14 Household Rules: True or False?

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Household Myths and Mysteries Explained | Real Simple

Not all of the household wisdom passed down to you should be heeded*.

Rule: Putting Out a Fake Owl Will Keep Away Birds

False. Whether it’s inflatable, hard plastic, or wood, an owl in the window won’t permanently deter birds. “They quickly realize those owls aren’t real,” says Roger Lederer, professor emeritus of biological sciences at California State University, in Chico, and owner of Ornithology.com. A fake owl could discourage birds from trying to kamikaze through the glass, but that’s only because the owl is covering it, Lederer says: “An Elvis doll would probably be just as effective.”

Rule: Dusting Houseplants Is Crucial or They Can’t Breathe

Partially true. Over time dust can block plants’ pores, which allow water vapor to escape (transpiration) and food production to occur (photosynthesis). Don’t feel obliged to take a feather duster to your philodendron every time you wipe down the TV screen, but most houseplants do benefit from having their leaves cleaned once or twice a year, says David Ellis of the American Horticultural Society. He suggests wiping the tops and bottoms of broad-leaved plants with a damp cloth or sponge. Even quicker: Pop them under a soft shower, or spray them gently with the garden hose.


Rule: Alligators Live in Sewers and Can Come Up Into Your Toilet

False. This urban legend originated in New York City (something about a batch of imported baby alligators flushed down a toilet…), but according to Ian Michaels, spokesman for the city's Department of Environmental Protection, which oversees water and sewer systems, "there are no alligators in the sewers." Alligators are cold-blooded, he adds, and the temperature in the sewers in winter would be too cold for them to tolerate.

Even where one might more reasonably worry about gators―say, in Florida―a call to Frank Calderon, information officer for Miami-Dade County's Water and Sewer Department, yielded a dry "No, no alligators in the sewers" before the question was even asked ("You have no idea how many times people ask us that"). He says that the methane and hydrogen sulfide gases that accumulate in sewers make for an "inhospitable environment." They displace oxygen, so there's none for alligators to breathe; nor is there anything for them to eat. And even if an alligator donned a gas mask and brought its own rations, it would have to be a contortionist to work its way into your bathroom via the toilet. Most sewer-line pipes coming into homes are only four or six inches wide, and the internal trap in toilets makes the opening a mere two to three inches. So you can confidently flush this myth once and for all.


Rule: Vacuuming a Carpet Too Much Can Damage It

False. This myth, perpetuated no doubt by the couch potatoes of the world, horrifies cleaning experts. “It is absolutely, positively untrue,” says Jeff Campbell, author of Speed Cleaning ($13, amazon.com). The dirt that settles in the fibers is the real danger, as it can weaken them over time. Vacuuming daily with a rotary brush, however, could cause fibers to fray unless you raise the brush to a high setting, says Jeffrey Gross of the Association of Specialists in Cleaning and Restoration. Rotary brushes should also never be used on Oriental or antique rugs, says Gross, because they can cause excessive wear and leave permanent marks.

Rule: Leaving Dishes in the Sink Will Make Them Dirtier

True. All those bits of food are "like Thanksgiving dinner to germs," says Campbell. And as they eat, they multiply. "Water is an ideal medium for bacteria to grow in," says Joseph Rubino, director of microbiology at Lysol maker Reckitt Benckiser, in Montvale, New Jersey. "Plus the bacteria spread when the water from the sink splashes onto the counter." If you're going to soak dishes, Rubino recommends, limit it to an hour or two. If you need more time to muster up the energy, let dishes sit without water―but good luck chiseling that dried oatmeal out of the bowls three days later.


Rule: Watering the Lawn in the Middle of the Day Makes the Sun Burn the Grass

False. Burning occurs when water acts as a magnifying glass. On a normal (unboggy) lawn, the summer midday sun will evaporate moisture too quickly for that, says Trey Rogers, professor of turfgrass science at Michigan State University, in East Lansing. What will get singed is your wallet: Up to 60 percent of the water you use will be lost through evaporation. “You’re fighting Mother Nature―the wind and the sun,” says Rogers. The best time to water? Between 5 a.m. and 9 a.m. The sun will dry the grass by late morning, reducing the potential for fungal diseases that can develop when water sits too long on grass―which is why watering a lawn at night isn’t a good idea.

Rule: Standing in Front of a Microwave Oven While It’s Operating Can Give You Cancer

False…probably. Despite a few studies suggesting possible cause for concern, according to a Food and Drug Administration spokesperson, “there are no established adverse health effects, including cancer, from using or standing in front of a standard microwave oven.” The nonionizing radiation that ovens use to change the chemical structure of food is different from the ionizing radiation that causes cells in the body to mutate. Research is ongoing, though, so to be safe, the FDA advises, don’t stand directly in front of a microwave “for long periods of time” while it’s working. If you’re standing there watching last night’s kung pao chicken reheat, you’re much more likely to die of boredom.

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Rule: The Bumps and Creaks You Hear Are the House Settling

Could very well be true. A new house is constantly adjusting to the land beneath it with subtle shifts and moves. More likely, you're hearing the boards in floors and walls expanding as they heat up and contracting as they cool, or expanding in humid weather and shrinking in dry, creaking as they shift against the nails or one another, says Mike Litchfield, author of Renovation, 3rd Edition ($40, amazon.com). Still, it's wise to pay attention to these sounds, advises Judy Ostrow, author of The House That Jill Built: A Woman's Guide to Home Building ($25, amazon.com): Creaking could signal a loose floorboard, and crunching or scratching sounds could indicate the presence of rodents or insects.

Rule: Cleaning the Lint Trap Before Using the Clothes Dryer Is Necessary

True. "The lint filter covers an exhaust port," says Litchfield. "If it's blocked with a layer of fuzz―and all it takes is a load of towels to make one―the moist air can't get out. It's a tremendous waste of energy, because it takes longer for clothes to dry, and there's a remote possibility of fire." Also, residue from dryer sheets and detergent can decrease performance by forming an invisible layer on the trap, says Jill Notini of the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers. She suggests taking a nylon brush and hot, soapy water to the screen regularly.

Rule: Cutting the Grass as Short as You Can Means You Have to Mow It Less Often

True only because if you cut it too short, you’ll kill it. “You’re taking away the leaf, which is the plant’s food factory,” explains John Buechner, the Marlboro, New Jersey–based director of technical services for lawn-service provider Lawn Doctor. The plant will compensate by diverting energy from growing roots to regrowing the leaf. What should you do? When you mow, never cut off more than one-third of the blades. This ensures that the grass is long enough to shade the soil and keep its temperature down, allowing the roots to grow deeper and increasing drought tolerance. Plus, “a healthy lawn that’s well nourished and thick is the best defense against weeds,” says Buechner.

Rule: Using the Phone During a Lightning Storm Can Be Dangerous

True—for phones with cords. Both the Electrical Safety Foundation International and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) advise against handling corded phones during thunderstorms: Lightning could send a charge from the pole outside through the wire feeding into the phone and “right into your head,” says John Jensenius, a lightning expert at NOAA. (Cordless phones out of the cradle and unplugged cell phones aren’t a problem, he says, “since there’s no physical connection with outside wiring.”) However, “the probability is low,” says Richard Berg, a physics professor at the University of Maryland, in College Park. For one thing, he says, phone lines aren’t designed to carry a current as strong as a lightning bolt, so they’d probably melt before it got into your home. Jensenius agrees the chances are “relatively low” but adds, “if you are struck, you could be injured or killed. It happens every year” (an average of 8.7 times a year, according to NOAA data). So, granted, you’re probably going to get away with it, but unless there’s an emergency, why tempt fate?

Rule: Leaving Grass Clippings on the Lawn After Mowing Is Harmful

False. In fact, this process, called grass cycling, allows the nutrients to return to the soil, says turfgrass science professor Trey Rogers. However, if you’ve neglected the lawn for months, then suddenly have an Edward Scissorhands moment, you could have too much of a good thing. “If the grass is really tall and you leave large clumps,” says Rogers, “they won’t work their way down to the ground, and there’s a good chance they’ll smother the turf.”

Rule: Keeping the Refrigerator Door Open Will Spoil the Food Inside

True, but you'd have to stand there pondering for hours or days. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, food can sit in the "Danger Zone"―between 40 and 140 degrees Fahrenheit―for two hours before it needs discarding, but "opening the refrigerator door for a short period will not cause the temperature to drop significantly," says Patty Davis, information officer for the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. Mostly it's an energy waster. "When you allow the cold air to escape, it tells the compressor to cycle on, and that takes more electricity," says Notini.

Rule: Bedbugs Bite

True, but you won't feel it, and sleeping tight won't prevent it. Unlike microscopic dust mites, which dine on dead skin cells in the crevices of bedding, bedbugs are flat, pencil eraser-size parasites that live on blood, says the National Pest Management Association. When they bite, they inject saliva into the skin, forming an itchy, white pinhead-size welt. You may notice a line of two or three welts and rust-colored stains on your sheets. But (except in apartment buildings, where they can migrate) bedbugs don't just appear―they have to be imported. Before you cart them in on secondhand furniture or in luggage and on clothing after a trip, search thoroughly for any brown, oval bloodsuckers that might be hitching a ride.

[freckles]

damn I was hoping that vacuuming one was true

[SQUISHY]

“An Elvis doll would probably be just as effective.”

I suddenly want to send Elvis dolls to all my Hippies.

[Pristine]