diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index ec83599..f39f49f 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -11,9 +11,20 @@ purpose: gather data from intern(WMDE) and extern(volunteers) forms to create a
     python 3.8.2
     django 3.1.1
     django-formtools 2.2
+    whitenoise 5.2.0
 
 ## production setup
 
     cp foerderbarometer/settings_production.py foerderbarometer/settings.py
 
-edit /secrets.json
+edit /secrets.json to contain something similar to
+
+{
+  "DATABASE_PASSWORD": "THIS IS TOP SECRET!"
+}
+
+    python manage.py collectstatic
+
+add to cron one time a day:
+
+    python manage.py sendmails
diff --git a/foerderbarometer/settings.py b/foerderbarometer/settings.py
index 3f40d9b..c0568a6 100644
--- a/foerderbarometer/settings.py
+++ b/foerderbarometer/settings.py
@@ -44,7 +44,9 @@ def get_secret(setting, secrets=secrets):
 SECRET_KEY = '*&7p9#_n$@^%0z49s+7jpy@+j1rw_hqh05knyd6y2*!0)r&b6h'
 
 # SECURITY WARNING: don't run with debug turned on in production!
-DEBUG = True
+DEBUG = False
+
+STATIC_ROOT = BASE_DIR / 'staticfiles'
 
 ALLOWED_HOSTS = ['*']
 
@@ -59,14 +61,12 @@ INSTALLED_APPS = [
     'django.contrib.sessions',
     'django.contrib.messages',
     'django.contrib.staticfiles',
-    #    'django.contrib.sites',
     'formtools',
 ]
 
-# SITE_ID = 1 # needed for contrib.sites
-
 MIDDLEWARE = [
     'django.middleware.security.SecurityMiddleware',
+    'whitenoise.middleware.WhiteNoiseMiddleware',
     'django.contrib.sessions.middleware.SessionMiddleware',
     'django.middleware.common.CommonMiddleware',
     'django.middleware.csrf.CsrfViewMiddleware',
diff --git a/foerderbarometer/settings_development.py b/foerderbarometer/settings_development.py
index 3f40d9b..f3708a8 100644
--- a/foerderbarometer/settings_development.py
+++ b/foerderbarometer/settings_development.py
@@ -46,6 +46,8 @@ SECRET_KEY = '*&7p9#_n$@^%0z49s+7jpy@+j1rw_hqh05knyd6y2*!0)r&b6h'
 # SECURITY WARNING: don't run with debug turned on in production!
 DEBUG = True
 
+STATIC_ROOT = BASE_DIR / 'staticfiles'
+
 ALLOWED_HOSTS = ['*']
 
 
@@ -59,14 +61,12 @@ INSTALLED_APPS = [
     'django.contrib.sessions',
     'django.contrib.messages',
     'django.contrib.staticfiles',
-    #    'django.contrib.sites',
     'formtools',
 ]
 
-# SITE_ID = 1 # needed for contrib.sites
-
 MIDDLEWARE = [
     'django.middleware.security.SecurityMiddleware',
+    'whitenoise.middleware.WhiteNoiseMiddleware',
     'django.contrib.sessions.middleware.SessionMiddleware',
     'django.middleware.common.CommonMiddleware',
     'django.middleware.csrf.CsrfViewMiddleware',
diff --git a/foerderbarometer/settings_production.py b/foerderbarometer/settings_production.py
index 709c201..9a650dd 100644
--- a/foerderbarometer/settings_production.py
+++ b/foerderbarometer/settings_production.py
@@ -48,7 +48,9 @@ def get_secret(setting, secrets=secrets):
 SECRET_KEY = '*&7p9#_n$@^%0z49s+7jpy@+j1rw_hqh05knyd6y2*!0)r&b6h'
 
 # SECURITY WARNING: don't run with debug turned on in production!
-DEBUG = True
+DEBUG = False
+
+STATIC_ROOT = BASE_DIR / 'staticfiles'
 
 ALLOWED_HOSTS = ['*']
 
@@ -63,14 +65,13 @@ INSTALLED_APPS = [
     'django.contrib.sessions',
     'django.contrib.messages',
     'django.contrib.staticfiles',
-    #    'django.contrib.sites',
     'formtools',
 ]
 
-# SITE_ID = 1 # needed for contrib.sites
 
 MIDDLEWARE = [
     'django.middleware.security.SecurityMiddleware',
+    'whitenoise.middleware.WhiteNoiseMiddleware',
     'django.contrib.sessions.middleware.SessionMiddleware',
     'django.middleware.common.CommonMiddleware',
     'django.middleware.csrf.CsrfViewMiddleware',