Contents
- A broom instead of a vacuum cleaner
- Forget about furniture covers
- Wrong humidity
- Pour the fat into the sink
- Do not drain the water heater
- Clean the seams between tiles with toilet cleaner
- Ignore extractor hood
- The front garden is too close to home
- The curtains are open all day
- Climbing plants on the walls
- Too Much Carpet Shampoo
As they say, water wears away a stone. So these seemingly inconspicuous things slowly but surely kill the interior and harm a person.
Everyone knows to turn off the lights and turn off the tap to avoid unnecessary costs and, in the worst case, a flood. We know that household appliances must be disconnected from the mains when leaving for a long time, and that suitable cleaning agents must be used for each surface. However, each of us makes small, almost imperceptible mistakes in everyday life, which over time damage both the house and your health.
A broom instead of a vacuum cleaner
Some housewives hate taking out a vacuum cleaner to clean the floor in one small room. It is much easier to quickly sweep away the debris with a brush. And in the kitchen, this is practice number one: you won’t vacuum if you just spilled tea leaves or cereals. However, experts advise that you first go around the room with a vacuum cleaner: tiny abrasive particles like sand can scratch the floor. Over time, the surface will become more and more cloudy, and the floor will begin to appear dirty, even if it has just been washed.
Forget about furniture covers
More precisely, for the legs of tables and chairs. They are needed not only if you have parquet or laminate flooring. Even in the case of carpeting, these pads will do a good job. They will protect wooden or glossy floors from scratches, linoleum from stretches, dents and abrasion, and carpet from abrasions.
Wrong humidity
If you have parquet or laminate on your floor, you need to monitor the humidity level in the room so that the coating lasts longer. At a humidity level of more than 55 percent, the floor begins to damp, it can swell and deform, and begin to creak. For the same reason, it is important to clean the floor correctly: in no case do very wet cleaning. Experts generally advise using the minimum amount of water for washing to avoid stains and deformation.
Pour the fat into the sink
Flushing fat down the drain is not a good idea. Residual oils and fats will solidify in the pipes, mixing with other residues. Over time, a powerful blockage may appear. And the smell will not be the most pleasant. By the way, oil residues are not the only thing that absolutely must not be flushed down the drain. A complete list of bans (including coffee grounds and pasta water) can be found here.
Do not drain the water heater
At least once a year, the contents of the water heater must be drained completely, to the bottom. Otherwise, you risk losing this device prematurely. Over time, mineral deposits inside a domestic boiler will form a thick layer that gradually breaks off, clogging taps, drains and valves. And here it is not far to the breakdown and replacement of the water heater. A decent device now costs at least 6 thousand rubles – do you need such expenses?
Clean the seams between tiles with toilet cleaner
These tools are not at all universal. Particularly aggressive, even for their intended purpose, cannot be used too often, since acids gradually corrode toilet faience. And what these same acids do with grout is easy to imagine: they simply destroy the solution. As a result, the grout becomes porous, moldy and yellow faster.
Ignore extractor hood
The hood is needed everywhere: both in the bathroom and in the kitchen. In the bathroom, it fights excess moisture, preventing mold. In the kitchen, an extractor hood is needed not only to dehumidify the air, but also to avoid air pollution. This is especially true for kitchens with gas stoves: it has been proven that cooking on gas is bad for the health of the owners. But the hood and the open window minimize the bad consequences.
The front garden is too close to home
A flower bed under the window – what could be nicer. And we know that – a flower bed at a distance of at least a meter from the walls of the house. Perennials that grow too close to the foundation erode the house slowly, drop by drop. The fact is that plants accumulate moisture, which can damage the base of the house. And if something larger grows next to the house – a birch, for example – then the roots can gradually destroy the foundation.
The curtains are open all day
This rule applies only to those who are lucky enough to live on the sunny side. When we are at home, of course, I want to let in more sun into the apartment. But if you’re leaving, it’s best to draw the curtains. Firstly, in hot weather it will save the rooms from overheating and stuffiness. Secondly, aggressive ultraviolet light penetrates through window glass and is able to ruin the floor and furniture: they fade ahead of time. This is especially true for parquet floors.
Climbing plants on the walls
If you are the owner of a country house or a pretty summer cottage, it is tempting to plant climbing plants such as hops, grapes or other vines along the walls. But by doing so, you are doing yourself a disservice: experts say that such vines are a real magnet for insects, parasites and excess water. The first will try to get inside the house (and they will probably succeed), and excess water will destroy the structure of the walls, making them damp, producing mold and mildew.
Too Much Carpet Shampoo
For some reason, it always seems that a generous dose of cleaning agent will help to deal with dirt faster and more efficiently. But this is not the case. Too much carpet or furniture shampoo can be difficult to rinse off. More water has to be used, surfaces dry slowly, and this can lead to mold and unpleasant odors. In addition, water can destroy the adhesive layer, ruining the carpet altogether.