Putting off home repairs is a very common—and very risky—mistake. That slow leak or cracked fixture might seem like a minor inconvenience that has little bearing on your daily life but left unattended, that damage could escalate into an emergency situation.

Paying for Services You Don’t Need

Hiring out services such as pool or yard maintenance, house cleaning, small repairs, or minor home remodeling projects does save you time, but it costs money that might have been better spent (or saved) elsewhere in your budget. Instead of engaging a professional, have your teenage son or daughter handle pool or yard care, and consider tackling small DIY and maintenance tasks yourself.

Buying Extended Warranties

If you’re buying a new major home appliance, the salesperson will probably pressure you to purchase an extended warranty. Although this may sound like a money-wise choice, the truth is that many consumer advocates advise against them. The exclusions and fine-print rejections in an extended warranty can be lengthy, and chances are, if your appliance does need to be serviced, it will be covered under the manufacturer’s warranty. Review your manufacturer’s warranty first to help you decide if you need the extra coverage.

Using Old-School Light Bulbs

If you’re still holding on to your incandescent light bulbs, it’s time to let them go. While CFL and LED bulbs might cost more upfront, they ultimately save you big through longer life and superior efficiency.

Doing Unnecessary Improvements

Before hiring a contractor to dig that swimming pool or add a new home office, think long and hard about how much you really need that expensive addition, and how much it will cost to maintain after the initial investment. After crunching the numbers, many homeowners find that the actual cost of a home improvement far exceeds their initial expectations.

Neglecting to Save for Emergencies

Nobody can foresee when household emergencies will strike—whether it’s a hole in the roof, a rusted-out water heater, or a doomed central heating system. But these malfunctions are all part of homeownership and it’s best to be prepared when they do occur. If you don’t set aside a portion of your savings for these types of home emergencies, you’ll end up having to pay for repairs on credit and get hit with a double whammy: the cost of the repair and the interest on your credit card.

Paying for Storage Pods or Self-Storage

As a general rule, if you are paying to store your possessions in a pod or storage unit, you are wasting money. Unless you have a firm plan for using your stored items—say, a canoe for this summer’s family vacation, or an artificial tree for Christmas—assume that you’re never going to drag them out. Sell or donate your excess possessions, close your storage account, and save money.

Setting the Water Heater Too High

If your water heater is set above 120 degrees, your utility bills are too high. The U.S. Department of Energy recommends a water heater setting of 120 degrees to save money, reduce wasted energy, and lower the risk of scalding your skin.

Not Changing Air-Conditioning Filters

If you rarely—or even worse, never—change the filters in your HVAC system, you’re lowering its efficiency while raising your energy costs. To keep your air clean and your energy bills low, change your filters seasonally. Switch them out more often if you live in an especially dusty area, smoke, have pets, or suffer from allergies.

Planting High-Maintenance Landscaping

While every home’s curb appeal can benefit from attractive landscaping, it’s best to pass up on extravagant or delicate plantings that will require a professional’s expensive care. Instead, choose hardy greenery that will thrive with minimal maintenance, and liven up the yard with attractive and affordable annuals planted in pots and window boxes.

Not Comparing Insurance Quotes

If you went with the insurance company your real estate agent recommended when you bought your home, or if you automatically signed up with the same company that provides your auto insurance, you may be paying too much. Shopping around can save you a considerable amount on your insurance premiums.

Smart Savings

Sometimes in order to save money around the house, you have to invest a little into it first. While your instinct might be to cut corners on repairs or to choose cheaper products, there are instances when spending more will save you on costs in the long run.

In this post, we’ve collected some tips that could be useful if you want to avoid making organizational mistakes in order for you to relax and enjoy your house.

1. You leave labels on products.

No one ever thinks about taking the labels off of products but they’re actually a source of visual noise and can tilt the room’s color balance.

What to do: Take the labels off and it will help to create a more positive atmosphere.

2. You store objects while mixing categories and sizes.

It’s common to put everything in one box, not caring about how to store the items the right way. But this causes containers to look messy and overflow.

What to do: Try to store objects by category and size. This will allow you to find stuff more easily and reduce clutter.

3. Everything has its place.

People often don’t know where to place objects, but everything should have its own place as to not cause clutter around the house.

What to do: Decide on a place for every object you own. This way, you’ll know where to put everything while tidying up and you’ll never waste time searching for something you can’t find.

4. You put items you need every day in spots that are difficult to reach.

If you put objects in spots that are difficult to reach, like on the highest shelf of your library, you will make an effort all the time for nothing.

What to do: Keep everyday objects in places that are easy to reach. This way, you’ll simplify your life while also staying more organized.

5. You keep a pile of papers on your desk.

Desks are often messy because of scattered papers and this prohibits you from finding things underneath all the piles.

What to do: Use folders. This will allow you to catalog documents and papers according to any criteria, saving space and time when you need them.

6. You don’t use food containers for your kitchen.

The amount of food and groceries in your kitchen is often out of control because products are usually left in the original packaging, and this implies a waste of space.

What to do: Start to use food containers. Ones made of glass or plastic will help you to know immediately where an ingredient is placed.

7. You don’t actually use all the space available inside drawers.

Wardrobes are always messy because the space available is not actually used in the best way possible and things get piled up.

What to do: Try to store things vertically inside drawers. This will help you to gain some space and store more items.

8. You use patterned boxes instead of clean ones.

Boxes with specific motifs or patterns do not allow us to see what’s inside them and they create visual noise. Motifs are negative for the harmony of a room.

What to do: Use clear boxes. It will help you to check at a glance where a certain object is when you need it and it will also improve the visual balance of the room.

9. You hang all kinds of clothing in your closet.

If you hang your clothes randomly, the space in your wardrobe will be poorly organized and drawers will end up being messy or half empty.

What to do: Don’t hang some types of clothes, like T-shirts (because it’s not necessary) or knitted and woolen clothes because doing so ruins their shape.

10. You keep objects you don’t use.

© Jordan Fischer / Wikimedia Commons, © publicdomainpictures.net
Everyone owns something that’s not useful anymore or that doesn’t encourage positive emotions. This is a sure way to increase clutter in your house.

What to do: Keep only what you need that sparks joy. It will help you to not collect as much stuff and to have a more harmonious atmosphere in the house.

Did you already know some of these organizational tips? Do you have some of your own? Let us know in the comments!

So in this post, we’re going to show a list of certain mistakes you make during cleaning which can completely undermine all of your efforts.

1. We don’t clean our washing machine.

A dirty washing machine is dangerous because it causes the spread of bacteria and mold spores on your clothes. It is harmful for both healthy people and people who suffer from allergies and asthma.

The particles of dirt can stay inside the drum, and inside the detergent and softener compartments. Experts recommend cleaning your washing machine once every 2 weeks. Run a wash cycle without any clothes in your washing machine at the highest temperature possible with bleach or citric acid. Another way to disinfect it is to wash your kitchen cotton towels with 100 ml of bleach.

Wash the compartments of the washing machine with the same regularity and don’t forget to dry the drum between the cycles. It’s very difficult to remove mold spots after they’ve already affected the door seal.

2. We keep a toilet brush in a sealed container.

A toilet brush is one of the dirtiest objects in your home. You can significantly reduce the number of bacteria on it if you just dry it before storing it and disinfect it regularly. A sealed container is the perfect environment for bacteria growth, which spreads all over your bathroom when you use the brush.

You can buy a brush in a special holder which lets the brush get dry between uses, or place the brush for 10 minutes after use as shown in the picture above.

3. We rarely disinfect our sinks.

When cleaning the sink, we often forget to clean the drain, and we do it only when a bad smells start coming from it. Particles of food and dirt remain in the drain, bacteria start growing there, and when water is poured into the drain under pressure, these things return to the sink. To clean the drain properly, put one tablespoon of baking soda into the drain, pour a bit of vinegar on top of it, and leave it for the night. In the morning, flush the drain with boiling water or just very hot water.

This procedure is especially effective after cutting meat, fish, or a large amount of vegetables.

4. One of the dirtiest objects in the house is a toothbrush holder.

The shocking fact is that your toothbrush is home to more than 100 million harmful bacteria. Apart from the bacteria from your mouth, your toothbrush can be infected by bacteria from the sink and the toilet because every time you flush, bacteria are released into the air up to 6 feet around the toilet. They can lead to diseases like cystitis, disorders of large intestine, and dysbacteriosis.

To reduce the harmful effects, store your toothbrush not on the sink but on the shelf above it. Using a toothbrush cap is a bad idea because bacteria grow faster in a closed environment. If you have an opportunity to store your toothbrush in a closed compartment, do it.

Regularly clean your toothbrush holder. One of the easiest ways to disinfect your toothbrush is keeping it in mouthwash for 30 seconds or in boiling water for 2 minutes.

5. We clean with cold water.

If you use lukewarm or cold water for cleaning, cleaning products won’t be that effective. The perfect temperature for water is 10 degrees higher than the room temperature, or it should be hot water which is comfortable enough for your hands.

In this case, alkaline cleaners will be twice as effective, while more bacteria and fungus will be destroyed.

6. We load the dishwasher incorrectly and don’t dry it after using it.

You don’t need to wash the dishwasher very often because it actually disinfects itself. However, you need to dry it every day, otherwise mold can grow inside of it.

As for washing dishes, it turns out that how you put your plates into the dishwasher is important. Experts recommend that carb-covered (potatoes, rice, pasta) dishes should be placed in a circle in the middle of the dishwasher. While protein-covered (meat, cheese, eggs) dishes should be placed around the edges of the dishwasher. The dishes will be washed better this way.

7. We forget to clean the shower curtain and the shower head.

We clean the shower curtain rarely because we think it gets clean while we take shower. But this isn’t true. It is the curtain and the space between the bathtub and the wall where black mold grows more often. It is better to replace polyethylene curtains with vinyl or fabric curtains and wash those in a washing machine once a month. The other method is to soak them in a salt solution or citric acid. After that, wipe the curtains dry.

Rub the space between the bathtub and the wall with baking soda and then spray vinegar on top to get rid of the black mold.

Though we use shower every day, bacteria can still grow inside the shower head during night when no one uses it. As a result it can become a home for black mold and staphylococcus bacteria which cause sinus infections, tonsillitis, and otitis. That is why, before taking shower, you should let water run for at least one minute. It is also worth soaking the shower head in soda or vinegar solution every 1-2 weeks.

8. We don’t clean exhaust fans.

An exhaust fan is one of the most dangerous places in terms of bacteria because it is connected with air shaft where the feces of rodents or birds can get inside your house.

You need to clean the exhaust fan every 2 weeks. Remove the grate, wash it with vinegar and cleaner, and then wipe it dry. After that remove as much dust as possible from the fan assembly using a vacuum wand attachment.

Do you have any other tips that can make your home perfectly clean?

By Madeline Wahl

Laundry myths

Doing laundry is always a learning experience. Should you wash your clothes in warm water? Do all-purpose cleaners work for all stains? Read on to hear from laundry experts on what you should (and shouldn’t) be doing to your clothes. 

More detergent results in cleaner clothes.

One common misconception is that using more detergent results in cleaner clothes. The truth, though, may be a little different. “More detergent does not make it work harder. Instead, it may leave residue on your garments,” Brian Sansoni, Senior Vice President, Communications, Outreach, and Membership, American Cleaning Institute, tells Reader’s Digest. “You’ll probably just need to wash them again, and these multiple washings can cause them to wear out faster over time.” Check the detergent label to see how much detergent to use for your load size and machine, especially since many detergents are concentrated these days.”

The hotter the water, the better the cleaning power

Surely, the temperature of the water would have a profound effect. However, hot water may not have as much of an impact as you might think. “Hot water won’t necessarily get clothes cleaner. In fact, it can damage some fabrics or cause some stains to become permanent instead of being removed,” Sansoni says. “This is the case of a myth that may have been true in the past but detergents these days have been designed to work just as well, if not better, in cold water. Always follow the fabric care label.”

The more dryer sheets you have, the better.

Too much of a good thing may, well, be a bad thing at times. “There is such a thing as too many dryer sheets,” LG Electronics’ Laura Johnson, Research and Development, told Reader’s Digest. “Overuse of dryer sheets can diminish machine efficiency by producing a sweet-smelling residue and clogging your lint screen.”

You may disregard the fabric care label.

Always read the instructions—including the fabric care label—as with anything else. “There are moments when it’s tempting to just put everything in the laundry and call it a day,” Sansoni explains. “However, every piece of commercial apparel has a tag with the manufacturer’s care recommendations designed to keep the item looking its best.

All stains are created equal

If you think you can use the same laundry detergent for coffee stains as baby formula, you might need to rethink that plan. “The stain’s type actually determines how you can remove it,” the laundry experts at Carbona tell Reader’s Digest. They take stain removal seriously. In fact, Carbona has a collection of nine different stain removers called Stain Devils that are specially formulated to remove tough stains each and every time.

Using hairspray to remove cloth stains

“This is untrue of course,” Robert Johnson, founder of Sawinery, tells Reader’s Digest, “as hairspray worsens stains, especially the ink ones by spreading it out more. Instead, blot some water to the stain and to make it more effective, use a versatile stain remover powder.”

Filling the machine saves both water and energy.

What exactly is a full machine? Melanie Musson, an insurance specialist with USInsuranceAgents.com, says Reader’s Digest, “Your notion of a full machine may differ from the manufacturer’s concept.” “Washing machines are designed to perform best at two-thirds capacity. If you overfill the machine, the detergent will not be able to spread around and clean all of the clothing, and you will have to wash them again, wasting neither water nor energy.”

Visible stains are the only types of dirt you need to worry about on clothes

You might think that a shirt is dirty when you see a stain, but there’s a lot more than meets the eye. “Your clothes might be dirtier than you think. In fact, only 30 percent of the soils in your laundry are visible—things like food, dirt and grass stains,” Jennifer Ahoni, Tide Senior Scientist, tells Reader’s Digest. “The other 70 percent include invisible soils made up of body soils like sweat and body oils, which if not removed by a deep cleaning laundry detergent will build up over time and cause odors, dinginess and dullness. Deep clean provides removal of both visible and invisible dirt.” Looking for cleaning products to use around your home? 

To add a new key to your key rings, use a staple remover. Wedge it between the coils and it will be easier to slide your new key on

Travel pillows actually go in front and it’s more comfortable this way

The lines on the Solo plastic cups are to measure a serving size.

The blue button on hairdryers isn’t meant for cooling yourself off when you get hot… it’s for setting your hairstyles

 You have most likely used the wrong plunger for a toilet. The toilet plunger has a cup with a soft flap

The elongated packets should be broken in half above the cup. It’s easier to get the sugar out and you won’t have little pieces of paper flying all around

You can make those rectangular Chinese takeout holders into plates

The shopping carts’ loops are for hanging bags after you pass the checkout. This is to give you more space inside the cart

The hole at the bottom of a padlock is to pour engine oil or any other type of oil in case the lock gets stuck

This is the proper way to store your mac charger and to increase its longevity

One Wrong Item Spoils the Whole Bin

You may think that putting one wrong item in the recycling bin condemns the whole load to the landfill. In reality, though, your local recycling provider may be effectively sorting out the contents of the bins at the disposal facility. But all the same, don’t slack off: Putting items in the wrong containers “can impact the safety of haulers, processors, and other citizens; contaminate other recyclable items; harm existing recycling infrastructure; and add more costs to local programs,” according to an EPA spokesperson.

All Plastics Are Recyclable

To figure out if that soda bottle or yogurt tub can get a new life, you need to know its resin content. This information can be found on the bottom of plastic containers, where it’s displayed as a number in a triangle. Check out the EPA’s handy guide that breaks down the different types of plastic, then consult your local recycling provider to see which it accepts.

Aluminum Foil Can’t Be Recycled

In the past, local providers wouldn’t recycle aluminum foil, because the cooking essential is often covered with dried-on food particles. Nowadays, however, most aluminum foil can be recycled if it’s scrunched into a ball and doesn’t have too much residue on it. Check with your local provider first, or consider washing and reusing it at home.

Pizza Boxes Go in the Paper Bin

If your pizza box is coated with drippings and grease, it generally can’t be recycled alongside your other cardboard and paper goods. But, depending on the regulations in your area, it may be compostable; check with your local provider to be sure.

Wire Hangers Go in the Trash

With their sinewy shape and pesky hook, wire hangers can get caught in recycling equipment, which makes them a hazard to recycle. But you don’t have to throw them out! Instead, take them to your local dry cleaner; many will accept and reuse them.

Milk Cartons Are Not Recyclable

Milk cartons are composed of a mix of materials—like paperboard, plastic, and, in some types of containers, aluminum that keep their contents shelf stable. Though their composition makes them challenging to recycle, many municipalities will now take them if they’ve been emptied and rinsed. Check your local guidelines for the exact requirements.

You Can Recycle Paper Eating Products

Paper napkins, paper plates, and paper towels often have quite a bit of food debris on them, so they can’t typically go in the bin alongside your cardboard boxes. But look into other options: Increasing numbers of recycling programs will take these paper products as part of a composting program. As usual, check with your local provider for details.

Your Broken Mug Goes into the Glass Recycling Bin

Most people sip coffee and tea out of ceramic or stoneware mugs. But because broken pieces of stoneware or ceramic can contaminate the recycling system, these materials aren’t readily recyclable. Check with your local provider to learn the best way to dispose of them.

Take-Out Containers Go in the Trash

Don’t toss that take-out container! Most non-Styrofoam containers can be recycled with the rest of your plastics; simply check the symbol on the bottom to find out. The containers can also be washed and reused, so rather than just throwing them away, try to recycle them in your own home.

You Can Recycle Styrofoam

Styrofoam, which is made of expanded polystyrene (EPS) foam, can’t be recycled. There are a few reasons for this, but it’s primarily because recycling companies can’t profit from the lightweight material, which is expensive to transport and difficult to sell. If you want to get rid of egg cartons, disposable cups, take-out containers, packing peanuts, or other Styrofoam products, check with your local provider to learn your options.

Similar to a beautifully directed movie, a well-decorated living room is instantly engaging and impressive while also being functionally designed for comfort and ease of use. And, sometimes, what is slightly off in our own living rooms can be difficult to pinpoint. But you know it’s there. To shed some light on the most common living room design mistakes that may be plaguing our spaces, we talked with interior designers and a residential architect.

There might be one little thing that makes all the difference. Or, perhaps, the issue could be quite large. From everything like choosing the wrong rug size to add a bit more warm light, your dream living room is just an article’s read away. This article, to be exact. The space of your dreams may not be so out of reach if you consider the most common living room decorating mistakes.

1. Selecting the Wrong Sofa

Designers agree: A great living room starts with a great sofa. “So often, I come into a house, and the owners have good taste, but they already have a sofa that they want to work with,” explains stylist and TV host Emily Henderson. “They don’t want to replace it because it’s not that old and they don’t mind it. I’ve had to break the news over and over that, with a sofa like that, they would never get the room they want.”

2. Falling Into the Showroom Look

Another mistake that plagues living rooms everywhere, according to New York architect Elizabeth Roberts, is going for the “showroom feel.” In other words, a room that looks like it’s all been purchased from the same store. “It’s important to us to mix new and vintage elements in order to create an interesting, eclectic, and individualized room,” she says.

3. Buying a Rug That’s Too Small

For Henderson, one of the main offenders in living room decorating is the poorly sized rug. “America has been suffering for too long from ‘small rug’ syndrome,” she says. “I see it virtually every day, and it pains me—especially when it can be so easily avoided.” Huge rugs can be expensive and feel like such a scary commitment, but, according to the stylist, it’s one of the most important aspects of a room.

4. Poorly Planning Your Layout

While it may be tempting to push a sofa against a wall facing the TV and call it a day, Roberts reminds us that there is much more involved in planning a great living room layout. “It’s important to consider and create conversation groupings, especially if the room is long and narrow like many townhouses and lofts,” she says.

5. Hanging Art Incorrectly

“Art hung the wrong way on a wall is like a character in a movie wearing a really bad wig,” Henderson says. “It’s just kinda hard not to see it, and you wish so bad you could just rip it off, knowing that everything would be so much better without it. It doesn’t ruin your experience, but it’s just terribly distracting.” She adds, “If the wall were cut up vertically into four sections (going from bottom to top), think of the art being in the third quadrant (counting from the floor),” says Henderson.

Wall App is a great way to visualize art on your existing walls. The free website allows for you to upload a photo of your actual room and place potential art in a variety of sizes within it.

6. Making It Too Precious to Live In

While the days of unused “sitting rooms” and plastic-wrapped furniture are long gone, Roberts still insists on paying attention to making your living room fit the conveniences of daily life. “Select textiles and rugs that can take the wear and tear of everyday living,” she recommends.

7. Not Mixing Periods and Styles

Sometimes, people feel limited by the architecture of their home and select furniture based on it. Try not to feel stuck. In one Georgia home, the design firm merged contemporary furniture with traditional crown molding, Moroccan antique rugs, African beaded benches, and contemporary art.

8. Forgetting Furniture Heights

Roberts has one indispensable trick for combining periods and styles: “When mixing new and vintage elements, pay attention to furniture heights, as traditional furniture is typically higher than modern pieces.”

9. Sticking With Obvious Fabrics

According to Roberts, “there are some great outdoor fabrics that we’re using indoors that dogs and kids cannot destroy. It’s important to select rugs that will wear well. Beware of the seductive silk rug.” Instead, consider a wool rug.

10. Not Testing Your Furniture Layout

It’s very important to consider views from major seating elements. “In a large open room, it’s nice to be able to sit on a favorite piece while addressing the rest of the room,” Roberts says. “In a small room, it’s important to consider the necessary window views.” She adds: “In a room with a fireplace, it’s often difficult to know where to put the TV—large TV cabinets are cumbersome and don’t fool many. My favorite solution is a projector that projects onto the white wall above the mantel.”

11. Overlooking Smaller Items

To avoid feeling like you’re in a store, Roberts also recommends leaving adequate room in the budget for lighting, textiles, and accessories after large items are selected. “The small pieces are what add personality,” says Roberts. “We also prefer to light the living room with low lighting instead of overhead light. Floor lamps and table lamps are best for living rooms.”

12. Overthinking the Sofa

“No one loves a simple sofa more than me because they are so easy to style,” says Henderson. She recommends staying away from overly ornate details like curved legs, winged arms, tufts, and nailheads.

13. Choosing a Disproportionate Coffee Table

There’s more to choosing a coffee table than swinging over to your favorite home goods store and selecting one on a whim. Let your lifestyle and functionality (kid-friendly, storage for remotes?) guide the materials, height, length, and clearance space needed to ensure your coffee table sings in harmony with your living room.

14. Selecting Cheap Art

Designers like Bobby Berk say cheap art can really drag down a room’s aesthetic. Instead of going generic, opt for a custom art service, where you can commission affordable, original art. “There are lots of cool custom art services available now, such as Minted and Leftbank Art,” Berk says.

15. Hanging Curtains Wrong

Hanging curtain rods just above the window can close in a space. Instead, hang the rod half a foot above the window frame. This will give the room a feeling of added height and openness.

16. Choosing Harsh Lighting

“Updating lighting fixtures can be an inexpensive way to really help improve the overall aesthetic of any space as well as give a sense of sophisticated elegance and comfort,” says Suzanne Donegan, a designer and creative director. It’s also one of the most often-overlooked design features yet most versatile—light fixtures can move with you.

17. Ignoring Clutter

Too many accessories, no matter how expensive, are considered décor overkill. For a less-is-more vibe, “accessories should be grouped together to create a pleasing vignette, whether it’s on the cocktail table, buffet, or bookcase,” says interior designer Marlaina Teich.

18. Forgetting Prime Wall Space

When designing your living room, the floor isn’t the only option to place furniture and décor—think vertically. Mandy Cheng, a Los Angeles interior designer, said to consider using floating shelves and hanging plants. “We’re so used to furniture that sits on the floor that, once things stop fitting on the floor, we give up.”

19. Lining Your Walls with Furniture

“A common layout mistake I see people making with their living room is having all the furniture pushed up against the walls,” Elite Decorist designer Mikayla Keating says. Try floating your sofa or accent chairs closer to the center of the room to balance out the layout.

20. Neglecting Investment Pieces

Though counterintuitive at first, investing in one statement accent is a financially better move than spending on multiple inexpensive pieces. Homepolish designer Ashlie Mastony says: “In the end, the little things cost just as much, and the space feels cluttered rather than cohesive.”

Not getting all the grounds out of your grinder.

As tedious as it might be to wash your grinder with soap and water on a daily basis, if you are passionate about your morning coffee, it’s key. “Coffee bean oils may turn rancid and give fresh coffee an off taste,” says Carolyn Forte, director of the Cleaning Lab at the Good Housekeeping Institute.

Cooking on a dirty grill.

“Charred bits and flavors of previously cooked food can transfer to fresh foods,” says Forte. Yuck. To clean grill grates, the Good Housekeeping Institute recommends scrubbing the surface with coil brushes that do not have bristles or crumpled aluminum foil.

Cleaning a skillet in the dishwasher.

Apparently, washing with mild soap is okay, but the dishwasher is not: “What will strip the seasoning off a skillet is washing it in the dishwasher,” says Sharon Franke, the director of the Kitchen Appliances and Technology Lab in our Good Housekeeping Institute. And since seasoning prevents foods from sticking, this could cause your dinner to cook unevenly.

Using a strongly scented dishwasher detergent.

It’s true: Not all detergents are made equally. “I’ve heard complaints that sometimes the dishwasher cleaners are so heavily fragranced that people complain the scent lingers on their dishes,” says Forte. And who wants their plate of pasta to taste like soap?

Not cleaning oven spills promptly.

Unfortunately, juicy spills in your oven shouldn’t be put off until tomorrow. “Un-removed food spills not only bake on more with subsequent cooking, but they can emit odors that may impact the taste or smell of fresh food cooking in there,” says Forte.

Not flushing your coffeemaker after a deep clean.

If you descale your coffeemaker with white vinegar every month, bravo. But if you notice your morning mug doesn’t taste the same the next day, we might know why: “Not thoroughly flushing the coffeemaker after descaling it could give your next cup of coffee a vinegar taste and smell,” says Forte.

Not rinsing plastic containers after use.

By immediately removing the food and juices that are stuck on the sides, you’ll help eliminate smells and stains as early as possible. But, if you forget this step (been there!), lingering odors could impact tomorrow’s leftovers, says Forte.

Using too much dishwasher detergent.

Sometimes more is not better, and this is proof: Use too much of this stuff and you could be left with residue on your plates. Yuck. Though Forte says if you make this mistake, hopefully, you’ll notice before you start to eat: “Chances are you’ll see or smell the residue and wash it off before using the plates.”

Letting utensils nestle in your dishwasher.

When you load forks, spoons and knives all facing the same way, they tend to nestle together, which prevents your appliance from doing a thorough wash job. “Spoons, particularly, can nest in the dishwasher, but when that happens, you rewash them,” says Forte. Or, you could load your dishwasher with every other utensil facing the opposite direction.

Putting your garlic press in the dishwasher.

This tool should really be hand-washed. “Washing it in dishwasher will lead to dried garlic in holes that will prevent it from working properly,” says Franke. Meaning you might not get all the garlic out of your press needed for your recipe the next time you use it.

Not rinsing bleach carefully.

Even though this cleaning agent is a beast at killing bacteria and other things you don’t want to ingest, if not rinsed well, the taste could ruin your food. “This has happened to me with a coffee filter,” warns Franke. So make sure you rinse thoroughly to prevent any off-tastes.

Important Documents

Under the bed may be a good hiding spot for your toddler, but that isn’t the case when it comes to important documents such as your birth certificate, tax forms and passport. Not only will you have to dig underneath your bed whenever you need one of these items, but burglars tend to head right to the bedroom and look under the bed in search of valuable items, according to Butler Durrell Security, a family and business security company in St. Louis, Missouri.

Things You Use Often

Unless you have a bed with built-in dresser drawers, never keep items you use all the time under your bed such as socks, underwear, T-shirts or pajamas. The last thing you’ll want to do every morning is search under the bed for the right pair of socks or your favorite concert T-shirt. If you do keep clothing under the bed, make sure it’s seasonal, such as long underwear or that ugly Christmas sweater.

Bulky Clothing

While we’re on the subject of clothing, unless they are kept in vacuum-sealed bags, avoid keeping bulky clothing under your bed as it will take up quite a bit of room. Those big winter jackets and snow pants are probably best kept in a closet, away from where you keep your year-round clothing.

Unsealed Clothing

A final word on the topic of clothing: If you do keep any clothing items under your bed, make sure they are in storage boxes. Not only will storage boxes help keep everything neatly in place, but they’ll also help protect your clothing from dust, mites, and clothing moths. Yuck!

Items You’ll Forget

The area under your bed may seem like a great spot to store a birthday gift for a loved one or seasonal decor, but it can also become a black hole for things you hide and then forget about. This can lead to unnecessary clutter, the one thing you may be trying to avoid by storing items under your bed in the first place!

Heavy Items

Storing anything that’s heavy or awkwardly shaped under your bed can be a recipe for injuries. Imagine trying to pull out a heavy bin or storage box only to throw your back out in the process. Plus, any time you keep heavy items in a storage bin you risk scratching the floor since the bin itself is weighed down.

Breakables

Perhaps you couldn’t say no to taking Grandma’s fancy china or your aunt’s coffee mug collection. However, the space under your bed isn’t a place to keep breakables. Not only could you break these items if you attempt to move them, but you could hurt yourself in the process if these items break and you end up cutting yourself. Ouch!

Storage Containers Without Wheels

If you do keep storage containers under your bed, make sure they have wheels on the bottom. This will help keep your floors in good shape, plus, you’ll be able to move them around more easily and pull them out to find what you need, when you need it.

Linens You Use Often

The space under your bed may be a good spot to store extra linens such as sheets, blankets and towels, but only if you don’t need them all the time. For instance, if you have a tendency to get cold when you sleep, the last thing you’ll want to do is hunt for that extra blanket under your bed in the middle of the night. However, if you have seasonal sheets, blankets, or towels you don’t use all the time, storing them in a sealed container under your bed may work just fine.

Anything

You should never store anything under your bed, according to some decluttering experts. In fact, Vicky Silverthorn told Good Housekeeping that she purposely keeps the space under her bed free of any clutter, and she sleeps better because of it. “My advice would be to only store items under the bed if it is a simple category and is simply organized, such as your seasonal clothing or items you only wear on your holidays.”

You flush the toilet while the lid is up

Fecal matter and urine can fly as far as six feet away from the toilet bowl during each flush, according to Charles Gerba, a microbiologist from the University of Arizona. Close the lid before you flush to keep those gross particles in your toilet and out of the air.

You throw sanitary wipes in the toilet

Many personal cleansing wipes aren’t as toilet-friendly as they claim to be. In fact, tests conducted by Consumer Reports showed that some wipes still couldn’t break down in the water after 10 minutes compared to regular toilet paper which disintegrated within seconds. These “flushable” wipes have been well known for clogging sewer systems in big cities like San Francisco and New York. Other toiletries that should never be flushed down the toilet include: sanitary napkins, tampons, condoms, band-aids and dental floss.

You pile your hair on top of your head as you shampoo

A recipe for tangled knots includes shampooing a pile of wet hair on top of your head, especially in people who have long hair. The best way to shampoo is to lather your hair in its natural position, whether that’s straight down your back for long hair or flat on your head for close-cropped hair, to give you softer, smoother locks.

You clean your ears with cotton swabs

Earwax may be gross, but it’s your eardrum’s best natural defense against dust and dirt. Chewing and talking help your jaw move the wax from your inner ear outward. But the moment you shove a cotton swab in your ear canal, you undo all of your body’s hard work! Cotton swabs push the wax back into your ear where it can get stuck. Limit your swabbing to just the external crevices of your ear and leave your ear canals alone.

You sit on the toilet too long

Some people like to use their toilet time to catch up on a good book or scroll through their phone. But there is a common health risk associated with sitting on the ceramic throne for too long: hemorrhoids. The seated position places a lot of pressure on the veins in your lower rectum which can swell or bulge and cause hemorrhoids. The most common symptom of hemorrhoids is rectal bleeding but you may experience itchiness or discomfort around the rectal area. Fortunately, hemorrhoids typically clear up within a week. Just remember that the toilet isn’t the time or place for “me” time.

You use a washcloth to clean your face

Moist things like your washcloth are the perfect paradise for bacteria to latch onto. The only surefire way to keep bacteria at bay is to grab a new washcloth before you wash your face each time. If a new washcloth seems a bit excessive for your daily routine, use your hands to scrub your face. And make sure you switch your towel out every couple of days too. Damp towels also harbour lots of bacteria.

You don’t rinse your bar soap in between uses

One study said that pathogenic organisms may be hiding out on bar soap during and after use, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). But research shows that the bacteria from a soap bar are unlikely to transfer onto your hands. Just to be safe, you should always rinse your bar soap under running water to wash away the germs before lathering up and store the soap in a dry place to keep the bacteria away since they love moist environments.

You clean surfaces at room temperature

Heating your tub, sink, and tiles just 10 degrees above the normal air temperature “doubles the effectiveness” of alkaline cleansers, Jenny Botero, resident manager of Crystal Gateway Marriott in Arlington, Virginia, told hgtv.com. For the best results, fill your tub or sink with the hottest water you can run from the tap. Let the piping hot water sit for a few minutes before you start scrubbing and cleaning surfaces.

You keep your toothbrush too close to the toilet

Toothbrushes should be stored about four feet (1.2 metres) away—or more—from the toilet because, as noted above, fecal matter and urine can propel from the toilet bowl when you flush with the lid open. The sink is another area that’s off-limits since soap and dirty water can splash onto your toothbrush. The American Dental Association recommends storing toothbrushes separately in an upright position in a dry area to prevent the risk of harboring bacteria and cross-contamination with other toothbrushes.

You use hot water to wash your hands

There’s no need to scorch your hands with hot water to kill germs, as studies show that lukewarm and cold water work just as effectively. Researchers from Vanderbilt University in Tennessee found that cold water did just as well as hot water at reducing levels of bacteria when people scrubbed, rinsed, and dried their hands properly. The study authors also noted that you’d need to wash your hands in boiling water at a whopping 100 degrees Celsius in order to notice any significantly greater reduction in pathogens. Plus, hot water dries your skin out more than cold and lukewarm water does.

You push out your poop too hard

Another risk factor for hemorrhoids is pushing too hard when you’re constipated. The harder you push, the more pressure you’re placing on the veins in your rectum, which may also lead to anal fissures, tiny tears in the lining of your anus. Try squatting for a few seconds instead of straining. Squatting naturally aligns your intestinal tract to help move things along with less effort. Or if that doesn’t work, pop a laxative to soften your stool.

You don’t wash your hands long enough

Twenty seconds is all it takes to give your hands a proper scrubbing with soap and water, according to the CDC. But at least 95 percent of people don’t wash their hands long enough to effectively kill germs based on a Michigan State University study. The average hand-washing time was less than half of the CDC’s recommendation—only six seconds. Need a clever way to keep track of time? Sing the “Happy Birthday” song twice to give you the perfect amount of time to properly clean your hands.

You forget to clean your toothbrush

Researchers from the University of Manchester found about 10 million germs like E.coli on the average toothbrush. That’s icky bacteria no one wants to put in their mouth! It’s important to rinse your toothbrush well after each use and occasionally soak it in a cup of vinegar for about 30 minutes to get rid of any leftover bacteria. And make sure you replace your toothbrush every three months.

You overwipe

The number one rule of wiping: Less is more. One or two wipes are usually all you need to clean yourself up after using the toilet. But wiping too much can irritate your anus and cause small abrasions that trigger inflammation and itch. If more than one wipe won’t suffice, switch to wet toilet paper or an unscented baby wipe to decrease the irritation and friction from wiping.

You scrub your body too hard during washing

Aggressively scrubbing your skin with a washcloth or a loofah can remove the skin’s natural protective barrier. Instead, gently glide a cotton baby washcloth over the skin with as little rubbing as possible. Even using your hand to wash your body is good enough. Just be sure to switch out your loofah or washcloth regularly to avoid bacteria build-up.