As much fun as it is to get your hands dirty — you shouldn’t try to tackle every project on your own. There are some things that are best left to the pros! It can be hard to tell where you should dig in and where you should leave it to someone else. To make that decision easier, here’s a starting list of eight tasks to never DIY.
1. Sunscreen
It’s easy to whip up beauty products on your own. While a homemade facial mask might be a safe and simple way to soothe your skin, other replacement products could end up doing more harm than good.
Sunscreen is a prime example here — do not attempt to mix up a homemade batch. You could buy the ingredients you need and mix them into lotions of your choice, but t you will have no idea how much SPF your concoction contains. Head to the store and buy a professionally prepared version instead.
2. Home Demolition
Grabbing a sledgehammer and taking it to the walls in your home could be fun, right? Unless you have some contracting skills, you might want to leave this task to the pros. You don’t know what’s behind your walls — such as electrical wiring, plumbing, gas lines, etc. — until you start smashing them. If you have the urge to demo the place yourself, have a contractor review your plans and give you the thumbs up e before you start swinging.
3. Kitty Litter
Hauling a giant container of kitty litter from the store can be difficult (and pricey!), but it’s still a better idea than making your own at home. For one thing, many DIY versions can be super-messy to make. The last thing you want to do is get kitty litter all over the house.
Additionally, just like DIY sunscreen, it’s all too easy to get the ratio of scent-absorbing ingredients and additives wrong when making homemade litter. In other words, your cat could be standing in a puddle after using the litter box. I can imagine you don’t want them tracking those wet paws all over the house.
4. Teeth Whitening
Nowadays, there are plenty of options for teeth whitening. You can purchase toothpaste and dental strips designed to brighten your teeth, or you can head to the dentist for a professional whitening session. If you are in need for a highly recommended dentist, you can check out this experienced dentist in Chattanooga.
Be careful with DIY whitening solutions. Some may suggest using a combination of hydrogen peroxide and baking soda to brighten your chompers gradually. This recipe may very well work, but too much baking soda can damage the enamel of your teeth over time. No matter how much whiter your smile is, you won’t be happy to have painful, sensitive teeth afterward.
5. Waxing
Here’s another beauty treatment that should stay salon-based. Waxing can certainly be expensive, but messing up a hot wax can leave you with burns or even bacterial infections in already sensitive areas. Instead, spend time researching and choosing a waxing salon that’s clean and professional.
6. Contact Solution
You’re probably picking up on a trend here — products meant to protect your home or your body should not be homemade unless you’re a professional. As such, making contact lens solution yourself is another no-no.
This mixture cleanses your lenses to make sure they don’t spread infection or cause irritation in your eyes. Without the proper recipe, though, you could leave your eyes susceptible to such a fate. Rely on your trusted brand instead.
7. Hair Dye
Finally, dyeing your hair is a cosmetic procedure, but it’s also one that can cause damage when done incorrectly. In some cases, it requires harsh chemicals and making yourself the mixologist could leave you with a damaging solution. You can still DIY this task, of course, as long as you buy a pre-measured dye kit and follow the proper application steps to safeguard your hair and scalp.
These seven examples prove you should only do it yourself when you know the resulting creation will be safe for you, your loved ones, and your home. Use your best judgment and continue to DIY when you can — but only when it’s the right decision!
