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7 avoidable mistakes of home improvement

7 avoidable mistakes of home improvement

Starting with home improvements is one of the most tiresome yet fruitful events one could experience. You might spend a month or more away from home. But you do so in anticipation that the redesign will look incredible. However, home upgrades can often go sideways if you don’t pay close attention to certain factors. This may also cost you more than you anticipated. Here are seven mistakes to avoid when planning to refurbish your home.

Ignoring the home’s condition
Individuals always want specific changes while upgrading their homes. However, one often ignores vital aspects of the process, such as whether or not their home’s infrastructure can support the redesign. More extensive changes could take time if a home’s structure isn’t strong. Moreover, there may also be complications during the process and unprecedented damages. So one should always check if their home can support an improvement before starting. Finally, working with experts could help save unforeseen costs.

Signing on a contactor with the lowest quote
A contractor is responsible for carrying out any upgrades smoothly and on time. And each one will quote a different budget to complete the project. But to save money, people pick contractors who offer the lowest quotes. However, such professionals may often use inferior materials and cut corners to get the work done concerning a fixed budget. So when you select a contractor to get the job done, look for one that offers the most value-for-money services rather than the cheapest alternative. Before signing the contract, ask them questions, including the type of materials they will use, work experience in the field, pictures of past projects, and certifications.

Making furniture purchases early
The home improvement phase is one of the best times to swap old furniture with new options. And most people love this part, considering they get to pick new elements for their house. However, in all the excitement, one often purchases furniture earlier than usual. But this is probably one of the biggest mistakes they could make as the furniture might not fit a given space and may be challenging to store. Moreover, it may even get stained during the project. And if one cannot return the furniture, they may incur added costs that might drive up their home improvement costs. So always hold on to new furniture purchases until the project is complete.

Holding on to utility installations
While holding on to new furniture purchases is essential, it’s not the same with utility installations. This includes toe-kick storage, washers, dryers, HVAC systems, and pantry pullouts. And one usually puts off replacing or installing these components, given that the old one still works, and also owing to a limited budget. However, if you buy the product later, it might have dimensions that do not match the assigned space in your home. And this could drive up costs to redesign the spot. So consider getting these upgrades done during the improvement process to avoid driving up the bill in the future.

Setting a fixed budget
When planning for changes in a home, people have the impression that the project will take the exact amount of money quoted by the contractor. However, this is not entirely true. Several factors may arise during the upgrade, increasing the project’s costs. This includes unprecedented damages and layout changes requested while the work progresses. So to avoid any budgeting surprises, you should expect to pay about 20% more during home improvements. At the same time, expect the project to take more time to complete than expected.

Going DIY where not required
Going the DIY way with home improvements is one of the best cheaper options. However, trying out such hacks where they are not required may result in more harm than good. For example, you could take up DIY projects like hanging wallpaper, light wood staining, wall painting, or finishing yourself. However, it’s best to leave more extensive components, such as plumbing, electrical wiring, and roofing, to experts. Hiring professionals could help avoid more enormous complications that would otherwise put your life at risk.

Forgetting documentation
While you might find the best contractor to complete a home improvement project, it is imperative to get the necessary documentation to carry out the project. Not getting a permit may lead to hefty fines levied by the concerned authorities. It may also result in the demolition of the sanctioned project. To avoid the blunder, ensure that you or the contractor have secured the necessary permits and other documentation from the local municipal building or county.

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Avoid these 10 cleaning mistakes

It might sound surprising, but there are some wrong ways of cleaning your home. While your living spaces may look cleaner even with these ineffective methods, you might just help the breeding of bacteria or set yourself up for more cleaning! So, take a minute to think about your cleaning routine and how you can make it more effective. Avoid these cleaning mistakes to make your home look fresher and cleaner for a long time.Using too much laundry detergent or softenerUsing too much detergent doesn’t make your clothes cleaner. Instead, you may find traces of leftover detergent after the wash. It is also important to follow the manufacturer’s recommendations for fabric softener, as too much softener may make the fabrics stiff and greasy.Overloading the dishwasherAdding too many utensils to your dishwasher may affect its ability to clean well. Remember to follow the manufacturer’s recommendations when loading the dishwasher.Using the same rag everywhereEven if your rag or cleaning cloth does not look old, it must be replaced regularly to avoid spreading dirt or germs across surfaces. You may switch to a microfiber towel in combination with a disinfectant spray.Not cleaning out the vacuumIt is important to regularly clean out the waste bag in your vacuum cleaner to effectively clean up a space. Otherwise, you will just end up pushing dirt around!Using furniture polish to dustAlthough furniture polish can make surfaces look clean and shiny, it must be used sporadically. It tends to have a higher concentration of oil, which can make fingerprints more prominent on smooth surfaces and make your home look unkempt. Instead, it is best to clean furniture with a barely damp cloth.Spraying cleaners directly on electronicsDirectly spraying cleaners onto devices like laptops, cell phones, or TVs may be damaging. Instead, spray the cleaner onto a clean microfiber cloth and then wipe the surface with it.Ignoring remote controlsThis is one of the most common cleaning mistakes to avoid. The remote controls around the house may be managed by multiple people a day. So, be sure to clean and sanitize them well.Using dish soap on wooden cutting boardsCutting boards need to be cleaned more carefully, as they may lead to cross-contamination, especially after chopping meats. Instead of relying on soap and warm water, soak the board in a bleach solution to clean it well.Scrubbing stains out of carpetsScrubbing a stain on upholstery can damage the fabric. So, avoid this cleaning mistake, and instead, blot as much of the spill as possible with a paper towel. Rinse it well and blot dry again. Use a carpet stain remover if required.Forgetting to take out the trashClearing out the trash regularly will help you maintain a clean home. But this isn’t enough; leaks or tears in the bag may cause spills inside the can. Remember to wipe down the trash can with a bleach cleaning solution to ward off any undesirable smells from your home. If you are using harsh chemicals in your cleaning routine, make sure you wear gloves during the process and don’t forget to ventilate the room once you are done cleaning. This can help you stay safe and not inhale any toxic fumes. So, avoid these cleaning mistakes to make sure your home remains healthy and hygienic.

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6 common laundry mistakes to avoid

One of the most basic rules of doing laundry is to put whites and colors in separate loads. But there is more to laundry than just picking clothes based on their color. Sometimes one can make certain mistakes that can damage the clothes and cost them a lot of money. Hence, here are some common laundry mistakes that can lead to damaged clothes, followed by tips on how one can avoid them. Using more laundry detergent than necessary Usually, people believe that adding more laundry detergent equals cleaner clothes. But this is far from the truth. In most cases, adding extra laundry detergent can lead to the development of extra suds that can remain on the clothes after the wash. So, when one wears these clothes, the sticky suds layer on the clothes can attract more dust and bacteria, affecting the quality of the clothes and compromising one's immune system. Hence, its imperative to use the recommended quantity of detergent according to the laundry load. Not sorting the load by material One of the most common laundry mistakes that can damage clothes is not sorting them based on their material. While putting white, light-colored, and dark clothes in separate loads can prove beneficial, segregating these clothes based on their fabric material can prevent damage and abrasion. For instance, if one puts heavy material clothes such as denim with delicate fabrics like chiffon, linen, and silk, the delicate ones can likely tear or become prone to permanent damage. Additionally, this grouping of clothes can be beneficial for the drying process, as all the clothes will dry faster compared to heavier fabrics. Letting the loads linger in the washer Another common laundry mistake is leaving the load in the washer and forgetting about it. While this can seem harmless, this damp load can act as a breeding ground for mold. One of the easiest ways to identify this is to look out for a musty smell from the clothes. Although high-fragrance laundry detergents can sometimes make it difficult to recognize the foul smell, it's extremely important to remove the load from the washer as soon as the cycle is complete. Overloading the washer When loading the washer, the smaller the load, the better. This is because overloading the washer tub makes the penetration of laundry detergent difficult across all pieces of clothing. This means sweat, bacteria, and stains will remain on the cloth after the wash cycle, thus affecting the quality of the clothes. So, always do smaller loads and avoid compressing the clothes to fit into the machine. Also, read the manual to check for the mentioned load number. Not preparing the clothes properly before washing A lesser-known but widely committed laundry mistake is leaving zippers and buttons open. In most cases, when one commits this mistake, the clothes become more susceptible to rips and small holes while tossed around during the wash cycle, especially jackets, jeans, and bras. This happens because the open zips, buttons, and clasps can get stuck to other pieces of clothing or threads, leading to permanent damage. So, as a precaution, always check all the clothes and take the time to close the zippers and clasps before putting them into the washer. For incredibly delicate fabrics, one can opt for mesh bags to avoid damage. Choosing the wrong washing temperature Typically most clothes must be washed in cold water to prevent problems such as bleeding of dark colors and shrinking of the clothes. So, when one uses hot water for the clothes, it can cause unnecessary stress on certain pieces of clothing. This includes increased friction, melting of fibers, and high chances of wear and tear. Such damage can potentially decrease the lifespan of the clothes and lead to them being thrown out rapidly. To prevent such problems, wash delicate clothes like wool and silk at 30 degrees. This process can work gently on the fibers and make the clothes last longer. In addition to the above-mentioned common laundry mistakes that can damage clothes, one must also avoid others. This includes rubbing stains too vigorously, overwashing the clothes, and forgetting to clear the washer filter. Also, make sure to read the manual of the washer to make optimum use of the features according to the load and fabric of the clothes.

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