Hey everyone, this month brings the first official day of spring! Around here spring means our thoughts turn to cleaning. Inside, outside and all around the house we'll be turning our attention to getting rid of winter's accumulated grime and clutter.
As exterior surface cleaning specialists we clean hundreds and hundreds of residential properties a year. In this issue of the POWERWASHNOW.COM NEWSLETTER we'll share some of our favorite "clean-up" tips and tricks with you. We think anything that helps make the job quicker and easier is worth passing along.
I hope you'll find something useful in this issue. If you do... I hope you'll take a moment to let us know we're sending out information that's helpful to you. And, as always, your questions and comments are more than welcome. Write to us at newsletter@powerwashnow.com —Happy Spring!
Best regards,
Mike
SPRING CLEANING ALL AROUND THE HOUSE
You can start with the inside jobs now, then move on to the exterior work as the weather turns warm.
Say Goodbye to Unsightly Caulking
Sometimes the caulking around the tub and sink can get really ugly, even downright scary-looking. It develops a black, mildew that is impossible to clean. The solution here is to replace the caulk. Don't worry, it's simpler than you think.
First, cut out the old caulking with a utility knife then apply a solution of household bleach to kill mildew spores on the surface and allow the bleach to dry. Now, you're ready for some new caulk.
Try using one of the brands that come in a metal container with an applicator nozzle at the top - you may find them easier to handle than the toothpaste-style tubes or cartridges intended to fit into caulking guns. Lay a neat bead of caulk in place, then smooth it out with a fingertip dipped in soapy water.
Brighten Dingy Tile Grout
Over time the grout between ceramic tiles in your kitchen and bathroom can get stained and discolored. Some food and drink stains can be removed with peroxide or household bleach applied with a tooth brush.
Deeply discolored grout may require a different approach: First, rake out the old grout with a grout saw; once the old stuff is gone, apply new grout using a grout float then wipe off excess from the face of the tile with a grout sponge. You'll find grouts saws, sponges and floats in the tile section of your home improvement center or hardware store.
You can keep your grout looking good longer by applying a grout sealer every few months. Many sealers come in containers with easy to use applicators.
Windows
Survey indicate that folks regard window washing as one of the least rewarding spring cleaning projects. I think that may be because we make too much work of it. Below I've explained the technique used by professional window washers. I'm betting you'll be able to clean an average window in less than 60 seconds.
Start with the right cleaning solution. I like to use a few drops of dishwashing liquid in a couple of gallons of warm water. Dishwashing liquid is designed to leave dishes and glasses clean spot-free. why shouldn't it work just as well on windows?
Apply the cleaning solution with a tool called a scrubber sleeve. It's one of two key tools used by the pros and you'll find it in the window washing section of your home improvement center. The scrubber sleeve resembles a paint roller, except it doesn't roll. You grip it by the handle, dip it in the cleaning solution then swirl it around on the window glass. In the process, you'll loosen the dirt.
Now you'll need to remove the now dirty cleaning solution from the surface. Rather than using newspaper, paper towels or rags, we'll strip it off in one quick pass with a window washing squeegee. Use a good quality squeegee with a metal frame and precision cut rubber blade. Go for the professional quality here, even the best grade costs only about fifteen dollars.
Now the secret to using the squeegee without leaving streaks is this: Always place a dry squeegee on dry glass. Start by tipping the squeegee up so that only two or three inches on one end is touching the surface. The move it along the top of the window leaving a narrow strip of dry glass. Wipe the squeegee dry on a clean rag, then place it in the dry strip and pull it from the top of the window to the bottom. Lift the squeegee off, wipe it dry, move over one squeegee width and repeat the process until the window is dry.
A Window that Cleans Itself
That's right. PPG Industries has developed a new type of window glass that actually keeps itself clean. Called SunClean, the glass is manufactured with a durable transparent coating.
When the coating is exposed to sunlight for a few days it becomes energized and begins to loosen and dissolve dirt. Water from a rainstorm or a light spray from a garden hose floats the loosened dirt away. The coating also causes water to sheet evenly over the glass surface, instead of beading. This sheeting action helps flush the surface clean and accelerate the drying leaving the glass with minimal spotting and streaking.
A Checklist for the Rest of the House
Of course these projects don't exhaust the list of things to consider tackling this time of year. Here's a checklist of some other important spring projects:
Inside
· Clothes Washer - Clean the inlet screen on your clothes washer to prevent harmful dirt and debris from entering the pump and causing damage.
· Clothes Dryer - Remove accumulated lint from your dryer vent and piping; built-up lint reduces the efficiency of the dryer and can cause a fire.
· Refrigerators and Freezers - Keep them cool by vacuuming the coils at the back of the units; built-up dust and dirt robs a coil of its ability to dissipate heat and makes the compressor work harder, which shortens the compressor's life.
· Furnaces - Get ready for the fall by replacing forced air furnace filters now; new filters allow maximum air to flow through the furnace - something you'll appreciate when the weather turns chilly again.
· Air Conditioners - Window and central air conditioners won't keep you cool if they can't dissipate the heat their coils create in the process of cooling your home. Vacuum off efficiency-robbing built-up dirt from the coils; as with your refrigerator, clean coils mean less work for the compressor and a longer compressor life. Don't "choke" your window air conditioners - clean their filters to keep these hardworking units in tip-top shape; a dirty filter forces the compressor to work harder to pull air in for cooling.
Outside
· House Exterior - Make sure the weather-tight integrity of your exterior hasn't been breached over the hard winter months by inspecting it for signs of winter damage (cracks, punctures, etc) and clean and repair the damage as needed.
· Garden Hoses - Get ready for gardening and lawn care by checking and repairing your garden hoses; small leaks can be plugged with epoxy putty. For larger leaks, remove the damaged section of hose and install a hose coupler, which can be found in most hardware stores.
· Lawns - Give your lawn a spring-cleaning by de-thatching and raking it. This clears out all the old grass and debris and primes the lawn for the growing season.
· Power Tools - Tune-up your outdoor power equipment so it's ready for a new season. Start by cleaning the equipment thoroughly and add fresh oil and gasoline as needed. Inspect for and replace worn parts such as starter cords and wheels. Replace spark plugs and you're ready to roll!
