Cleaning up Outdoors

The first of the household cleaning tips for the outside is for the entry doors. When you enter the house it is always nice to have it presentable. So start off by finding the correct

cleaner for the project and one that won’t hurt the door. I always try to get the window frame clean first. (If you have one) It seems to be a bit harder to clean than the rest of the door, because of the grain in it. Sometimes I find it useful to use an old toothbrush. Then I wipe to the rest of the door. The frame and casing are also key points not to forget when cleaning the door. For these I use a rag and a spray cleaner. Be careful not to use too much water or spray on the casing because it will get wet and will eventually swell and rot out. I use a boot brush on the threshold it seems to work the best. Another household cleaning tip is to use WD-40 (or a silicone spray)on the latches, locks, and hinges every two or three months. This helps them from getting dirt in them and getting sticky. For some reason the doors are always dirty. I hope this outside tip helps.

The next outside tip is always to try to get all of the cobwebs down from around the eves. You will notice that they are everywhere once you get started. My mom gave me this household cleaning tip when I was very young. Use your kitchen broom and simply sweep them down. Make sure that you also have a damp towel to clean them off the broom because they are get sticky. Follow the eves on the front of the house and by the gutter downspouts. It is amazing what a little outside tip like this can do for the appearance. This brings us to the next household cleaning tip for the outside. Window cleaning. Don't forget to wash the windows on the outside. Watch out for streaks. You can hire it done if you want. It is easier.Window Cleaning Free window cleaning tips, videos, ebooks, supplies, business kit, and glass industry resources.

The gutters. Handy as they are to keep the rain from dripping down on us they do have their down side too! Dirt and grime. This is one outside tip that takes two. (for safety reasons.) You will need a ladder, spray bottle full of cleaner, gloves, and lots of rags. First, go down the gutter and remove all debris that has collected inside. This will prevent the clogged drainpipes and keep the gutters doing their job. Next, wash down the outside of the gutters with a bleach and hot water mix. I have found this household cleaning tip to be quite useful. I used to use soap and water, it worked but not as well as the bleach and hot water mix.

At this point you will also want to check to see if they are in need or any repair. Okay, now that our feet are back on the ground let’s talk about the household cleaning tips for the sidewalks patios and porches. (concrete of course) Do you ever go out and sweep your sidewalk and turn around and it looks as if you haven’t even touched it? Well, then this household cleaning tip is what you need. Grab the bleach, hot water, a hose and also a patio/shop broom, mix up your bleach and hot water solution and then find a container that the broom fits in. Hose the concrete, broom in bleach solution and scrub away. When you are done, hose it all off and it will be bright and shiny. An outside tip that my father gave me is to make this all simpler…buy a pressure washer and pressure wash the whole outside of the house and all of the concrete work.

It is much simpler but more costly for me. It does speed things up, so I recommend using a pressure washer if you have one. Just be careful around the windows. I am excited to be sharing these household cleaning tips with you. I hope the outside tips help you as much as they do me.