Few things are nicer than sitting on your deck, sharing a meal or some drinks with family or friends while watching the sunset. However, to keep your deck in good shape while enjoying your garden vista, don’t forget to keep it clean. If you don’t care for it, it can break down or develop mildew. Every homeowner needs the proper deck cleaning tools. According to Bob Vila, begin with a broom to sweep the deck, then wash it with dish soap and water. If you prefer a commercial patio and decking cleaner, try your local DIY store. You don’t need a fancy deck cleaning tool; you can use a scrub brush. If your deck is wooden, you might prefer commercial wood soaps to keep the wood healthy. According to Home Advisor, removing mold from a deck requires many of the steps from routine cleaning. Add vinegar to your cleaning solution and allow it to set before rinsing. Some homeowners become frustrated about their inability to enjoy time on their deck during a rainstorm. You can prevent that with an under deck drainage system, which will divert rainwater onto your lawn and keep the deck area dry.
Updated 2/17/2021
People can prevent a lot of damaging household problems when they buy new gutters. The process of choosing gutters should be fairly straightforward. Many of the most high-quality gutters are made out of aluminum or vinyl. These gutters are not especially expensive, and they work very well.
Gutters made from stainless steel are also available. These gutters are very durable and effective. Stainless steel gutters may initially cost more than other types of gutters, but they certainly function well.
Many people want gutters that will be relatively easy to clean. Clean free gutters or clog free gutters are becoming more common. Gutter guards can stop many major clogs from forming, so people may not have to clean their gutters very frequently. They should still check on these gutters, since it’s still possible for something to go wrong under these circumstances. Gutter covers can’t prevent all the issues that might occur.
Still, when buying gutters and downspouts, people will often benefit from choosing covers for their gutters. They’ll have to make sure that their new gutters are the right size. The new gutters also certainly have to be positioned properly. When the gutters are installed and covered correctly, maintaining them should be relatively easy.
Do you take a look at your yard and realize that some repairs need to take place? Do you have overly dirty gutters or ones in desperate need of gutter replacement? Do you have to clean a painted deck and don’t know where to start? When cleaning is vital and you finally find the time, you want to know where to start and how you can get the best results to make your house look spiffy all over again.
Starting With the Gutters
Many people take care of the inside of their houses, but neglect some of the most important aspects on the outside. With busy lifestyles, people are constantly coming home from work, going inside and kicking back. Unless you spend a lot of time in your garden or outside, you may not take notice to some of the things that have been happening to your gutters – such as what builds up inside of them. People fail to realize that, though gutters are strong in many ways, they can become weak without proper care. This happens all the time when rainfalls wreak havoc on a system, leading to intensive gutter repair. An inch of rainfall may not seem like a lot, but it is when it leads to thousands of pounds of water going through the system and threatening to break your gutters apart.
Having your gutters cleaned occasionally will keep everything looking sleek and running properly. Preventing serious blockages is of utmost importance, so remember to clean your gutters and downspouts twice per year. This will help your gutters stay as good as brand new for a long time, as many will last from 20-50 years depending on what they are made out of.
Cleaning Your Painted Deck
Whatever you do, don’t forget your deck in the mix! If you want to clean a painted deck, it will require focus and the right tools. Because a pressure washer could take the paint right off in a matter of minutes, leaving you surprised and disappointed in the results, you can use a push broom to scrub the deck and end with rinsing the deck with a garden hose. No matter what cleaning solution you chose will wash away and you’ll beam at the results as you realize that your deck looks brand new. You never want to clean a painted deck vigorously, without keeping the integrity of the paint in mind.
House care here and there will keep the outside of your house looking and feeling as good as the inside. Caring for your gutters and painted deck will have the neighbors looking your way and asking, “How did you do it?”
