How Bad Is It… To throw

I told her not to do high gloss on old walls.

A lot of homeowners ask for high-gloss paint, thinking it’s the most washable finish, but it’s far from forgiving. “A higher sheen shows off a wall’s imperfections, especially when you factor in natural light,” says Ben Golde, founder and CEO of Classic Quality Painting in Charleston, SC. So while it might look great on wood cabinetry, furniture, and trim, high-gloss paint will bring out all the bumps, nicks, and uneven plaster on walls that you might not otherwise see. The good news: There are plenty of washable-finish options between flat and gloss, including eggshell and semigloss.

She can’t possibly think that’s enough paint.

Coming up short doesn’t just slow down the job—it also means the color in a new can might not match what you’ve already bought. “Most companies have good quality control, but there’s always a human element [the guy mixing the paint] and a robotic element [the paint-mixing machine],” says Jeff Hester. Buying paint all at once helps cut down on color variance. With so many reliable paint calculators around, you don’t need to guess how much to buy. Most major paint brands have their own calculator, as do stores like Lowe’s and The Home Depot. The one from the Paint Quality Institute (paintquality.com) even accounts for the type of paint and the surface you’re covering.

Um, that water stain needs special treatment.

Even after you’ve fixed the source of the leak and the water stains have dried, the stains need to be treated with care. That means using the right primer to seal them so they won’t show through the new paint. “It’s always good for me to know about water damage ahead of time so I can bring the kind of primer I need,” says Robert Hubley. If the damage was extensive and your contractor had to replace drywall, tell your painter that, too. New drywall requires a coat of special primer to give your paint cling power.

It’s not my fault she doesn’t like the color!

Tiny chips from the paint aisle can help a little, but if your color research stops there, you’ll likely be disappointed. “Paper paint chips are usually too small to get a good sense of the final color,” says Kevin Nolan, president of Nolan Painting in Philadelphia, PA. “Plus, the colors are printed on paper, which looks a little different from how actual paint looks on a wall.” Best bet: Make your own big chips by coating pieces of large white cardstock with sample paints. Tape them to the wall, and compare them throughout the day as the light changes.

DOG: GETTY IMAGES; PILL CASE: BEN GOLDSTEIN/STUDIO D; RECYCLING BIN: GETTY IMAGES; JUNK MAIL: ALAMY

how bad is it …

Straight answers to scratch-your-head questions.

Snow, shmow.

…to take your dog out in winter without a coat?

As long as your dog isn’t a hairless breed, like a Chinese crested, it’s usually fine for him to go au naturel in the cold, says Ann Hohenhaus, D.V.M., staff doctor at New York City’s Animal Medical Center. Because many canines have a built-in coat, they don’t normally need another one, nor will they get sick going out without a jacket. But that’s not to say your pup won’t be uncomfortable, especially if it’s below freezing. If you notice him shivering or pulling to go inside, you may want to bundle him up. Same goes for a dog who’s used to warm weather if he takes a trip up north: He may need an extra layer until he acclimates to the chilly climate. More important is to protect your pup’s feet from ice melters, which can irritate a dog’s paws and give him an upset stomach if he licks them off, says Dr. Hohenhaus. Invest in booties or immediately wipe the salt off when he comes inside using a clean, wet cloth. not so bad!

…to throw away junk mail without shredding it?

If it has your name and address on it, you should shred it, advises Paul Stephens, director of policy and advocacy for Privacy Rights Clearinghouse. Although criminals aren’t likely to cause trouble by finding your name and address on a catalog or charity solicitation, the real risk is in someone getting ahold of a preapproved credit card offer. It usually includes a code to apply for the card. In the wrong hands, it could hurt your credit and send you on a chase to close a fraudulent account. Ripping it up isn’t enough. “We’ve heard of people dumpster diving and taping the torn pieces back together,” Stephens says. Run these offers— and other junk mail, to be safe—through a confetti-cut shredder. An even better way to manage unwanted mail? Stop receiving it! Visit optoutprescreen.com to reduce credit card offers and dmachoice.org to get less junk mail. super bad!

WRITTEN BY MEGHAN OVERDEEP

…to not take a multivitamin every day?

If you’re a healthy person who eats a balanced diet, there’s no reason to take a supplement, says Marion Nestle, Ph.D., a nutrition and food studies professor at New York University. That’s because the majority of people, even those who don’t eat a tip-top diet, already consume the recommended amount of vitamins. “Most foods today—junk foods included, save for soda—are fortified with vitamins,” says Nestle. Plus, there’s little research that proves vitamin supplements make healthy people healthier. However, if you regularly skip certain food groups, such as meats and beans or vegetables, or if you’re on a diet that restricts certain groups, then a multivitamin might be useful. Just check with your doctor first. not bad at all!

HGTV Magazine 21