress. But two separate blankets - yes, an absolute must for me. I have seen single blankets in a double bed in the UK, and I can not possibly sleep when having to share my blanket with someone else. Nor do I like the uk/american way of blanket being tucked under the mattress, creating this kinda big pocket you are expected to sleep in - I want my personal blanket to wrap myself up in, thanks very much ;) Overall I'd say the lady in the video has seen mostly modern furnished german flats. There certainly is some variety there to be had.

[@hurtigheinz3790]

Yes, really! It's MY KITCHEN, of course I disassemble it and take it with me when I move. :D But i can see how this is strange.

[@frankberger-zr1mu]

Regarding slippers: In our family, we have both, slippers and thick socks for guests who visit us. For parties, we decide differently, sometimes with and sometimes without shoes. Regarding the kitchen: We usually take it with us, as we assume that the new tenant will install a new kitchen that has new appliances and is more to their taste. Sometimes, however, people try to sell a kitchen to the new tenant. On the one hand, so that you can buy a new one yourself and, on the other, so that you don't have to dismantle your old one and take it with you. This is often also practical for the next tenant, as they can get a kitchen more cheaply and quickly. The water in Germany varies in hardness. You can find out the hardness from the waterworks. Even in Cologne, the water is different. On the left bank of the Rhine, the water is very hard because it is taken from the Rhine. On the right bank of the Rhine, however, the water is soft because it comes from the "Bergisches Land" region.

[@wolfgangpeter2995]

We often just take off the shoes and just wear socks in the flat we visit.. or even at home... At least in Vienna

[@EgonOlsen71]

The thing with the kitchen comes from the fact, that most apartments don't have one installed. The main reason is, that if it would be present, if would be part of the apartment and therefore, the landlord would be responsible for keeping it operational. And nobody wants to do that, so you usually rent an apartment without a kitchen installed and as a consequence, you either have to sell it to the next tenant or remove it ... because the landlord doesn't want it.

[@markalexander71332]

I have my washing machine in the kitchen. Thats normal.

[@nikolagericke938]

I think with the kitchen it depends on the region and the landlord. In Berlin it's only mandatory to provide a sink and a cooker/stove (Ausguss und Kochgelegenheit).

[@kevinkuypers9445]

Hey just wanted to leave you an appreciation comment - thanks for your videos about German culture! I'm an English teacher and I actually use your videos in my advanced English classes. They're a great way to foster intercultural learning and cultural sensibility. :) On a side note: have you ever told the story of how you ended up in Malaysia as a Scotsman or would you be willing to? :)

[@TheSchwarzKater]

Not sure if there's subtitle yet ( I think it's just auto generated) but the German comedian Jules, just dropped the video "Ein Video über Deutschland", which is peak comedy. It's basically condensed Germany in one video. But it's so long, you could do like 10 reaction videos out of this. lmao

[@Mcturntable81]

Since people's physics are different, different requirements are therefore met by a mattress. In order to do so, often the beds are divided into two different types of mattress.

[@tosa2522]

Around 70 percent of Germany's drinking water is obtained from groundwater, 13 percent from surface water such as rivers and lakes and 17 percent from so-called bank filtrates, which is basically surface water that has been purified by natural processes. The high proportion of groundwater is the reason why water in Germany is considered “hard”. In my region, the water supplier conducted a survey to find out whether people would be prepared to pay more for drinking water if the degree of hardness was reduced. The majority said no. PS: Surface water use is more widespread in the USA.

[@arnolsi]

Hard water for me have a better taste its sweeter.

[@andreadee1567]

Moving your kitchen every time? Yes, that is true. But if you search for flats or houses with a kitchen you can find some. Depending how important it is for you. It is inconevient, but I am used to it and my kitchen fits in every new flat, and you can find cheap used kitchens to buy. But what she said about refridgerator and beds was odd. You can buy every type of refridgerator or beds. What she has is very typical, but not a must. My fridge is 2m high. This is also a very typical type. Her flat is nice and I think an average type for Germany. Affordable in most towns.

[@dantilla]

I own 4 different pairs of slippers just for myself, my favorite is the one looking like a loaf of bread, like any real german would.

[@anwa1973]

As a German, I can say: 1. I moved 4 times and never took my kitchen furniture with me. Simply because it makes moving unnecessarily complicated, they doesn't fit properly in other kitchens anyway and some apartments already have furnished kitchens. 2. I also take my street shoes off in the hallway, but I don't have slippers. At home, I dont use any shoes. Even guests. 3. in my 4 previous apartments, I've also had the washing machine in the kitchen twice. 4. depending on the region, the water in Germany can contain a lot of dissolved minerals such as lime or magnesium. This is not only safe to drink, but even healthy because the body needs many of these minerals. Unfortunately, the minerals leave deposits on taps, glass walls, kettles, dishwashers and washing machines etc., which are difficult to remove and even cause damage over time. For this reason, many showers in Germany are cleaned with a squeegee after use and additives are used in dishwashers and washing machines to prevent deposits. 5. separate mattresses and blankets are important for a restful night's sleep, because this way everyone can use a mattress that suits them individually and no one will wake up at night because their partner has turned over and pulled on the blanket. 6. the blinds are on the outside so that the rooms are not heated by the sun in summer. When closed, only the blinds heat up in the sun and as they are outside, the room stays cool.

[@ayla6854]

I mean, yes, there are slippers available in many households but generally, it's socks or bare feet. I was also never expected to bring slippers, though I sometimes did anyway. Usually, I just go in socks or barefeet though. The kitchen thing can be a real pain in the a** but there's actually options to take over the former renter's kitchen. Not always and I, for example, have always had to buy my own kitchen (😭), probably because the flats I can afford are very very low cost. The heater in the bathroom is nice, but unfortunately more a luxury than a standard. Same goes for the outside blinders, though they are there quite often. You can dramatically darken a room using those. It's awesome, because during summer, you can keep the sun out and the flat cool. Used to have like an almost 10 degree difference between the inside and the outside. Really miss those things in my current flat. The word she did not want to say because she thought she would butcher it is "Stoßlüften": 3 to 4 times a day, open all windows and sometimes even the entrance door for 5 to 10 minutes to exchange the used air for fresh air and prevent mold. German tap water is generally said to be safe to drink. The US tap water might be more soft (I don't really know, but I think it's very possible that the different criteria and metrics to define soft and hard water play a role here) but it is full of additives like chlorine, which is a no go here in germany. (But if we want to be overly correct, our water probably has quite a lot of medication residues, just like- I expect - any other tap water in the world, at least in countries with easy access to (over the counter) medicine. Including in the US. But that is not tested for, as far as I know.) The washing machine often is also placed in the kitchen, actually. Growing up, we did have the washer in the bathroom in at least one of our places, but it's not really standard either way. It's more about available space, really. More spacious bathrooms have the washer in them and less spacious ones do not. Door knobs are generelly reserved for the front door. Though even there you can find door handles, only they are locked in place until you use the key.

[@LoveHideForever2]

1) We do not call it "flat" in German, but she is right, we do (often) learn British-English and so when speaking English "flat" is often used, but I also think that "Apartment" is more often used (in recent years) in German, often when speaking about kind of "higher quality" or "bigger" Wohnungen (flats/apartments). I also think a lot of people in Germany are influenced by American-English outside of school (esp. entertainment) and so there is often a mix out of British- and American-English. 2) I think it still depends on the person and/or flat. For example what kind of floor your home has, or what kind of guest you have, or simply guest (and sometimes even the people living there) just don't take them off. It's not as extreme as in Asia, but becomes more and more the norm. 3) The kitchen part is partly true, a lot of flats nowadays come with a kitchen (and/or like she said are sold when moving out), also lot of cheaper kitchens (I mean the cupboards, shelves and the like) are not made for dismantling and reassembling and so would also not be reused, that said expansive kitchens (especially the appliances) are often taken to the next apartment, as you maybe do not have them or they are far cheaper. I think in some cases it's simply that people have different taste and t´some want something unique. Refrigerators come in all sizes (including the freezer), but it's not an uncommon one in the video. I can not find any source saying "Germans softest water, is 10 times harder compered to the hardest water in the US", what I can find is that, states like Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, and more (places which are dry and/or hot) have a water hardness level up to over 500 ppm which is around 28 °dH (German measurement), while the lowest German °dH is around 8 °dH (in Bremen) which is around 142 ppm, so while the average is lower in the US, it seems that's not the case for the "highest/lowest" cases, with 24 °dH being the highest in a German region. But maybe I am wrong (open to correction). German tap-water is save to drink and often has less chemicals (e.g. Chlorine) and Germany uses 70 % Groundwater (or Springwater). Last to the kitchen part, I never heard of "Keurig" (maybe because it's an American brand?). 4) The toilets are often different, it depends on e.g. the age of the bathroom (how "modern" it is), a lot of toilets do not "float over the ground", they also do have the "top part" (outside the wall) and some (less common) do still have a handle. Whether the washing machine is in the bathroom or in the kitchen depends on the size of the bathroom/kitchen (it's not seen as weird or disgusting). Most older homes (and many flats) do not have this heater for towels. 5) While yes, it's not uncommon for hotels (lot of reasons) to have two mattresses, it's not that common in private homes (at least around me). If there are two, it's often because of the firmness of the mattress (harder/softer), I think the blankets are preference (in private homes). I don't think (electric) outside blinds are that common in all regions, especially in many flats (can depend on the region, but here in my region it's not common).

[@fanneboom]

seperate sleeping room, to each a rom, that shall be a must in every flat (flat is also shorter for use tham apartement)

[@bambulkomccloud3983]

It's called Durchzugslüftung, when you open up all the windows.

[@ELHAUKEZ]

Durchlüften

[@anashiedler6926]

harder water contains more minerals, and is therefore even healthier than soft water - in germany on austria its often on par with mineral water.

[@AnnoyingEdu]

The mentioned mandatory slipper thing really bothers me. It seems like a very personal rule on that specific household she was talking about. I've never visited someone in my life where I had to wear slippers in the apartment, let alone bring my own with me. That's NOT normal behavior in Germany. Taking off your shoes is though. Socks all the way! If there is a mandatory slipper rule, you can bet that the household will have enough slippers for everybody since they can not expect that guests will bring their own. That's really outlandish.

[@fixzeichner5592]

The water is not hard throughout Germany. This is due to the rocks through which it flows. In regions with mountains containing a lot of lime or gypsum, the water is calcareous; in regions with other minerals, it is soft because it contains little lime. Tap water is drinkable throughout Germany because lime is not a mineral that is harmful to health. However, it tastes a little different in every region. Not all German apartments are the same. There are different types of heating, such as underfloor heating, and there are also rental apartments that have a kitchen. Tilting windows have been standard for decades and I am surprised that this old invention is not known in America. Washing machines in kitchens are also common in some apartments. This depends on the size of the room. Some washing machines also find their place in the basement.

[@schnetzelschwester]

I moved 14 times in my life. Sometimes there were kitchens from the former tenants in the apartments, but they all were disgusting, filthy, greasy, scratched and broken, and mostly ugly as hell. I threw all of them out. Kitchen cabinets, stove, fridge, dishwasher have all standardized size (most 50 or 60 cm wide, few with 40, 80, 100 cm), and houses built after WW2 come with kind of standardized wall length (full 10 cm, or full meter). I never had problems to rearrange my kitchen furniture. I only had to buy a new countertop plate or to fill leftover gaps with a DIY-shelf. Sometimes I had to buy a new stove, because some houses had gas, some had not. I always prefer bringing my own kitchen with my own dirt and my own vermin. Now I live in my own house. The kitchen furniture has seen 5 or 6 other houses before, I didn't count.

[@Miss-Sarah-Lumen]

Greetings from Germany 😎 when I moved apartments I had to buy a new kitchen cause the old one didn't fit into my new apartment 😂 fricking hated it and still do. Yeah the water is pretty hard and cleaning is sometimes annoying as hell cause of the stains on glass doors 😅

[@mickypescatore9656]

Hi, Mert! 1.) The little freezer above the refrigerator is not typical german. (Mostly) young people who are living alone have those little freezers. But the time comes that you want a larger fridge/freezer combination!!! 2.) Washing machine in the kitchen: Well, it depends on the flat. I once had my washing machine in the kitchen, But if there`s enough space and if there`s a washing machine connection in the bathroom, you put it in the bathroom. I don`t think, there`s a "german way" to do it, or? Oh, wow! I think it`s totally ok to sleep in two different rooms. Why not? ...But I have to grin now, because I try to immagine where you two come together then, you know? 🤔😉 😝 For me this flat looks modern (but also quite "normal"). I myself live in an old apartment/ flat with no "luxeries". It`s really different (especially the toilet).

[@kirbybunny6559]

About the slippers: we have this giant slipper full of slipper pairs for guests 😅 but way more ppl will Just walk around in socks nowadays. I personally know of some people who don't like having guests walking barefoot cause they think it's unhygienic. When i was younger, i always found it weird that people in tv shows would leave their shoes on in the House

[@Floxxoror]

I think the hardest water in Germany is about 25 °dH("Grad deutscher Härte" = Degree of German hardness, many country have their own units). It would REALLY surprise me, if the highest in any country would be even near only 2.5 °dH. It would be pretty close to destilled water.

[@Lancor84]

The idea of using a kitchen somebody already owned and used is very icky. It's about hygiene and a personal intimate place of comfort. Of course for a student apartment it makes sense, they are only there for a couple of years at most and have lower quality standards because of their tight budget. But for a regular rent where you stay 10+ years? If possible I would bring my own kitchen or at least buy a used one I like, not just take one that is there.

[@Winona493]

The kitchen story in Germany IS true! I am a 53 year old German and whenever I moved (every single time) I had to move with my kitchen. Unfortunately cheap Ikea kitchens don't stand moving more than one time and you have to buy a new one. This concept is a hassle and it's stupid imho. I notice that more and more people think the same, so perhaps it is changing with the time. It could be that younger persons experienced the kitchen story differently in the last few years. But it definetely was like this and still is for the most part. But let's hope for the best.😂

[@slug9181]

theres a bunch of things in this video where she generalizes, sooo i'd like to comment on the topics from my perspective / area i live in. 1) we dont call em "flat" or "condo" and VERY rarely apartement... its a wohnung or Miet-wohnung if its rented property. i think she refers to the term a german would use, to refer to their home when speaking english 2) Houseslippers is differnt to every household... there is no generalized standard. i have never been to someone that has slippers for their guests and asks them to wear them. i'm fine with guests wearing their outside shoes in my house, as long as they dont have dogshit on em.. i walk barefoot in my home (judge me :D) unless i have guests 3) Kitchen is considered like any other furnishing in germany, because theres no "law" that has a landlord obligated to provide. that goes for cieling lamps or curtains aswell. they might not be inlcuded in your rental property or might even be included in your rent if furnished. they provide room, and connection to water and electricity and thats usually it. 4) water hardness differs from area to area. Its in like 98% of germany drinkable tabwater, But the majority is hardwater too i would say. i'd still recommend bottled water, or water filter jugs. 5) yes. No closets - only wardrobes. Due to the way houses are build in germany. 6) We have doorknobs, but they work not the US doorknobs that you twist. they're usually used for doors that stricley want to be key opened or are supposed to be one-way. you cant turn those either. they fall in lock aswell. any regular (lets call em) two-way doors usually have handles ( so you can open the door even while your hands are full ;) 7) true. Built in AC for private homes is exceptionally rare. For commercial or office buildings its common. We dont have the weather that would justify a built in AC imo. You can get mobile ACs if summers are hot in your area. Ty for the vid :)

[@kaktuslittle8333]

Kitchens in Germany can be expensive. Not in every apartment gives kitchen, so we take out expensive kitchen sometime with us ( the First kitchen from my Parents has cost 30.000 Euro so we take it with us to the next apartment and later to our own house)

[@arnolsi]

We have very soft springwater unchlorinated. Not everywhere in Germany the water is hard.

[@margreetanceaux3906]

The Netherlands too: an apartment is called a flat. Oh, and the standard is: it’s rented without furniture, furnishings or appliances like fridge, stove or washer. We however don’t take the cabinets with us. Tongue in cheek: reminds me of the British saying anything but the kitchen sink’ - no, we Dutch don’t move the sink.

[@maxmustermann8247]

I've NEVER been to a party where i have to bring my own shoes/slippers or even have to wear something like that (If you just hang around with some friends at home, it's not a party). And tho we know the concept of pyjama partys, in Germany that's only a kids thing. Sometimes, you have to take off your shoes because ppl are too lazy to clean every day, but i've never heard of someone that had to wear slippers/houseshoes when visiting someone else (Germany is not Japan!), but hey, i'm only born in Germany and i lived there for half a century, she obviously knows better than me... Be careful beliving in foreigners who make a video and talk about "facts" but are 99% of the time exaggerating to get more clicks...btw. her voice hurts. And it's not "calcium" it's lime...

[@Einspfeffibitte]

Yes, hard water does affect us especially in the south (i am from Bavaria). It tastes awful without a filter

[@hw2508]

I only experienced bringing house shoes to other peoples homes as a child. I never experienced this as an adult in Germany. On YT this is often mentioned. I would never* expect a guest to take of his/her shoes. I expect they have clean shoes. But I would only expect them to take of their shoes if they were really dirty. So, this is not a regular thing to do. Going to a house party and bring your slippers. We are adults and not children.

[@Trauerdurst_TD3D]

to my english/american friends i always explain the toilet thing the other way round: 'the bigger the business, the bigger the button!' edit: i'm also surprised she didnt mention the difference in door profiles. where american (inside) doors are usually a "rectangle in a cutout", german ones have a profile that fits into a matching negative on the frame. the frame has a rubber/foam seal. so the whole door/frame assembly closes very tight, there's no doors rattling in their frames, they are great in combination with the tiltable windows and the heaters to regulate different temperatures for different rooms w/o wasting much energy (or none at all). in some shots of her video you can kinda see it

[@GermanMythbuster]

Water Hardness = Mineral content (more Magnesium and calcium, leaves visually unpleasant spots when drying off)

[@Kiyuja]

the water thing was kinda awkward. I've been drinking tap water my whole life and its on par with water from the store. Only special brands like Pelegrino are softer. But I also live very very close to a filter facility, so maybe on the country side its different

[@anonymus390]

On par with and considered healthier than the plastic bottled water, since the bottles contain BPA which can spread into the water.

[@bambulkomccloud3983]

The slipper thing: It really depends on the family. It's probably like 50/50. In working class families it's might be more common to keep the shoes on, but if people have expensive carpets, you certainly have to take off your shoes. My guess works be that that lady in the video had less contact to working class families.

[@hurtigheinz3790]

When I learned English in school (late 90s) we were taught British English. Today, students/pupils are way more confronted with American English than I was, so I assume younger Germans speak/learn American English.

[@stinalener1331]

The kitchen thing is the worst in my opinion. There's a lot of rental apartments (especially in big cities where places are hard to come by and people will accept low standards) that don't have a kitchen installed. In hamburg (where I live) there was a law for a long time that required rentals to provide a kitchen, but that law has been removed a few years ago. Now a lot of Hamburg apartments don't provide kitchens anymore and I think that sucks

[@GreedyOrange]

been drinking like 3 liters since i was a kid,im 26,and im still alive:P also,its just trace minerals,they dont really matter,in that amount,and they are actually good for you,completly soft water would be distilled,as you might know,distilled water is bad for you,so some eloctrolites why not:D

[@Salzbuckel]

That kitchen story is just a fairy tail, a rumor american expats copy and copy and copy. The truth is just the other way round, No one would move a cheap IKEA kitchen with him, only very very high end kitchens, seen as the one buy in a lifetime would move with the owner, and those people would also only move one time in life. SHORT term renters would always find apartments with a kitchen lo let buy the former owner, Only a new, first time rented might be with out a kitchen, that the first inhabitant could buy what he likes, and would only buy cheap things, when short term renting ( under 5 years) is expected, then 50 to 50 is let for the follower or taking with him. Empty kitchen is very very, rare.

[@bambulkomccloud3983]

It's not a fairy tail. It depends on the apartment. Smaller apartments where the renters often change (for example student apartments) might have a fixed kitchen. However larger apartments for families or even houses mostly have no kitchen (unless you can buy it from the previous renter).

[@CoL_Drake]

What are you talking about I never seen a flag with a kitchen even all the flats I looked at and not got ZERO had a kitchen ...

[@tnnt5636]

No fairy tale! When you have a low income and have no money left for a new kitchen you also move your old kitchen to the new flat.

[@aja.189]

And I don't want to have a kitchen already installed, because normally they are not my taste nor designed to meet my needs

[@Ace-Of-Spades---]

Sorry, no. Of course, there is often the possibility to purchase the kitchen of the previous tenant, but often much too expensive. In this case, it is cheaper to buy a new one, because the saved energy costs for refrigerators etc., which are still real power guzzlers in the old kitchens, justify the additional costs.

[@CoL_Drake]

Water in the south is rly hard because of the chalk in the ground but it's not hard in the north

[@notthere83]

The kitchen moving is SERIOUSLY weird. Either a huge expense if you have it moved or frustrating to organize. Don't get me wrong, I love my kitchen. But just leaving it to the person after me and buying a new one (or changing stuff in one that may already be in an apartment) is SO much easier. Especially since apartments are obviously different and require different kitchen setups.

[@TheSchlargaff]

Maybe react to the last Jules video. One and a half hour end you see everything about German culture ✌️

[@berndhaverkock6070]

Usually when I enter someones appartement I take off my shoes and run around in socks. This has something to do being polite and not bringing in dirt from the streets. America : Dry walls Germany and most European countries : either masonry or concrete walls There was nothing special in the appartement. Absolut Standard Equipment.

[@rebelmoon9059]

I have literally 5 paar slippers for myself 😂 43 yo german

[@TheWolfskinder]

an apartement is only one room for living, sleeping and cooking. A flat has more than one room.

[@Etherion195]

absolutely NO ONE is taking their kitchen with them when moving, lol. People will always try to sell the kitchen to the landlord, next tenant or buyer.

[@Nebujin383]

Bruh, not even my mother is allowed to enter my apartment with shoes on! - It is a german thing for sure!

[@Jahn-p8m]

My problems are not mine if I can impose them on others. The role of victim is a good position in history

[@katii1997]

having the washingmashine in the kitchen is nothing unusual here in germany.

[@natuerlichedummheit]

What is an apartment?

[@bernd4747]

In Deutschland machen wir querrlüften, 30 Minuten alle Fenster auf und dann wieder schließen.

[@pyratehyena1312]

in germany it's not that there are no installed closets at all, it's that there are no pre-installed closets in flats. since flats often aren't used as permanent residences, there is utility in the storage space being personalized, so that you can bring your own furniture that fits your own needs. same with the kitchen, it can also be viewed as a small form of investment and personalization. while there are a lot of flats with installed kitchens, it's customary that, if you bring your own, the installed one is given back to the landlord who will install it somewhere else or re-install it when you move out and the next tenant doesn't have one. I can see how it seems like a hassle, but if you're used to it, it's just another step on the way. where you have your washing machine really depends on how the house and flat are structured. while it's quite often in the bathroom, it can also have a separate room or be outside the living space in a shared washroom or somewhere in the cellar. in one of my flats I had mine in the kitchen and it really isn't seen as highly unusual or weird.

[@pillmuncher67]

Hard water tastes better.

[@UKLogic22]

Moving a kitchen is by far the shittiest part!💀 Water quality depends on region. PS: yes, Germans still living in the 90s.🙄

[@dwin6005]

OK, her furnitures look VERY cheap. Most people in Germany use furnitures which are significantly more expensive. That's the reason why landlords usually rent out their apartments empty: The new tenants are supposed to bring their own furniture and turn an empty apartment into their new home. Everyone has his/her own personal favorites when it comes to furniture, materials and colors, and what functions the furniture should have. The same applies to the budget that the new tenant want and can spend on their furniture. As in this video, you can only spend around 2,000 to 3,000 euros on a kitchen, but you can also buy a kitchen that costs more than 50,000 euros. And no, it is not normal for visitors to have to take their shoes off in a German apartment. Likewise, many people do not have capsule coffee machines. The reason is simply that the costs are very high and a lot of waste is created. The drinking water in Germany (i.e. in all areas of an apartment) is one of the best in the world. If she has problems with hard water, she probably lives near a mountain range. OK, we here in the German part of the northern Vosges have such good water that many sources on the French side have been bought by Nestle and now the water is exported to many countries.

[@notthere83]

"Conditioned not to wear shoes inside" - oof. That implies that you actually don't agree with the reasons that the people of many countries don't wear street shoes in their homes.

[@tosa2522]

Apartment has become a German word.

[@Rick2010100]

As a German - i have never been asked as guest to to put out my shoes. I heard of some who have a item with it, but they are usualy also vegans and have also other problems. I use a fully automatic coffee machine (Jura E8) and so do most of the other Germans I know. This is run by real coffee beans, which are ground in the machine and then brewed into fresh coffee. The standard German toilet is mostly mounted to the wall to allow a simple cleaning, one just has to mop under the toilet instead around it. Door handles have always been standard in Germany. In earlier centuries they were made of brass and were quite expensive. In the UK and later in the USA people wanted to save money and used a door handle because it used much less expensive brass. In Germany there was enough brass at a fair price, so door handles were mostly used.

[@sebeya1768]

i think she hangs out with some very strange people.who is having a party and then make the guest take off their shoes? and what lunatic is making his guests bring their own slipers? im german btw

[@beldin2987]

German here, living in Bremen, and the only thing i ever bought for my kitchen was a fridge for my second appartment. The first one had a complete kitchen. I don't know, maybe its a Bavarian thing (we know Americans think Bavaria is the whole germany just like Texas is the while US), but i never heared of that before and also a lot of these kitchenless appartments i saw in videos looked like they were in brand new houses, so of course why should somebody buy a kitchen for those if he doesn't even know if the first persons who rent it would even like it.