Anyone who’s ever had or used a set of Venetian or mini window blinds (y’know, the ones made of horizontal wood, aluminum, or plastic slats), has, at one time or another, wondered whether the blinds should be turned so that they’re either facing up or facing down. Convex (curved) blinds look more uniform when they’re turned down, but, since they can be adjusted, somebody must like them turned up for some reason, right? So, which way should window blinds face?

It all generally revolves around privacy: when you turn your blinds to face up, with the concave part facing your space’s interior & the convex part facing the window, it’s harder for people to see inside because there’s less space between slats. But, if you adjust the blinds to face down, it’s a bit easier for people outside to see inside your place through the gaps between the slats.

Some people care more about aesthetics than privacy, though, and find that blinds facing down look neater than blinds turned upward. The downward orientation tends to let a little sunlight leak into the room, giving it a bit more natural light than if the blinds were turned up (though, keep in mind that the upward position can also let UV light in, which could eventually fade certain surfaces near your window).

Also, what time of year it is might influence how you adjust your blinds. Blinds facing up let less sunlight in, which can reduce the heat from direct summer sunlight & keep things cooler in your house. Then, during the winter, you can open up the blinds to help warm your space naturally.

So, it’s really all about personal preference. Just be sure to always make sure your blinds are closed whenever you change clothes or do your favorite crazy dance routine. It’s just better for everyone that way.

Got a Mundane Mystery you’d like solved? Send me a message via social media (@AndyWebbRadioVoice), or shoot me an email at [email protected].

Polka dots are a fashion staple, and have been for a while. But why do we call them “polka dots”?

Polka dots originated around the same time as polka music & dancing. The term “polka” comes from the Czech word for “half” (as in, the half steps you would do to perform the dance), which swept across Europe & the US in the mid-1800s.

So, what do dots have to do with dancing? Well…it’s not really all that clear. The connection’s murky, at best, but it most likely was related to all the products that were being marketed as polka-related at the pinnacle of polka’s popularity. Prior to that, wearing polka dots in Europe was actually a bit taboo; because the hand-sewing prevalent at the time was inexact, most folks found it impossible to sew perfectly round circles that were evenly spaced.

But then, along came sewing machines & the circle pattern became possible for everyone. And, once that happened, manufacturers put dots on everything, from drapes to dresses and beyond…pretty much anything that they figured might be more likely to sell if it were somehow connected to the polka craze. As it turned out, the dot pattern stuck & grew in popularity over the years, even after polka’s popularity had waned.

Got a Mundane Mystery you’d like solved? Send me a message via social media (@AndyWebbRadioVoice), or shoot me an email at [email protected].

BROUGHT TO YOU BY: Airtron Heating & Air Conditioning

Our bodies are scientific marvels…that also produce tons of gross stuff through the process of just being alive. Think: belly button lint…boogers…and earwax, that weird material that can sometimes reduce your hearing & make you dig into your ear canal to get it out. So, what is this earwax stuff, really?

Medically, it’s known as cerumen. It originates in the glands inside your ear canal, and, for the most part, it’s genuinely good for you. It’s a protective surface liner, catches germs & dirt, keeps water away from your ear drum, and stops irritants from getting into your ear canal.

Most earwax tends to disperse over time, either getting washed away or falling out. Problems can arise, however, when your ear makes too much of the wax or it builds up over time, because wax can ultimately block your ear canal & muffle sounds. Most people suspect an earwax buildup problem whenever they experience hearing loss or their ear feels “full”.

(And FYI: the color of your earwax, which can range from yellow to light brown, actually has nothing to do with anything. It won’t tell you if you have problems developing.)

So, what can you do? When earwax is noticeable, try to soften it with mineral oil, over-the-counter earwax softeners, or irrigation, during which you would tilt your head & rinse out your ear with body temperature water (not cool water, that’ll make you dizzy.) If at-home treatments don’t work, get your doctor or nurse practitioner to take care of it for you.

And, just to confirm what we’ve all heard, sticking a Q-Tip down into your ear can do the opposite of what you want it to do; not only will it push the earwax in deeper, it could also injure your eardrum.

Earwax can be problematic, but it’s meant to be there & protects your body. Not so sure about the belly button lint, though…the jury’s still out on that stuff.

Got a Mundane Mystery you’d like solved? Send me a message via social media (@AndyWebbRadioVoice), or shoot me an email at [email protected].

BROUGHT TO YOU BY: Airtron Heating & Air Conditioning