Don’t want to sink your housing budget OR waste your valuable time? Check out our TOP 10 Home Maintenance MYTHS.
Myth #1: Stone Countertops are Indestructible
Fact: Even rock can be damaged!
Marble, quartz, travertine, soapstone, limestone and granite can ALL be stained. Regular household cleaners can dull their surfaces over time. Marble is unbelievably fragile. It’s easy to scratch and easy to stain. Soda, coffee, lemon juice, even hard water, can eat into marble, creating a cloudy, dull spot known as “etching”. SO… Be nice to your counters!
Myth #2: Your Smoke Detector’s Test Button is Foolproof
Fact: The test button doesn’t tell you what you really need to know!
Press and hold the test button on the smoke detector. It can take a few seconds to begin, but a loud, ear-piercing siren should emanate from the smoke detector while the button is pressed. If the sound is weak or nonexistent, replace your batteries. The best way to check your device is with real smoke. To do this, light a long, wooden kitchen match, blow it out and hold it near the unit. The smoke from the match should cause the alarm to sound if the detector is functioning properly. Test them twice a year and replace batteries and smoke detectors as needed.
Myth #3: Gutter Guards Are Maintenance-Free
Fact: You’ll still need to clean out the little stuff!
Gutter guards DO keep out leaves, BUT small debris like seeds, pine straw and flower buds will still get through. They’ll eliminate shoveling out wheelbarrow loads of leaves and other junk. Based on the number of trees in your yard, be sure to check them on a regular basis to keep your gutters clear so they can divert rain water away from your house.
Myth #4: Using Lemons or Coffee Grinds Is a Great Way to Clean A Disposal
Fact: Over time, they’ll damage your disposal and your pipes!
Lemons smell great BUT their acidic juice will corrode the metal parts of your disposal. Coffee grinds are abrasive enough to clean the gunk off the blades, but they’ll accumulate in the pipes and clog them. The best cleaner for your disposal is good old baking soda and vinegar. Pour 1/2 cup of baking soda into the disposal then slowly pour in 1/2 cup of vinegar. The mixture will fizz up like a kid’s science class volcano. Use the sink stopper to trap the fizzing baking soda inside the disposal. When the fizzing has stopped, remove the stopper and flush with hot water while running the garbage disposal.
Myth #5: Mowing your Lawn Super Short Means You’ll Mow Less Often
Fact: You might not have any lawn left to mow … EVER!
Cut the grass less than 1” high and you’ll never have to mow again because your grass will die! Mowing a lawn down to the roots – a blunder known as scalping – is like cutting off ALL the leaves of a plant. Grass blades make and store your lawn’s energy. If more than 1/3 of the length of the blade is removed, the grass will be too weak to withstand weeds and pests. It also exposes the roots to the sun, causing the lawn to dry out very quickly. Be certain to leave at least 1 to 3” of grass above the roots to keep your lawn looking its best.
Check out our NEXT BLOG POST as we conclude our 2-Part Series on 10 Home Maintenance MYTHS.
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Until then… it’s all about YOU!