If Your Dish Soap Could

…to use body lotion on your face?

Your complexion won’t appreciate it. Body lotions often contain fragrance, plus rich ingredients like petroleum-based additives (or moisturizers) better suited for the tougher skin on your arms and legs, says Dee Anna Glaser, M.D., dermatology professor at the Saint Louis University School of Medicine in Missouri. Applied to the delicate skin on your face, body lotion can clog pores, causing a breakout or irritation. Also, body creams don’t typically include sun protection, which is key for your face. Dr. Glaser’s advice: In a pinch, you can use body lotion, “but avoid the area around your eyes, where the skin is thinner and more delicate.” pretty bad!

…to leave your receipt at an ATM?

Can crooks break into your account or steal your identity based solely on your ATM receipt? It’s not likely. But if you leave behind your receipt— which typically includes the last four digits of your account number and your balance—you’re “dropping breadcrumbs that can lead back to you,” says Adam Levin, author of Swiped: How to Protect Yourself in a World Full of Scammers, Phishers, and Identity Thieves. “Thieves are experts at piecing together seemingly small bits of info,” he says. “Why let them know an account ending in these four digits has $10,000 in it?” The safest thing to do is to take your receipt and, when it’s time to toss it, rip it up and discard it in two trash bins. super bad!

…to give your dog a rawhide bone?

Think twice before throwing Fido that bone. Rawhide, typically made from the inner layer of cowhide, poses two threats to your pet, says Michael Blackwell, D.V.M., chief veterinary officer with The Humane Society of the United States. First, like any bone, it’s a choking hazard. When moistened with saliva, rawhide grows tacky and can get stuck to the roof of a dog’s mouth or in his throat. Rawhide is also difficult for many canines to digest, so swallowing a large chunk of it can cause a life-threatening intestinal blockage. The second concern is salmonella. Both you and your pet can get sick from handling bones contaminated with it. “To me, the benefits don’t outweigh the risks,” says Dr. Blackwell. He suggests one of the many other options on the market that satisfy your pup’s need to chew instead. really bad!

…to let vines grow up your house?

Don’t be fooled by their storybook look. Climbing vines growing on a house can become a nightmare if they’re not closely monitored. In addition to trapping moisture—which can lead to mold, mildew, and rotted siding—the foliage can act as a highway for rodents and insects, such as termites, to get inside your roof and attic, says Chicagobased home inspector Frank Lesh, executive director of the American Society of Home Inspectors. While brick won’t rot like wood will, vines can creep into cracks in the mortar or beneath windowsills, creating an entryway for water and vermin. The worst part, says Lesh: “The foliage camouflages these problems, so people don’t see them until it’s too late.” If you want the look without the worry, Lesh suggests growing your greenery on a trellis away from the house. pretty bad!