Ways You Cause Damage to Your Home and Don’t Even Know It

You’re better off letting that dirty pan cool down on the stove rather than trying to pour cooking grease down your drain. “Oil, fats, and grease will solidify and form blockages in your pipes, which not only has a negative impact on the environment, but also creates issues for your septic system

Want to get your cabinetry gleaming? If those surfaces are painted, avoid the ammonia- and bleach-based cleaners you use in other parts of your home. “Harsh chemicals wear down the existing finish, resulting in a dull look,

It’s time to step away from the vinegar-based cleaners if you want those gorgeous granite counters to look great for years to come. Any type of acidic cleaner like vinegar “removes the sealant and gradually reduces the sheen of these countertops over time,”

Bleach may be good for your whites, but it’s not an all-purpose cleaning solution. If you’re using bleach to remove a stain from your hardwood floors, “it will leave an even bigger stain or damage your wood

Of course you want to rid your carpets of dirt, but overdoing it with the carpet shampooer could do more harm than good. If you don’t remove a sufficient amount of product from your carpets, “you might unintentionally cause a mold problem to start growing,

Unless you want a pricey repair in your future, always use a stud finder before nailing or drilling into a wall. If you don’t, the sheetrock or plaster below may not have sufficient support for the item, which can “damage the wall and break the item that is hanging,

While you may need cables drilled into your home to provide access to TV or internet, DIYing it—or having a less-than-experienced installer do the job—can create major problems. “Improperly sealed wall penetration will slowly and invisibly rot wood and potentially attract damp wood termites,”

While using some mulch in your garden can help protect your plants and cover up patchy areas, putting it too close to your home can cause serious damage over time. “Mulch retains moisture, causing rot and allowing termites easy access to the home,