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7 common mistakes to avoid while buying furniture

7 common mistakes to avoid while buying furniture

Redecorating the home with new furniture is always exciting. It gives one the chance to redesign the space based on their current needs and preferences. Exciting as it is, this process may often also feel tedious. As a result, many people end up rushing the process, purchasing furniture pieces they regret in the future. Here is a list of seven common mistakes people make when buying furniture and how to avoid them.

Looking for the cheapest options
Many people look for the cheapest options when buying furniture. However, this could end up costing them more in the long run. While it may be an immediate money-saver, the furniture pieces may need to be replaced sooner. When buying furniture, consider the frequency of its use, along with its material and build quality to pick pieces that will last long.

Eyeballing measurements
One must always carefully measure the furniture being purchased. Additionally, it is important to measure the dimensions of the room it will be placed in and the size of the doorways and hallways. Eyeballing these measurements is a common mistake to avoid as it may mean the furniture cannot be brought into the room, or does not fit in its intended space, which may cause one to return the piece and/or lose their deposit.

Ignoring scale and space
In addition to the size of the piece, one must also consider the space around it. Big furniture pieces that look good in the store may end up blocking space around the home. To find a better estimate of how big a certain furniture piece may look inside the house, mark the size of the item in the room using masking tape.

For easy access in and around the room, leave at least 18 inches (45 cm) of space between the coffee table and the sofa, 32-36 inches (81-91 cm) between pieces of furniture, and 48 inches (121 cm) for chairs around the dining table. Working with this margin in mind will help one find furniture that can be moved and accessed comfortably.

Not considering one’s lifestyle
People often turn to lifestyle magazines and catalogs for style inspiration. While these may be a good place to start shortlisting, one needs to consider their lifestyle seriously when making decisions about furniture. It is important to find pieces that fit well with one’s needs.

For instance, those who are considering growing their family may want to opt for furniture pieces with rounded edges and softer corners, instead of sharp sides or glass tops. Similarly, for households with older people, it may be advisable to opt for firmer and higher chairs and beds for ease of movement.

Impulse buying
When shopping, it is easy to fall in love with a certain piece of furniture or an accessory. Most often, impulse purchases turn into costly mistakes. So, before finalizing the purchase, one must take a moment to consider how it would fit in with the rest of the room. Think about its style, colors, functionality, and size.

Buying too soon (or all at once)
As one plans a renovation, the goal is to get everything done as soon as possible. This sometimes means booking furniture pieces before the space is ready. However, this may prove costly, so one must wait until the room is ready. This will give one a better idea of the space, allowing one to find the right pieces for the room.

Additionally, one may feel tempted to buy all the furniture at once, which can lead to overspending. Take time to plan and develop a theme that fits well with one’s lifestyle and budget. Use this as inspiration when decorating the room to create a coherent space that aligns with one’s needs.

Opting for looks over comfort
While style guides can be useful when designing spaces, one must always prioritize comfort over trends. For instance, when coming back home after a long day of work or school, one is likely to want a bed or a sofa that is comfortable to fall into, and not just one that looks stylish. Similarly, it is important to build an ample closet and storage space, instead of relying on a few stylishly arranged racks.

Although time-consuming, buying furniture can be a fun process. Work with a budget, test the pieces when possible, and visualize the space to create a space that is pleasing to the eye and comfortable to live in.

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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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7 unusual ways to keep mosquitoes away

Mosquitoes are carriers of dangerous diseases like dengue, malaria, and West Nile Virus, making it crucial to avoid their presence in and around the house. A Vector Disease Control International (VDCI) study found over 1,000 cases of mosquito-borne infections nationwide last year. Mosquitoes tend to be vectors of a variety of viruses. Therefore, to avoid mosquito-driven infections, here are some unconventional yet practical ways to keep them at bay. Spreading out coffee grounds One of the most weird ways to keep mosquitoes away is using coffee grounds. These are surprisingly efficacious in repelling mosquitoes anywhere. Mosquitoes tend to breed in stagnant pools and puddles of water. To inhibit the breeding, one can spread coffee grounds on the surface of such pools and puddles. The grounds form a barrier that prevents oxygen from entering the water surface. This results in the suffocation and elimination of mosquitoes and their larvae underneath the surface. Apart from preventing larvae from growing into adult mosquitoes, this method is also an eco-friendly way to keep mosquitoes at bay. Adding piñon wood to one's wood stack Mosquitoes find certain odors incredibly repulsive, and the scent of piñon wood is one of them. Piñon wood tends to work like incense, another common tool used to drive mosquitoes away, and gives off a strong aroma that mosquitoes cannot stand. So, the next time an individual or group is camping outdoors, they can add liberal amounts of this wood to their wood stack while lighting up their fire pit. Doing so will ensure that their conversations are not interrupted by pesky mosquitoes and their buzzing sound. Using essential oil spray Oil sprays come with a host of benefits. However, only some know how effective they are in keeping mosquitoes at bay. Their underrated appeal makes the usage of oil sprays one of the weirdest ways to keep mosquitoes away. Essential oil spray mixtures are easy to concoct at home. One can use oils such as lavender, thyme, or peppermint in their concoction. Once that is done, individuals can use a spray bottle to sprinkle little quantities of the concoction to keep mosquitoes away. The sweetest-smelling oils tend to repulse mosquitoes more due to the strong nature of their aroma. Putting dryer sheets in pockets Like many solutions listed here, dryer sheets may not be among the first things to think of when considering keeping mosquitoes away. Nevertheless, these sheets, normally used to freshen laundry, are also excellent and proven mosquito repellents. One can create fragrant barriers around them by slipping a dryer sheet into the pocket of their shirt or jacket or tying one onto their belt. Certain chemicals in dryer sheets can interfere with mosquitoes' receptors, which they use to locate potential bite victims. As a result, using dryer sheets can prevent the pests from finding hosts to infect. Using bug zappers Among all the marvelous and weird tricks and tips listed here, using bug zappers may seem generic and conventional. However, their sheer effectiveness makes them a candidate on any list about keeping mosquitoes at bay. Bug zappers resemble tennis rackets, and users can simply swish their way into rooms and places with many mosquitoes. The electricity contained in these devices is small enough not to harm kids and other humans and heavy enough to incinerate mosquitoes flying in the air. Wearing light-colored clothing People frequently focus on using oils, traps, and other devices while strategizing about keeping mosquitoes away. However, not many may think about the clothes that they wear. Mosquitoes and other pests are attracted to specific colors of clothing, mainly the darker ones. Dark-colored clothes not only attract mosquitoes, flies, and other pests during the night but also keep them camouflaged there. Lighter-colored clothing, on the other hand, enables people to see if they have a mosquito or cockroach crawling on their apparel. Also, lighter-colored clothes have been known to drive mosquitoes away from a person. Deploying outdoor traps Outdoor traps emit carbon dioxide that lures mosquitoes in. Additionally, the pests are attracted to the heat and light emitted by these devices. Once mosquitoes enter the trap, they cannot fly out and, eventually, collapse and perish inside due to suffocation. This makes outdoor traps one of the most ruthlessly efficient mosquito killers.

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