Doing laundry seems straightforward enough, right? You just have to take the dirty clothes from the laundry basket to the washer, select a wash and rinse cycle, and later transfer them to the dryer unit and finish the cycle. Despite seemingly simple steps, certain mistakes can damage clothes. So, here are a few blunders to avoid to get the most out of your washer and dryer and get fresh, clean clothes every time: Not sorting the clothes Clothes should be sorted according to material and color to avoid hassles during the wash. For example, you should never wash your delicates with jeans and cargo pants, which require hot washes. This will ruin the fabric of delicate garments. Additionally, always separate your whites from colored clothing to avoid staining the lighter clothes. Not scrubbing stains beforehand Washing machines cannot remove all the stains, even if you run them for multiple cycles. Some stubborn stains call for presoaking and scrubbing the fabric. Here, presoaking and mild scrubbing can remove or loosen most of the stain. But you should not scrub vigorously to remove the stain. Just let the stain soak for a few minutes and use a napkin gently to dab the satin with the slightest pressure.

Efficiency, effectiveness, and a sense of accomplishment are the goals we strive for when tackling household chores. However, it can be easy to get stuck in common pitfalls that slow us down and make the tasks appear more overwhelming than necessary. From overlooking safety precautions to neglecting maintenance, numerous mistakes can derail our cleaning endeavors. By being aware of common pitfalls and avoiding them, we can make our household chores more manageable and enjoyable. Lack of planning One of the biggest mistakes people make when it comes to household chores is not having a plan. Going into chores without a clear idea of what needs to be done can lead to inefficiency and wasted time. Take a few minutes to make a to-do list and prioritize tasks based on urgency and importance. A plan will help you stay focused, complete tasks more efficiently, and prevent unnecessary stress. Multitasking While multitasking may seem like a time-saving strategy, it can hinder your efficiency in household chores. Trying to tackle multiple tasks simultaneously can lead to mistakes, incomplete tasks, and increased stress. Instead, focus on one chore at a time, giving it your full attention and completing it before moving on to the next.

Like the human body, a house also shows subtle signs of wear now and then. These signs indicate that the house needs repairs in certain areas, possibly plumbing, furnishings, electronics, etc. Not heeding them can result in the symptoms worsening with time. Eventually, one may need to pay more for a renovation than earlier. To avoid that, here are the main signs that a home needs renovation: Deteriorating floors Deteriorating floors are easy to detect. There are always typical signs, such as dampening of the tiling or woodwork that make up the floors, detachment between fixed panels, or the emergence of a hole in the ground. Floor wear generally happens for several reasons: termites, dampness, seasonal changes, and many more. One solution to this problem is to swap wood paneling for floors made of other materials. Of course, the simpler and better thing to do is to call up and hire a contractor to fix the flooring issue and check other problematic aspects of one’s house. Leaky roof It is common for homeowners to overlook a leaky roof for multiple reasons. The most often-used reason is that a leaky roof is not directly in one’s line of vision. Needless to say, this oversight is a major error that can have major consequences for the homeowner’s pocket and other connected facets of the house.

If you are moving into a new home or planning to renovate your living space, lighting should be a key consideration for getting the ambiance you want. Investing in beautiful fixtures and ample lighting solutions can make all the difference, from making the space feel inviting and warm to illuminating the focal points of the room. So, to help you get started, here are some common home lighting mistakes you should avoid: Too many or too few lights It may not be possible to determine the ideal brightness of the room to be until you begin using it. However, adding too many lights to the room might not be the best solution, as excessive bright light can overwhelm the senses. On the other hand, insufficient lighting will only make the room look dull. So, you need to assess the sources of natural light and the purpose of the room before choosing the best lighting solutions. For example, the living room and common areas could use ambient lighting. A desk or workplace setup requires a bright light source to improve visibility. Choosing the wrong size A huge lighting fixture may not work for small spaces like the restroom or tiny seating nooks.

Washing your car sounds pretty straightforward, right? How hard can it be to use a power washer or use a sponge and water bucket to clean down the exterior? After washing and rinsing, you can seal off the shine with a fresh coat of wax to finish the detail. However, even simple jobs can become messy and counterproductive when first-time car owners make these rookie car wash mistakes. Here are five glaring errors to avoid. Leaving swirl marks One of the most common mistakes first-time car owners commit is washing and wiping down the car surface in circles. You may not realize it immediately, but the circular motion will leave more scratches and dirt marks. Applying pressure while scrubbing is unnecessary as you use soap and a scrub mitt to remove the upper layer of dirt lightly. You must only follow a single downward motion while wiping the wet surface. Washing the car outdoors Washing the car under direct sunlight is always counterproductive. If you plan to use soap and some products for the surface, ensure you do that inside the garage or under a tree in some shade. Mainly because soap will dry under direct sunlight and leave spot marks that become difficult to remove.

Chainsaw purchases are quite common when autumn sets in, as people like to keep their backyard and surrounding areas free of large trees that could fall and cause damage. However, felling a tree is not possible with random tools. A chainsaw lets you quickly cut down a tree and even get firewood. However, there are many things to consider when buying a chainsaw, so here are a few mistakes to avoid in the process. Mistakes to avoid when buying a chainsaw Choosing the wrong size The size of the chainsaw is a key consideration when choosing the right tool. The size will affect the tool’s usability and functionality. You should also pay attention to the bar length, which is the distance from the top of the chainsaw to the end of the bar. If the guide bar is longer, the chainsaw can cut larger pieces of wood, but it will become difficult to control. Beginners should use a guide bar that is 14 inches or less. Overlooking noise levels Chainsaws generally make a lot of noise when in use, so consider choosing a quieter model. The noise the equipment produces could harm users’ hearing, so you should wear safety equipment and hearing aids when using a chainsaw.

Gutter installation is essential, especially in locations that experience significant rainfall. One can hire a contractor for the job or take the DIY route. Gutter installation involves tasks like measuring areas, cutting, and sealing to ensure that rainwater does not accumulate near one’s home. Several things must be considered during the installation process, including the gutter pitch, placement, and hangers. Some of the avoidable mistakes during this process are discussed below. Cutting costs while buying installation materials Cost efficiency helps save expenses during rain gutter installation, but skimping on essential components as a part of the cost-cutting can lead to problems in the long run. For instance, gutters that bend or sag tend to have installation problems. This problem arises from not installing enough hangers – the connecting hardware component that anchors gutters to a residence, and saving costs. Besides hangers, one may be tempted to purchase subpar gutter systems to cut costs. However, the cheapest option might not be the best one. Therefore, while paying more during installation may hurt one’s pocket initially, it is an investment that will benefit by saving repair costs in the future. Not considering the gutter pitch Rain gutters are usually mounted at a slight pitch, raising their level compared to the surrounding areas on the roof.

There is a lot to learn about gardening, but there are some crucial gardening tips that every beginner should know about when it comes to planting, trimming, and feeding. All you need to know is where to start, and no horticultural degree would be necessary. Apart from picking the right plant as per the weather conditions, here are tricks every gardener should know to help you build the garden of your dreams. Add coffee and tea grounds Instead of tossing away old tea and coffee grounds, use them to enrich the soil in your flower beds. They help raise pH levels and improve soil texture. You should wash them first to eliminate any milk or sugar residue. Then, about once a month, sprinkle 1 1/4 of an inch of coffee or tea grounds around acid-loving plants like azaleas, blueberries, and rhododendrons. Use sponges Water pooling at the bottom of pots can cause root rot. To fix this, cut up old sponges and add them to the bottom of the pot. The sponges absorb moisture while creating the necessary air space. They also help keep water from draining out the bottom. The sponge acts as a water storage tool and helps keep the soil moist.

Nothing compares to the excitement of growing your own food, especially if it’s the first time! The idea of sowing a tiny seed and watching it develop into something that may wind up on your kitchen table will make you smile. But gardening doesn’t always turn out as expected. Most amateurs make gardening mistakes that impact their produce. Here, we’ll explain some of these mistakes and how to correct them. Too much exposure to light Plants require sunlight to grow, but too much exposure is dangerous. The leaves of a plant can grow pale, turn brown, and eventually die when exposed to direct sunlight for too long. So, shield them from excessive sunshine, especially during the hot summer. Notice how the light conditions in your garden vary as the seasons change to avoid making this typical error. Watering excessively or insufficiently Consistent watering is necessary for successful harvests. Most crops thrive when they receive roughly an inch of precipitation every week. So, get a rain gauge to track the rainfall. If your garden has stagnant water puddles, the crops might suffer, and the leaves may turn yellow. To prevent that, add several inches of organic matter to your soil. Mulching will also help maintain a stable soil moisture level.

Cleaning bathrooms is a deceptively easy task but one that many put off. Due to the compact size, it may seem like a quick process; however, cleaning a bathroom can take as long as an entire room, as it gets dirty faster than other spaces in your home. Further, not knowing how to execute the process can pose a problem. Thoroughly cleaning and maintaining fixtures, surfaces, and tiles is essential for a truly clean bathroom. Common cleaning mistakes Wiping before dusting When you clean the bathroom without dusting the surfaces first, you will find a wet streak of dust smeared across the surface. So, first, remove the dust buildup with a vacuum cleaner or duster to avoid smearing the surfaces. Then you can clean the space with a fresh cloth or rag and cleaning solution. Leaving the brush wet Upon scrubbing the toilet clean, most people tend to place their toilet brush in its holder immediately. If you don’t let the brush dry first, drops escape the brush holder, creating a pool of dirty water. So, always let the brush dry before putting it back in its place. Combining vinegar and baking soda Baking soda and vinegar are great disinfectants and cleaning agents.