Rain on a Tin Roof

Tag: cleaning

How to Clean Concrete Blocks
Typically, I leave the outdoor arena to Grunt Labor.

He is amazing at growing flowers.

He loves to keep the grass looking good.

He puts his heart and soul into our garden.

He’s currently working on building a new patio.

However, cleaning outdoors isn’t necessarily his thing.

That’s usually left to me – and that’s ok – especially when its as easy as it was to clean these concrete blocks.

Just before you go into our garage, we have a retaining wall full of these concrete blocks..

And up until just a few days ago, they all looked like that.

Now they look like this…

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Scotts® Outdoor Cleaner plus OxiClean™ via Burst Media. The opinions and text are all mine.

Yep, that is the same block.

How to Clean Concrete Blocks

Supplies & Materials Needed:
- Scotts® Outdoor Cleaner plus OxiClean™
- Scrub Brush
- Water
Step 1:

Spray Scotts® Outdoor Cleaner plus OxiClean™ onto the dirty, gross and grimy area.

The great thing about this cleaner is that its safe to use around grass and plants. I didn’t have to worry about covering up my boxwoods that are just on the other side of the wall. It has a fast-foaming action that starts working as soon as you spray it on the affected area.

Step 2:

Scrub.

You may be an excellent homeowner that cleans your outdoor areas regularly. If you are, you may not have as bad of stains as we did and not have to scrub. Us, well….ummm….we had never cleaned these before – so its been a while to say the least.

As you scrub, you can see the dirt and grime coming off. It gets rid of stains from moss, mold, mildew and algae.

Step 3:

Rinse off the blocks and bask in your awesome cleanliness.

Ya’ll, that’s a minimum of five years worth of gunk that came off. Scotts® Outdoor Cleaner plus OxiClean™ can also be used on fabrics, wood, siding, patio furniture and more.

I used the Scotts® Outdoor Cleaner plus OxiClean™ in the Ready to Use Trigger sprayer, but if you have a bigger area, you can also buy it in concentrate form. You can find it at the Home Depot, Lowe’s, and Walmart.

Need more easy outdoor cleaning tips?

How to Clean Your Sidewalk – you won’t believe how dirty mine was and you won’t believe how clean it came!

How to Refresh Your Lattice – in under an hour!

12 Outdoor Furniture Makeovers – before you toss it, think about giving your outdoor furniture one of these makeovers!

9 Must Read Cleaning Tips – Outside and inside cleaning tricks!
May 5, 2015
How to Clean A Ridiculously Gross & Dirty Sidewalk
I am almost ashamed to show you just how gross my sidewalk was.

Almost.

But I know that you guys understand the concept of real life.

Real life that involves neglecting things such as the sidewalk while focusing on much more important and fun things such as a kitchen makeover or just chasing around the circus at the park.

When we bought the beloved foreclosure, the exterior was the last thing on our minds. It may not have been that pretty, but there was nothing wrong with it and we would have rather had a functional kitchen and bathroom rather than a pretty exterior.

So we didn’t really touch the exterior except for some painting on the porch and a semi-makeover on the screened-in porch.

This summer I kicked the screened-in porch up quite a few notches with a complete (and super colorful) makeover.

And then I looked at our sidewalk.

And realized just how disgustingly gross it was.

Disclosure: This post is sponsored by HomeRight and Thompson’s provided me with their products. However, all opinions and ridiculously dirty sidewalks are 100% mine. This post contains affiliate links for your shopping convenience. Click here to read my full disclosure policy.

You guys.

I had no idea just how dirty my sidewalk was until after it was cleaned.

Here is the before:

I knew there were some stains and a strange funk growing on it, but I had no idea how it was really supposed to look. Honestly guys, I don’t think that this sidewalk had been cleaned in at least 15 years.

I’m trying to be optimistic on that timeframe. I’m probably wrong.

Grunt Labor doesn’t think that it was ever cleaned before now.

Here’s how we cleaned this bad boy up.

How to Clean a Sidewalk

Supplies Needed:
- Concrete / Sidewalk Cleaner (I used Thompson’s Oxy Foaming Action)
- Tank Sprayer (I used my HomeRight Tank Sprayer)
- Large Scrub Brush (I used my HomeRight Deck Washer)
- Water Hose
Steps

Step 1

Give your sidewalk a light scrubbing with the scrub brush to remove any loose dirt or grass and loosen up any stuck on dirt.

Step 2

You don’t want your sidewalk to be soaking wet, only lightly wet when you apply the cleaner. Let your sidewalk dry for a bit and mix up your cleaner. The cleaner must be used within an hour of mixing it, so don’t mix it until right before you are ready to use it.

I filled up my tank sprayer with two gallons of hot water (hot water is recommended) and added in eight capfuls of the oxy foaming cleaner. The directions say to use at least three capfuls per gallon or four capfuls per gallon if you have a very dirty area.

As y’all well know, mine was ridiculously dirty.

Step 3

Shake up your tank to dissolve all the cleaner crystals and spray the cleaner onto your sidewalk.

Let the cleaner sit for 5-10 minutes depending on how dirty your sidewalk is. I let mine sit for the full ten minutes.

While you are waiting, you can use the time to clean off your driveway with the deck brush.

I found it to be pretty perfect for that.

Step 4

After the allotted time, give the area you sprayed a good scrubbing with just the brush. You will literally see the dirt and grime lift off the concrete. After you have scrubbed it good, turn on the water to your brush and scrub some more while rinsing the sidewalk off.

Step 5

Depending on how dirty your sidewalk is, you may have to repeat the cleaning process twice. I did. After the second cleaning, I still had these little black spots lingering just near the porch steps.

Since this sidewalk hadn’t been cleaned in the history of ever, they weren’t budging very easily. Grunt Labor did a quick run over of those spots near the steps with a pressure washer.

Here is our after:

Why hello, nice and pretty sidewalk.

It’s nice to meet you.

I’m the one who neglected you for the past three years.

The cleaning and scrubbing removed a huge amount of dirt and grime and brightened it up like nobody’s business.

Need more cleaning tips?

How to Clean Concrete Blocks– clean up all those landscaping blocks!

How to Remove Rust and Polish Chrome– you won’t believe how much rust I got off this one chair!

9+ Must Read Cleaning Tips– all sorts of cleaning tips for around the house!

You know you don’t wanna miss any of this crazy.

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August 25, 2014
How I turned into a Chemical-Free Floor Cleanin’ Fool

Let me be honest with you for a moment.

I am not a “Granola Mom”.

I am not the mom that is worrying about her child getting too dirty or even eating dirt for that matter. Yea, it happened once.

I don’t worry too much about scheduling playdates – she has the dog.

Yes, I let my child eat frozen foods and things that have all sorts of preservatives and all those other big words people say are bad for you all the time. I figure I turned out ok, so what harm is it going to do? I don’t let her veg out on cookies all day, but if she wants a frozen waffle for dinner, who am I to say no? She doesn’t want me to heat it up first? Whatever. I mean Nick ate frozen french fries as a child. He’s ok. Kind of.

And if all we have time for on the way to preschool is a Nutri-Grain bar that she’s eating as we walk out the door, so be it. In my defense, this kid loves fruit and she eats the heck out of it all the time. That has to count for something.

Furthermore, I am not usually a “Granola Cleaner.” Y’all, I’m from the South. Buying Ammonia by the case for spring cleaning ~~was~~ is commonplace. They just check your id to make sure you aren’t a Meth maker. I’m pretty sure the 80 year old lady with perfectly coifed hair driving a Cadillac isn’t a meth maker, but hey, who am I to say? Those Cadys are pretty big – it could be a mobile Meth lab. I personally haven’t ever used ammonia – can’t stand the smell – but I’ve seen multiple women walking out of the Dollar General loaded down with Ammonia in their buggies.

Let me be clear for a second, I am not hatin’ on the Granola Moms. In fact, I commend you. I bow down in your presence. You are a far better mom and homemaker than I ever will be. I’m just lazy. Its much easier to reach for the Spic ‘N Span than whip up some organic concoction.

Until now.

I am happy to say that I am now a chemical-free floor cleanin’ fool.

Of course, I’m not whipping up any organic concoctions (I wouldn’t even know how to go about that), but I am using one chemical-free ingredient while cleaning my floors now.

Water.

Disclosure: This post is sponsored by HomeRight. However, all opinions and references to Granola Moms are 100% mine. This post contains affiliate links for your shopping convenience. Click here to read my full disclosure policy.

Friends, let me introduce you to the HomeRight SteamMachine Plus.

The only tool you will ever need to steam clean anything.

Let me reiterate only tool and steam clean anything.

Watch and learn friends, watch and learn.

I started out by cleaning the marble on my bathroom floors. All you need to do first is attach the cloth pad to the bottom of the steam mop head.

It simply attaches by velcro. So hard.

Next, fill up your water tank.

Squeeze the buttons on either side of the tank, twist off the cap and fill the tank with water. Replace the tank to the cleaner.

Plug the machine in and press the power button that is just above the water tank.

Once you power it on, it will light up with an orange-y color (photo on left). The steam is ready to go when the light turns blue (photo on right). Seriously y’all, I think it took about a minute for my water to heat up. This thing is fast.

Then go to work.

Pull the trigger button on the handle to release steam. Did you notice how flexible this thing is? It pivots like nobody’s business.

Oh, so you want to do some deep cleaning, eh?

No problem. The unit transforms into a handheld steamer at the click of a button. Push the button just above the blue portion to release the tank. Attach one of the included accessories as desired (I used the round brush scrubber for my tile). Hit the button on the back to release steam. On a side note, please turn the unit off as you are attaching the accessories. I, ummm, didn’t, and accidentally mashed the button at the same time I was putting on the brush, and well, steam burns…

You want to clean your hardwoods, you say?

Not a problem, either. If you follow me on Instagram, I posted a similar photo to the one above. The left photo was spilled milk. See, I was trying to be a better mom and actually feed the kid before leaving for preschool. Mistake. I turned around, wasn’t looking, and my arm slammed right into a sippy cup full of milk. I soaked some of it up, then decided I would give the SteamMachine Plus a whirl on it. It was heated up and had it cleaned in no time.

You want to freshen up your carpet now?

Yes, my friends, it can do that too. Attach the gliding accessory over the pad and go to town.

Thank you HomeRight SteamMachine Plus, for making me into a chemical-free floor cleanin’ fool.

I hear the kid. I have to go make sure we have cereal bars for breakfast. Or maybe a frozen sausage biscuit….

Need more cleaning tips? Be sure to see these then…

How to Get Pet Stains & Odors out of your carpet Without Chemicals – easy, easy, easy!

How I Steam Clean My Entire Kitchen – one tool cleans the entire kitchen!

How to clean that gross shower with one single tool – you WILL NOT believe just how gross my shower was!

You know you don’t wanna miss any of this crazy.

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May 12, 2014
How to Clean the HomeRight Finish Max Paint Sprayer

By now, you guys know that I love my HomeRight Finish Max Paint Sprayer.

If you don’t know that, then you have been living under a rock or you haven’t read about my toy chest makeover, french country chair makeover, black and gold french country desk, or the polka dot bed.

The one question that people always ask me about the Finish Max is whether or not its easy to clean.

And I don’t blame them a bit for asking. If there is any person in the world that understands their fear, it is me. If you read about the toy chest makeover, you know that I have dealt with my fair share of paint sprayers that were not easy to clean and didn’t even work well. I was even skeptical of the Finish Max at first.

I felt it was time to show you how to clean the HomeRight Finish Max paint sprayer and just how fast and easy it really is.

I’m a believe-it-when-I-see-it gal and I figured some of you were too.

Disclosure: This post was sponsored by HomeRight, but you know how I roll, all opinions are 100% mine. This post contains affiliate links for your shopping convenience. Click here to read my full disclosure policy.

Let’s do this!

**Update: It’s now even easier than this to clean a Finish Max Paint Sprayer! There’s a new attachment called the Rapid Clean that plugs right into your water hose and the paint sprayer and cleans it up in just a few minutes.

Step #1:

After you are done painting, discard or place back into the paint can any remaining paint in container. (Keep in mind if you thinned the paint with water, you may not want to put it back in the can with un-thinned paint. I do typically go on and put it back in the can because I know if I use the paint again, it will most likely be in the sprayer anyway and will need thinning.) Rinse out the container well and fill it up with water.

Step #2:

Twist the container back into place on the sprayer. Plug in the Finish Max and spray the water out.

Step #3:

Unplug the Finish Max. Unscrew paint container and suction tube, rinse well with water and set aside to dry.

Step #4:

Unscrew the nozzle (technical word is air cap ring) where the paint comes out. This will free the other two pieces of the nozzle (technical words: air cap and directional air cap) and rinse all three parts well.

Step #5:

Remove any remaining paint from around the brass fluid nozzle. You can do this with the included brush, or as I choose to do, my fingernail. Rinse brass nozzle with water. Also, unscrew and remove the brass nozzle and spray it well with water.

I also like to take my water hose and spray some water up the bottom of the sprayer and out the nozzle by depressing the trigger while spraying the water.

Step #6:

Lay it all out to dry. If you need to use it immediately, just dry off the parts with a towel and get going again!

BAM.

10 minutes or less and you are done.

So. not only did you just get an entire piece of furniture painted in half (or even a 1/4 sometimes) the time it would take to roll and brush, but you also did all the cleanup in less than 10 minutes.

And I know I’ve spent longer than 10 minutes just trying to get paint out of brushes and rollers before, not to mention cleaning the paint trays.

No excuses with the Finish Max. Its easy to use and easy to clean.

Need a step-by-step play on How to Use the Finish Max Paint Sprayer? Head here!

Want to see how fab of a finish the HomeRight Finish Max sprayer gives? Then check out these furniture makeovers.

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November 22, 2013