Your home is your sanctuary. It’s a place where you can relax and unwind after a long day. But if your home is full of bad habits, it’s not going to be very relaxing! In fact, these bad habits could be destroying your home without you even realizing it. So, we’re going to take a look at the most common bad habits that can damage your home. If you’re guilty of any of these behaviors, it’s time to change your ways!
Contents
Washing Away Food Scraps In The Sink
The habit of washing uneaten food scraps down the sink instead of scraping them into the garbage when it’s time to clean up is one of the most prevalent poor behaviors. Food leaves a residue as it travels through the pipe, and depending on how often you do it, this can build up over time. This accumulation might eventually cause your sink to back up and overflow.
What’s more, when food decomposes in water, it creates a perfect environment for bacteria to grow. Bacteria causes unpleasant smells that can even seep into your home through cracks in the sink or around the drain. Always scrape your plates clean before washing them down the sink!
Flushing Random Stuff Down Toilet
Anything you’re flushing down the toilet, apart from toilet paper, is a firm no-no. Toilet paper breaks down fast, but woven fibers in baby wipes, cotton swabs, and housekeeping wipes don’t degrade rapidly after flushing. As a result, they may often remain stagnant within the sewage system, causing blockages.
Even if an item appears to have flushed away successfully, it can still cause problems further down the line. For example, wet wipes that make it through the wastewater system can end up in oceans and other water sources, harming marine life. So whatever you do, don’t throw anything down the toilet, except toilet paper!
Not Cleaning Your Oven
Your oven is one of the most important appliances in your kitchen, and it’s also one of the most neglected. Many people only give their ovens a good clean once a year – or even less frequently! – but this is a mistake. An unclean oven not only looks terrible, but it can also affect the quality of your food.
Baked-on grease and food residue can cause your oven to smell bad, and it can also be a fire hazard. Not only that, but this build-up will become harder and harder to remove over time. Make sure you give your oven a good clean at least every other month!
Slamming Doors
We may all get into the habit of slamming doors rather than softly shutting them – especially when emotions are high! Unfortunately, while slamming a door may be less work (or more of a statement!), it can be pretty harmful to your house. Not only can the strong force break a door’s hinges and handles, but repeated slamming can cause the door to warp, making it difficult to close properly. Warping can let in cold air in the winter and pests like bugs and rodents in the summer.
Forgetting To Replace Appliance Filters
While it’s easy to overlook that some appliances require filters to be changed and maintained, failing to do so will substantially reduce the performance and lifespan of your equipment. This is because they cannot function effectively due to working harder, which may cause them to wear out faster and malfunction. Furthermore, if you do not regularly replace the air filter in your HVAC system, it can lead to indoor air quality problems.
Not Maintaining Your Gutters
Your gutters play a vital role in protecting your home from water damage, so it’s essential to keep them clean and in good working order. Clogged gutters can cause water to overflow, which can damage your home’s foundation, siding, and landscaping. In the winter, this water can freeze and cause even more problems.
Make sure you clean your gutters at least twice a year – once in the spring and again in the fall – to prevent any issues. You may also want to consider installing gutter guards, which will help keep your gutters clear of debris.
Leaving Lights On When You’re Not Home
It’s easy to get into the habit of leaving all the lights on in your house when you leave for work or errands, but this is not a good idea. Not only does it result in higher electricity bills, but it’s also a waste of energy.
It’s better to only leave the lights on in the rooms you’re using and use a timer to turn them off when you’re not home. This will save you money on your electricity bill and help conserve energy.
Conclusion
Your home is your biggest investment, so it’s essential to take care of it! Everything from slamming doors to neglecting your gutters can cause damage that will cost you in the long run. By following the tips above, you can avoid some of the most common mistakes that can damage your home.
