DIY Home & Garden

By Bob Alter

There are many different ways and ideas when it come to cleaning hardwood floors. You can do it manually or mechanically, you can use chemical solutions or water or vinegar or you can hire someone else to do your hardfloor cleaning.

Your hardwood floor will either be a laminate or solid wood floor. Laminate floors are man made using either a 3 ply process or a 5 ply process. That doesn’t leave much room to refinish your floors if they get damaged. Solid wood floors have the ability to be sanded and another coat can be applied. That is why it’s important to use the correct cleaning solution so you don’t destroy the finish. There are many options you can use including a cleaning solution from Bissell or a mixture of water and vinegar or cleaning pads used for sweepers. It makes a lot of sense to try different applications to find the one that best fits your needs.

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By Johnny Dorset

A garage door is important for so many reasons. First of all, it protects your garage, and anything in it, from the elements. This allows you to park your valuable vehicles in your garage without having to worry that they will be affected by the weather. Garage doors also help to keep your garage insulated. Ask someone who has a bad garage door how they feel about it and they will quickly tell you all about how they either freeze, or get really hot, in their garage. One of the most important parts of a garage door that helps to keep it insulated and perfect is the weather stripping. But weather stripping can break down and deteriorate over time. If yours does, it is actually very easy to fix it.

In order to fix your weather-stripping, you first need to get rid of the old weather-stripping. It is a good idea to replace all of the stripping you have at the same time, so that you don’t have to constantly keep redoing it. Use a flat head screw driver in order to take out any staples, or to raise the nails by prying up on the heads of them. Make sure that you use your screw driver to get rid of all the nails or staples that are keeping your weather stripping down. If your screw driver doesn’t seem to be working, try the claw end of your hammer, as that tends to work very well, too.

Next, head to your local hardware store and purchase a weather-stripping kit. They’re relatively inexpensive and can be found in almost all hardware stores. The kit will include a long solid piece of rubber weather stripping as well as the nails or staples to hold it in place.

Once you’ve gotten rid of the weather stripping, make sure that what is left behind is clear and smooth. Use a piece of sand paper that has a low grit to it in order to sand down the bottom edge of your garage door. Then use a stiff brush in order to make sure that you’ve gotten rid of all of the debris. You want to ensure that everything on the bottom of your garage door is clean before you apply the new weather stripping, or it may just come off.

Once you’ve done this, you can attach the new weather-stripping. Make sure that you position it so that there is about a quarter of an inch of overhang left, and make sure as well that the weather stripping lines up on the outside of the garage door. Simply hold one end with one hand while stretching it just a bit, and use the other hand to staple down the weather stripping. Once you’ve got the whole thing stapled down, you can go back with your roofing nails and can secure it in place permanently. This easy-to-do project can be finished in just a few hours and can truly add insulation to your garage door to make the garage temperature comfortable during all seasons.

Johnny Dorset works for Denver’s Choice Overhead Door Co. has become the number one choice for Denver’s garage door needs. We specialize in repairs of existing and sales of new garage doors and garage door openers!

Article Source: http://www.articledashboard.com/Article/How-Do-I-Fix-the-Weather-stripping-On-My-Garage-Door?/1152258

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By Rob Ferrall

If you live in an area with variable weather, or just have a high-traffic home, it can leave your tile and grout looking dirty, faded and dull over time. Normal scrubbing and wiping are not enough to penetrate the ground in dirt that clings to grout. Unsealed, or untreated, tile and grout needs to be deep cleaned on a regular basis to maintain a fresh appearance. Here are a few ways you can clean your home’s tile and grout.

Cleaning Bathroom Tile and Grout

Use a large sponge to wipe down the tile surface with warm water. Dip a stiff bristled toothbrush into the water and scrub the grout. This will remove any loose debris and dirt. Mix ½ cup of baking soda with ¼ cup of warm water. Smear the pasty mixture onto the grout and let it set for a few minutes. Begin scrubbing the grout vigorously with the toothbrush. Use a circular motion to drive the dirt out from the tiny crevices and indents in the grout. Rinse well with clear warm water and give the surface an hour to dry.

Cleaning Kitchen Backsplash Tile and Grout

Kitchen backsplash tile and grout is renowned for harboring minute amounts of cooking grease and oils that attract dirt and dust. Grease removal is a necessary step in cleaning. Mix ½ cup of a liquid dishwashing liquid to one bucket of warm water. Scrub the backsplash wall with a soft scrub sponge soaked in the detergent mix. Allow the soapy water 10 to 15 minutes to soak the grease loose. Mix ½ cup of oxygen bleach power with a bucket of warm water. Scrub the grout and tile with the mixture and rinse with plain water.

Cleaning Floor Tile and Grout

Floor tile and grout will typically be the toughest areas to clean. Sweep the floor with a broom to remove all loose dirt. Divide the floor into small sections and damp mop one section at a time. Scrub the grout with a small stiff cleaning brush and warm water. Mix ½ cup of oxygen bleach powder into a bucket of warm water. Use the small brush to scrub the floor grout and tile. Continue using a circular scrubbing motion to release the dirt and grime that burrows into the grout. Wear safety glasses to avoid splashing the cleaner into your eyes.

Making the Job Easier

Cleaning tile and grout is a physically demanding job, and for some people, it can quickly become overwhelming. When cleaning, you should take frequent breaks to minimize the possibility of back or other muscle strain. If you want to make future cleanings easier, consider hiring a professional cleaning company to come in and clean your tile and grout for you. Professionals with professional-grade tools can oftentimes do a better job on your tile floors and countertops, and some companies will apply a sealant to your grout, which will make future cleanings for you as simple as running a damp mop or cloth over your tile floors and counters.

Saniglow provides professional cleaning services to Howell, Brighton, Fowlerville, and all of Livingston County, Michigan. Read about their tile and grout cleaning services and carpet cleaning services in Pinckney on their website.

Article Source: How to Clean Tile Floors and Grout

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