Spring Cleanup Made Easy
It's only a few days from the official start of spring. Some areas of the country are still experiencing cold temperatures and snow, but it won't be long before warmer temperatures hit.
Ridding the outside of your home of the dirt and grime left behind by winter is easier than ever. The Early Show contributor Danny Lipford, who hosts "Today's Homeowner," shows how to ease the burden of spring cleaning.
More homeowners are buying pressure washers than ever before because they are becoming more homeowner friendly and affordable. These gas or electric powered units are great for cleaning decks, patios, sidewalks, the exterior of your home and even the family car. Properly used, pressure washers are a safe quick way of cleaning almost any exterior surface.
Grill – While you have the pressure washer out don't forget the exterior of your barbecue grill. If the outside of your grill is looking dingy, try giving it a fresh coat of paint with a specially made heat resistant grill spray paint that is available at most home centers. It is also important to clean the inside of the grill, especially, if it is a gas unit. Removing the briquettes and grates will allow you access to the burner assembly. Use a wire brush to eliminate any rust and a thin piece of wire to clear away any obstructions from the burner assembly holes. Oven cleaner does a great job in eliminating build-up on the grates. After cleaning, reassemble your grill, light it and allow it to heat for a few minutes to burn off any residue.
Windows – This task is far from being a favorite, but it improves the look of your house both inside and out. The best thing to use along with a window cleaning solution is an inexpensive window squeegee. If your windows are divided into small panes, consider trimming the squeegee to the size of the window. For those 2nd story windows, cleaning can be accomplished without getting out a ladder by making an inexpensive extension handle for the squeegee out of plastic plumbing pipe.
Screens – Sometimes cleaning screens is more dreaded than cleaning the windows. The easiest way is to give them a bath. A window screen cleaning vat can be built by using 4 – 2x4s each 4 ft. in length nailed together to create a box with a piece of 5 ft. x 5 ft. plastic sheeting stapled in to create the vat for soaking the screens. Fill the vat with warm water and dish washing liquid. Use a soft scrub brush to clean the screen, and get in the corners of the frame.
Vinyl – Many houses have vinyl siding, shutters or other components, which after years of exposure to the elements can fade and appear chalky. In the past, all you could do is to thoroughly clean the siding. Now, there are products available like "Restora" to help make this job easier. Here's how: Pre-wet the vinyl, spray on the vinyl cleaner. After 10 minutes scrub to loosen tough dirt or oxidation. Rinse and allow the surface to dry. Liberally apply the vinyl restorer to all visible surfaces.