Not Improving
When you’re walking through a home improvement store, it’s easy to get swept up in the convenience of having everything in one place. But the neatly arranged items are trying to lure you in – there’s actually a lot in the home improvement store you can really do without. Here are some things you shouldn’t buy from one, because not only can they be useless, they can be dangerous too.
Major Appliances
Big-box home improvement stores love to promote flashy appliance sales, but the savings usually aren’t actually that great. Plus, not all staff members at the stores necessarily know very much about dishwashers and the like. Appliance-only retailers or local shops can offer better service and sometimes lower prices.
Plumbing Fixtures
Bad news - many home improvement store plumbing fixtures are made with cheaper internal parts. They might work fine for a while, but leaks and wear show up sooner than expected. What you actually want is a plumbing supply store.
Safety Devices
Smoke alarms, carbon monoxide detectors, and fire extinguishers are way too important to skimp on. No-one likes to talk about it, but many of the cheap models at big-box stores are low quality, limited in lifespan, or poorly maintained.
Plants
It’s tempting to grab a pretty plant while at your local outlet, but most home improvement stores don’t actually specialize in plant care. You’ll often find stressed or even dying plants that won’t survive once you bring them home. Garden centers or local nurseries usually offer healthier plants.
Mold Removal Products
Sprays and “instant mold removers” often just bleach the surface, hiding the stain instead of killing the spores. The mold usually comes back because the root cause – moisture - wasn’t fixed. For small jobs, vinegar or hydrogen peroxide works better. For big problems, call a professional.
Greenhouse Plastic
The plastic sheeting at home improvement stores isn’t usually designed for greenhouses - it’s thinner, less UV resistant, and breaks down quickly in sunlight. You’ll find yourself replacing it sooner than you’d like. Try a farm supply store instead.
Garden Seeds
Seeds at home improvement stores often sit on shelves for months, exposed to heat or poor storage conditions that reduce their ability to grow into plants. You don’t want that. Head to the local garden center instead, where there will be more variety as well.
Painting Tools
Every home improvement store has a whole aisle of brushes and rollers, but many of these tools are cheaply made and don’t hold up well. A flimsy roller leaves lint everywhere, and a cheap brush might shed in your hands. You want to go to your local hardware store instead.
Non-Name Products
Buying off-brand is fine when it comes to food – it usually tastes the same – but not so much when it comes to household objects. Non-name brand products often cut corners on safety and durability, and with things like electrical gear or power tools, that can actually be dangerous.
Lawnmowers
While a cheaper home improvement store lawnmower will still get the job done, you’ll likely pay more compared to a local equipment dealer - plus you’ll miss out on expert maintenance and repair support. Dealers can help you choose the right model for your lawncare needs and keep it running longer.
Mulch
Mulch is bulky and often overpriced at home improvement stores. Those bags might look convenient, but they’re usually smaller and more expensive per cubic yard compared to bulk delivery from a local supplier. On top of that, bagged mulch can sometimes be old or moldy. Bear in mind you can make your own at home for nothing, as well!
Pesticides
You really, really can’t mess around when it comes to pesticides. Unfortunately, the ones in home improvement stores could well be a threat to your pets or members of your family if not used correctly. Don’t risk it, consult a pesticide expert who will be able to tell you what you need.
Clearance Paint
Clearance paint might seem like a big money saver, but it’s usually there for a reason - it’s the wrong tint, a discontinued product, or has been sitting around for too long. It might well end up useless to you, and you’ll have spent that money for nothing.
Cabinets
Ever gone to open your cabinet door and realized the material has warped? That’s unfortunately much more likely to happen if you buy your cabinets cheaply from a home improvement store. No matter how fancy they look, they just might not hold up in the heat of a kitchen.
Cheap Tools
Cheap tools often cost more in frustration and replacements than they save. So many people have reached for a cheap screwdriver for an important job and felt the handle snap. Tools are one of those things where you should always splash your cash, they’re just too important in the running of a house.
Quick-Fix Products
Anything marketed as a “miracle,” “instant repair,” or “no-tools fix” usually ends up bitterly disappointing the buyer. These products rarely hold up, leaving you with the same problem again… and often worse. Instead, it’s smarter to tackle the actual repair with quality materials, even if that costs more money.
Water Softener and Filter Systems
Water softeners and filters sold at home improvement stores are often overpriced, undersized, or simply not suited to your home’s specific water quality issues. You need an analysis of your water done first, so go and see a specialist.
