A home warranty is a contract with a company that agrees to pay to fix or replace major systems and appliances in your house if they malfunction or stop working. Unlike homeowner’s insurance, which covers damage caused by unforeseen events, home warranty guards against everyday wear and tear of household systems and devices. While the policy can be beneficial, you must carefully read the fine print. Here are ten things a home warranty doesn’t cover. Pre-existing problems Most home warranty policies don’t pay for fixing or replacing anything damaged or malfunctioning before the warranty was bought. You must pay from your pocket to resolve the problem in such a situation. Outdoor fixtures Some policies may cover outdoor fixtures like air conditioners but frequently exclude sprinkler systems, swimming pools, and spas. You may need a different approach if you want coverage for these things. Cosmetic damage Home warranties don’t cover cosmetic damages like scratches, dents, or rust but functional problems with your home’s systems and appliances. Non-mechanical parts They may exclude non-mechanical objects like knobs, handles, and shelves and only cover mechanical devices like HVAC systems. Code violations Your home warranty may not apply if a repair is necessary because an electrical system doesn’t comply with the law. It only covers natural wear and tear of systems and appliances, not problems brought on by violating building rules. DIY repairs The coverage may be void if you try to fix an item yourself or employ an unlicensed professional. Many policies demand that qualified, licensed professionals do repairs. Acts of nature While home warranties can guard against everyday wear and tear, they don’t cover damage brought on by calamities like hurricanes, earthquakes, or floods. A separate homeowner’s insurance may cover such occurrences. Commercial use Your policy might not apply if you use your house for commercial purposes.

Maintaining a home garden, whether small or large, is a hands-on task. And if you don’t plan on hiring someone to take care of the nitty gritty, you’ve got your hands full with all the tasks that come with gardening. So, from finding the best plants to maintaining them, you have to pay attention to all the details. So, if you plan to make your garden flourish single-handedly, avoid making these common gardening mistakes. Don’t make an overly ambitious garden plan It’s good that you want to take up gardening as more than a weekend hobby. But a common mistake most people make is setting unrealistic goals about how the garden should look. Bigger is not always better when it comes to building a garden, as you will need more time to keep it in great shape. Start small and expand the selection of plants wisely. Don’t overcrowd plants Plants need space to grow and bloom. So, ensure you don’t place them in close proximity. Experts suggest keeping at least two feet of space between saplings so they can grow and spread out naturally. You also don’t want to plant too many varieties, as each type of plant will require specific watering, nutrition, and care. Don’t let plants rot If you have planted small herbs, tomatoes, and a couple of other veggies in the garden, be ready to harvest them once they are ripe and ready. Leaving the fruits of your labor on the vine is pointless, as the fruits and vegetables will begin to rot beyond the natural cycle. Don’t overwater or underwater plants You don’t want to turn a beautiful garden into a swamp. Similarly, not watering enough will also leave scanty patches of grass and weeds. Water the plants and saplings regularly, as advised, based on the type of garden you want to maintain.

Home cleaning can be a long and exhausting process, especially if it is a deep cleaning day. Luckily, apart from the regular brush and broom, several equipment and products are available these days which help keep your home tidy and well-maintained. These small, clever cleaning options available in the market make the whole process such a convenient chore that you can even involve your kids to help you around the house. Cleaning tools and products for your next home deep clean Quick and Clean 6-Pack Cleaning Cups If you are a coffee drinker, then you know how precious your home coffee maker is! A tool that helps improve your morning needs some monthly deep cleaning. Yes, you clean it with your regular cleaning products and can also use DIYs like vinegar to keep the machine tidy, but these Quick and Clean cups are extremely convenient. Just pop them in the brewer, run it for one cycle, and then run another cycle with just water to remove all the buildup from the product. These are available at any regular grocery store. Rubbermaid Reveal Cordless Power Scrubber This is a neat hack to get the grime out of the spaces in between your bathroom tiles and on them. While a brush and bleach are great for cleaning, it involves a lot of manual work. With this power scrubber, you simply have to use the tool with the button and let it do the hard work. You can use it on car tires, bathroom sinks, and tiny places which need scrubbing, but your hand can’t reach it. Hagibis Cleaning Pen for Airpods This is a super handy tool for cleaning your shiny new airpods. It’s a small pen that has a pointed edge and a brush. The metal tip is extremely helpful in loosening any dirt stuck in the mesh sound outlet region.

The internet has many videos on the best hacks for cleaning the kitchen quickly and easily. However, not all of them are useful. In fact, some have the opposite effect, and you may have to clean your kitchen all over again after trying them. From using bleach on counters to lining the fridge drawers with newspaper, here are some of the most popular kitchen cleaning hacks that do not work. Using bleach to clean kitchen counters People often forget how poisonous bleach can be to humans, animals, and the environment. The fumes emitted by it have specific organic compounds that can trigger health issues like COPD, chronic respiratory problems, headaches, allergic reactions, and asthma. So, instead of using bleach on the countertops, investing in a cleaner that contains three percent hydrogen peroxide should do the job. Soaking knives in vinegar to remove rust Contrary to what many online influencers suggest, vinegar is ineffective for removing rust from kitchen knives. An alternative that does work involves scrubbing the knives with sliced potatoes dipped in baking soda and then cleaning them with vegetable oil to prevent the development of rust in the future. Using lemon wedges in the dishwasher Lemon-based solutions will make your dishes smell fresh but are not very effective in removing stains. So, if your dishwashing detergent does not work, try another brand to get better results instead of using lemon wedges. Using a dryer sheet to clean pots and pans Using a dryer sheet to remove stuck-on food and stains from pots and pans is another misguided cleaning idea. This technique can have awful consequences, including food poisoning, because the chemicals in dryer sheets are appropriate for laundry, not pots and pans. The good old baking soda or salt-based cleaning solutions are more helpful for this purpose. Laying newspaper in the fridge as an odor absorber Unlike what many believe, lining the refrigerator’s drawers and compartments with newspaper does not help deodorize them.

Approximately 60% of the human body constitutes water, the lifeline of all existence on Earth. Clean drinking water ensures well-being and prevents water-borne diseases like cholera and dysentery. While most households have water storage tanks facilitating a regular supply of drinking water, unclean water tanks can cause acute water contamination and contribute to the onset of unfavorable health conditions. So, here are some ways to clean one’s water tank effectively: Clean the top of the tank The first crucial step to cleaning a water tank is to clean the topmost part, from where one would clean the rest. This process ensures a clean and mess-free workspace while cleaning the tank. Clean the tools The best way to clean the tools for tank cleaning is to soak them in a cleaning solution with one part bleach and four parts hot water. Drain the tank The valve to the distribution line should be shut off and water drained from the tap or outlet valve to the best extent possible. This water may be used for various purposes, such as watering plants or washing windows. For example, one would require 2-5 gallon pails of water to clean and rinse the tank. Wash the water tank Mix one part bleach with four parts water and scrub the insides of the water tank. A mop or pressure washer may be used. It is important to clean the corners of the tank optimally. Leave this solution in the tank for two hours for the best results. Rinse the tank Rinse the tank thoroughly with clean water and a pressure washer. Ideally, the tank has been cleaned adequately if the water begins to run clear. Disinfect the tank One should disinfect the water tank by opening the distribution-line valve and allowing water to drain from all the taps until the smell of bleach emanates.

Most households have carpeting as flooring because of its soft and warm look, especially in regions where the temperatures are usually cooler. Many people also prefer carpet over other floor coverings because of its easy and economical maintenance. However, even after regular vacuuming, sometimes it becomes difficult to get rid of stains and dirt. Here are some tips professionals use to care for carpet cleaning needs, which you can apply at home. Blot and don’t scrub Spills are normal in a household, especially one with kids or a household that usually hosts too many parties. One of the immediate remedies anyone tries is to scrub the spill. Professionals recommend that you should not scrub the area as it leads to fabric disintegrating, and also, the stain gets ground into the fabric. Instead, they say blotting is better suited. Use a clean cloth or paper towel to gently blot on the spill. This technique puts only a small amount of pressure on the stain, and this helps in soaking up the liquid. Also, always start blotting from the outer edges and work your way inwards rather than the reverse. Shaving cream A neat trick that is extremely easy to try. If you have stained the carpet, take any shaving cream available in the bathroom and apply it directly on the stain. Let this cream sit on the stain for 30 minutes and soak up the dirt and color. Now, take a clean white cloth and gently start blotting on the area till all the cream gets out. Once done, you can simply spray some white vinegar and water solution and then wipe using a clean cloth. Club soda and vinegar You probably have heard of this popular DIY trick, and rightly so, because it actually works. If you want to remove any wine or beer stains from the carpet, this easy trick will restore your carpet to its original condition.

A home can be immaculately designed and well equipped, but it is incomplete without adequate security measures. Security is imperative to ward off unruly events like robbery, theft, and trespassing. While employing security personnel can help ensure safety, technological interventions ensure 100% accuracy at all times and are operational 24×7, reducing long-term costs and eliminating the chances of safety breaches. The key to effectively utilizing security cameras is to avoid certain common installation mistakes: Installing in an area with insufficient or extremely bright lighting Too much or too little light in the area where the camera is installed can lead to unclear or distorted images, which can impede the identification of suspects or comprehension of events. Hence, CCTV cameras should be placed in areas with adequate lighting, neither too bright nor too dim. Installing in an area with a restricted view Placing one’s security camera in an area with several objects blocking the view can cause difficulties with surveillance. Areas with dense greenery, tall buildings, and high walls are not ideal for installing security cameras. Overlooking the height Installing one’s CCTV camera at a high altitude prevents it from getting a panoramic view. In contrast, placing it too low increases the risk of the camera being stolen or tampered with. Thus, height is a significant factor when installing security cameras. Compromising on quality for the price Today, various CCTV cameras are available on the market, each with a different price. While it is important to plan one’s budget range before purchasing a security camera, compromising on quality for price can result in a defective camera. For example, the camera may lack essential features, a privacy shutter, or poor camera and sound quality. The best bet while purchasing a CCTV camera is to check out the features of different brands’ cameras vis-à-vis their price and opt for the one that perfectly integrates both aspects.

Fleas are a nuisance and are hard to eliminate once they infest a place. But the problem is ten times harder to deal with indoors as there are many locations for infestations. Poor hygiene and lifestyle habits allow these pesky invaders to keep spreading, and in severe cases, you may have to call professionals to help deal with the issue. To avoid this hassle, here are the following mistakes to prevent an indoor flea infestation. Letting pets indoors without thoroughly cleaning them Fleas usually infest under your pet’s collar and fur, where adult fleas also burrow deep into the skin and lay the larvae that hatch after a while. Pets with a lot of fur tend to shake down dust and debris once they are back indoors from the park, yard, etc. This causes the fleas and larvae to dissipate indoors on the carpeting and furnishings. Constantly letting your pets indoors without having them cleaned thoroughly will bring in a flea infestation from the outside undetected. Following poor sanitary habits Poor hygiene habits like not sweeping the floor, vacuuming carpets, or changing furnishings used in the bedroom and living spaces can trigger a rapid flea infestation indoors. Fleas love dirty, dingy, and damp places where mold and other bacteria fester. Leaving these places unattended increases the risk of the infection spreading. Using DIY solutions DIY homemade sprays for tackling flea infestations are cheap to make and somewhat effective for smaller pest control situations. However, for a large infestation, you should consider calling in expert exterminators. Leaving a large flea infestation unattended for prolonged periods is a mistake that causes the fleas to rapidly spread around the household. Not cleaning your belongings or showering after a day outside Pets are the primary carriers of fleas indoors, but that doesn’t necessarily exclude humans.