How Bad Is It… To cut the

AND THEY SAY YOU

CAN’T BUY GOOD TASTE

how bad is it …

Straight answers to scratch-your-head questions.

Uh-oh, I don’t look so good.…

…to ignore dead leaves on a houseplant?

Neglecting to trim lackluster foliage not only makes your plant look bad but also can harm it. “The tissue in dead leaves can become a gateway for infection or disease,” says Elsa Kars, a master gardener in Colorado, who suggests clipping brown leaves at the stem as soon as you see them. If just part of a leaf looks dry or dead, cut off that portion with sharp scissors. And make sure you’re not under- or overwatering your plant, as giving it the wrong amount of H2O is one of the reasons leaves die in the first place. pretty bad!

…to cut the tag off a mattress?

Although you won’t go to jail for taking off that “Do not remove under penalty of law” warning, you may lose valuable info. Some background: In the early 20th century, states began requiring mattress makers to attach labels that listed materials and whether they were new (before that, mattresses were often stuffed with old rags, corn husks, and other icky stuff that could spread pests and disease). While you have the legal right to remove the tag, it contains the manufacture date and model number, details you need for warranty claims, says Kelly Ellis, a marketing director at Serta. “It’s also helpful if you want to buy a similar mattress in the future,” she says. So if you do snip off the tag, hang on to it. kinda bad!

…to limit how much candy a trick-ortreater can take?

You’re not a witch—or a cheapskate—for setting a candy restriction. In fact, a house rule can help the little ghouls who ring your bell—and not just because you’re saving them from a tummy ache. Younger kids may not be sure how to proceed when presented with a big bowl of goodies, says Dorothea Johnson, founder of The Protocol School of Washington. “When you tell them the limit up front, there’s no confusion,” she says. Her advice: Compliment your visitors’ costumes, then hold out the candy and say, “Please take x number of pieces.” If they grab for more, you can remind them of your request, but leave the disciplining to their parents. not bad at all!