Repair & Improve

May Weekend Projects

Tips to get your home in tip top shape for the season

by Leslie Segrete and Tom Kraeutler

As spring weather streaks to the finish line, you have one wonderful month left to get your to do projects complete before summer sun sets in.  Here is where to begin.

Weekend #1
The trick to a beautiful yard is a fine tuned lawn mower.

Welcome to May!  The count down now begins toward Memorial Day, the official kick off to summer fun and outdoor enjoyment. There are only three weekends to get that outdoor retreat in tip top shape.  To help your lawn and garden ready, first we need to service the tools that always serve us well; the lawn mower and garden tools.  For spring service on your mower; drain and replace the oil, replace the spark plug, replace the fuel filter, if your mower has one it will located on the fuel line between the tank and the carburetor, replace the air filter, and sharpen the blades.  After its long winters nap, these steps will revive that mower. 

For your hand garden tools and shovels; remove any rust with steel wool or sand paper, file the edges to keep them nice and sharp, coat the metal surface with a lubricating oil to prevent rust, sand wooden handles for a smooth grip and coat with linseed oil to keep the wood conditioned.  Loving your tools with keep them working hard all season long.
 
Weekend #2
Remember the Moms in your life and nothing says love like home improvement!

Mother’s Day is Sunday, don’t forget, and why not treat the special mom’s in your life to the home maintenance of their choice.  Ask the ladies what is bothering them most about the home and address that problem.  Perhaps, stopping the dripping faucet, helping to plant colorful annuals in the garden or even just doing it on your own so she awakens to a springy surprise, freshen up the paint on outdoor trim work and doors, put in the window air conditioning units, repaint the kitchen, creating a work surface and storage for the laundry room, tidy and organize the garage, the options are endless.  This weekend is about making Mom’s life easier so help her do that in what ever you can.  Remember Dad’s don’t feel slighted, your day comes in June, think about what you need to make your life easier and ask for it as the time comes closer.

If you need a real suggestion, get out your pressure washer, mix up a solution of 20% bleach and 80% water and attack any mildew spots on your home’s exterior.  They make a house look terrible.  If the weekend has a sunny day do it then, the sun helps to kill the spores that cause the mold and mildew to grow.  Apply the solution and let it sit for 10 minutes before giving a good scrub with a stiff brush to get rid of those spots. Rinse using your pressure washer, but keep the pressure down and distance from the surface you are cleaning to avoid accidentally damaging your siding.

Weekend #3
If your outdoors furnishings are looking dull and dingy; we’ve got the tips for you.

It’s almost the big weekend; Memorial Day.  Get out all of your outdoor furnishings and give them a thorough cleaning.  If your outdoor furnishings are plastic, you can freshen up their appearance by mixing dish soap, borax, ½ cup peroxide into one gallon of water.  Test first to be sure the peroxide does not react negatively on the furniture.  Let the mixture sit for 10 to 15 minutes and scrub with a nylon brush before rinsing well.  For wood furniture, oil the wood surfaces with a sealant or preservative that is appropriate to the material it is constructed out of.  After sealing clean the surface at least once every two weeks, with a cloth that is dampened by soapy water that has been mixed with a wood cleaner and then drying thoroughly with a cloth. 

If your furniture is metal, you can clean them with soapy water and some elbow grease.  If you notice any rust, remove the spots and stains with sand paper to get a smooth rust free surface and then either repaint the entire piece with a metal rust prohibiting paint or if you only need to cover the area that was rusty, you can coat the area with a metal varnish.  It is so important to maintain your outdoor furniture so you can use them for many summers to come.  Get in the habit of wiping them down after using them, removing any bird dropping or pollen that may gather and destroy the finish, and cover them with waterproof covers if you are going to be not using them for some time.  Place your shiny and clean furnishing in their favorite spot and get ready to enjoy.

Weekend #4

Get Ready to Grill

The same char broiling action that flavors ribs, chick, steaks and burgers you cook on grills all summer long, can really cause problems if you don’t stop and clean the grill once in a while. Here’s what to do:

First, soak the grids in hot, soapy water and clean them with a nylon-scrubbing pad. If they’re really encrusted, use oven cleaner in a well-ventilated area and rinse clean.

Next remove the lava rock or ceramic briquettes, clean them with a wire brush and replace any that are deteriorated.

Then remove the burner, brush it clean and check carefully for cracks, split seams or holes. If any are found, the burner should be immediately replaced.

Lastly, check all the rubber gas hoses for cracks and replace any that show the slightest sign of wear.

Now you are ready to put the grill back together and check all gas connections for leaks. To do this safely, mix a 50/50 solution of liquid dishwashing soap and water. Brush the solution on all gas connections and watch for bubbles. If any are seen, the connection is leaking and should be fixed before firing the grill.

Print Version

Search Related Topics: Air Conditioning, Appliances, Cleaning, Lawn & Garden, Spring, Tools...