Spring Is Coming!

Four easy steps to jump-start outdoor spring cleaning

If the warmer temperatures, bright sunshine and greening of spring give you the urge to clean, you're not alone. If you want to make spring cleaning easier, especially outdoor spring cleaning, a little planning will save lots of elbow grease.Posted: Feb. 17, 2012 | 1:10 a.m.
Updated: Feb. 17, 2012 | 3:20 a.m.

Make outdoor spring cleaning a breeze with these four simple tips to ensure that you're ready for warm weather fun:

1. Get the grill ready - Barbecues and picnics are as much a part of summer as baseball and trips to the beach. Your grill is central to the fun when you're cooking and dining outdoors, so get it ready with a good cleaning. If you were diligent about cleaning the grill after every use last year, a good cleaning with a wire brush may be all the cooking grates need. If your grates have a lot of build-up and burnt-on food, remove and soak them in warm soapy water to loosen the debris. Use a wire brush and a little soapy water to clean out the inside surfaces of your grill, including the inside of the lid. Check the hose connection for the propane tank and repair or replace it if needed.

2. Clean outdoor surfaces without scrubbing - Over time, wood and composite decks, concrete, railings, awnings and outdoor furniture can accumulate mold, moss, mildew and algae. An environmentally-sensitive mold and mildew cleaner like Wet & Forget works over time to gently remove outdoor stains on virtually any exterior surface without scrubbing. Perfect for mildew and mold removal, the non-caustic, non-acidic and bleach-free, biodegradable formula can be easily applied with a pump garden sprayer instead of a more labor-intense power washer. The multi-surface outdoor cleaner reduces water usage and is designed for use around landscaping plants.

3. Spruce up your view - Clean windows not only brighten the interior of your home, they can make the exterior look fresher, too. Spring is a great time to remove screens (if you haven't stored them for the winter) and give them a good cleaning. Hosing them off should do the trick, but if they're very dirty try cleaning with a little soapy water and a soft scrub brush. Before you replace the screens, give the windows a good cleaning. Arm yourself with lots of paper towels and a good glass cleaner. One that contains vinegar will be effective and eco-friendly if you're concerned about exposing your landscaping to harsh chemicals. Be sure to clean the outside of your windows first. It will make another popular spring cleaning chore - washing the inside of windows - a bit easier.

4. Taking care of your tools - Yard work and gardening are realities of warm weather. All your landscaping maintenance chores will be easier if your tools are clean and in good repair. Unload the tool shed or garage of all the equipment you'll use this summer - from rakes and hoes to lawn mowers and trimmers. While you probably cleaned your garden tools before you stored them for winter, they'll still have accumulated dust - and possibly rust - from sitting idle for so many months. Clean rust spots and dirt from metal tools, and use a coating of mineral oil to ensure the rust doesn't return. Clean lawn mower and trimmer blades, and replace the line on string trimmers. Get blades sharpened if necessary, and run through all the maintenance tasks recommended in the manufacturer's handbook for your power equipment. 

For more information on this topic, visit the source of this site at http://www.lvrj.com/sponsored/four-easy-steps-to-jump-start-outdoor-spring-cleaning.html

An Environmentally Friendly Way to Clean Your Deck

If you have a retractable awning installed on your deck, we bet you have spent a lot of time out there this summer. Spilled food and drinks, muddy footprints, squashed insects, and even bird droppings may have left your deck a little worse for wear, and in need of a mid-season cleaning. What is the best way to clean a deck? A pressure washer? A chemical cleaner? Or a scrub brush with a green-cleaner, such as oxygen bleach? There are pros and cons to each of the methods.

Cleaning Your Deck with Pressure Washer

Pressure washers are extremely popular – and like shoes – they come in all different sizes and the end of the spray wand can be equipped with different tips that concentrate the high-pressure stream of water. A pressure washer can clean a wood deck faster than you can do it by scrubbing by hand. But a pressure washer has drawbacks. It’s noisy, it uses gasoline or electricity and lots and lots of water – and used improperly can deteriorate the wood surface – leaving it rough after it dries.

Cleaning Your Deck with Non-Toxic Cleaners

There is a more environmentally friendly way to clean a deck. Tim Carter, who writes the popular Ask the Builder website, is a big proponent of using non-toxic cleaners and scrubbing by hand. He recommends using oxygen bleach- not chlorine – that is not toxic to you or the plants around your house.

According to Carter, the oxygen bubbles in the oxygen bleach solution does most of the work done by the pressure washer – but without the noise pollution and without using gasoline OR electricity. The solution soaks into the dry wood and the oxygen ions deep clean the wood by breaking apart dirt, algae and mildew molecules. The solution is not toxic to you or any of the plants, bushes or trees around your deck. “You can’t say that about chlorine bleach,” he adds.

But the con about using a green cleaner is time and elbow grease. You will have to do some additional mechanical agitation by using a scrub brush on a pole to get your deck squeaky clean. However, you will be pleased to discover that the wood will not be fuzzy, and there will be hardly any erosion of the soft wood.

There are many different oxygen-bleach products on the market, including Natural Choices, Exterior PROx Deck & Patio Cleaner, and Stain Solver.

For more information on this topic, visit the source of this article at http://www.aristocratawnings.com/blog/

Winter Uses For Your Sunroom

Think a sunroom can only be used during the warm months? Think again!

Winter Uses for Your Sunroom

by Brett Freeman

Only a decade or so ago, you could only use your sunroom during times of mild weather. During summer, sitting in a sunroom could make you feel like an ant under a magnifying glass. During winter, you couldn't sit in the sunroom because it felt like being outside, albeit less breezy. Fortunately, the same technology--low-emittance windows--that has helped make sunrooms comfortable in summer by blocking much of the sun's heat has the opposite effect in winter, keeping heat from escaping from your sunroom. The milder temperatures give you more opportunities to use your sunroom in winter.

Winter Gardening
Setting up a winter garden on your sun porch can not only provide you with home-grown flowers and herbs throughout the winter, but it can also help you through the darkest time of the year, when most people get very little fresh air and sunlight. Potted plants such as dwarf citrus trees continue to blossom throughout the cold season, and herbs like basil, thyme, and rosemary continue to grow as long as they aren't subjected to freezing temperatures or frost.
Flowering plants like orchids and winter jasmine likewise bloom if kept warm enough during winter. You can also supplement the sun with grow lights; only a couple hours a day of artificial light can greatly improve your results. And when winter ends, you are already set up on your sun porch to get your seedlings started, giving you a jump on your outdoor garden.

Exercise Room
Plenty of people blame winter weight gain on an excess of holiday parties. But really, the parties are a minor contributor. The real problem isn't that you're spending a couple nights a week noshing mini quiches and quaffing eggnog. It's that the rest of the week is spent sitting on the couch.
Ice, snow, and frigid temperatures provide plenty of excuses not to exercise during winter. Counter by setting up an exercise area in your sunroom. It doesn't need to be much--a piece of aerobic equipment such as a stationary bike, treadmill, or elliptical machine is all you need. The cool temperature allows you to work out harder and longer without getting tired, and the sunlight coming through the windows helps you avoid Vitamin D deficiency, which afflicts many people during winter.

For more information on this topic, please visit the source of this article at http://www.guidetohomeimprovement.com/sunroom/servicearticle/winter-uses-for-your-sunroom.jsp

Add Some Christmas Cheer to Your Outdoor Space!

Photo by Laurey W. Glenn

Add Cheer to Outdoor Spaces

Don’t neglect outdoor patios and porches in your Christmas decorating. Wreaths, candles, and large glowing orbs draw guests outside to cozy up by the fire.

Photo by Laurey W. Glenn

Wrap Columns with Garland

Play up the architecture of your home by accentuating features, like the stately columns flanking this front porch, with spiraling garland and bright Christmas lights. 

Photo by Laurey W. Glenn

String Lights and Greenery

Disguise unsightly wires from string lights by winding them around a column or post with Christmas greenery or garland and setting a pretty container of ornamental cabbage or kale at the base.

Photo by Jim Bathie

Add Color to Your Front Door

Accent a bright white door with the deep colors of an evergreen wreath and garland. Tie on extra-wide red ribbons to complete the Christmas look and add graphic punch. Twinkling lights add a soft glow at night and allow the door and decor to be seen from the street.

Photo by Jim Bathie

Merry Mailbox Topper

Top off a square mailbox with an abundant bouquet of winter plants. Fill a wide, shallow planter with a mix of pansies, flowering cabbage, cedar, fir, lavender, and rosemary trimmed to resemble a Christmas tree. Tuck in ornaments and oversize pinecones to add color and fill in gaps.

Photo by Jim Bathie

Put Out Christmas Lanterns

Arrange a grouping of festive lanterns at your entryway for quick-and-easy holiday style. Consider using flameless candles as a worry-free alternative to regular pillars.

Photo by Laurey W. Glenn

Stretch Your Wreath

Give your wreaths a custom look by stretching round ones to create an oval shape, perfect for double doors. Create a swag by attaching Christmas greenery to PVC pipe with wire, and suspend it above the door using wire secured to eye hooks screwed into the ceiling.

These are just a few ideas on how to spice up your home for the holidays. To see even more ways to create a festive outdoors for the Christmas season visit the source of this article at http://www.southernliving.com/home-garden/holidays-occasions/christmas-decorating-ideas-00400000059442/page89.html

Capture the Summer Year Round with a Sun Room!

The advantages to having a sunroom seem endless but here are just a few to get you started!

You might be surprised at just how many benefits there are to adding a sunroom to your home.  Most people think in terms of the looks and appearance of a sunroom but the advantages go far beyond appearances.  The additional space is an often overlooked benefit, as is the functionality and personal comfort that comes with a sunroom addition.

Adding a sunroom can greatly enhance the look and curb appeal of your home.  When a sunroom is constructed to fit well with the style and design of the entire structure it can add a touch of luxury and elegance that a simple home addition cannot.  If your home is on the small side in terms of square footage, a sunroom can be a very cost effective way to add square footage, increase the usable space and the value of your home. 

Adding a Sunroom

Sunrooms can also create significant energy savings in comparison to a regular room addition. When well constructed, adding a sunroom can save energy because it captures the warmth of the sun and allows you to use natural light instead of electric lighting.  Modern sunrooms are available with special insulation and ventilation systems that make them comfortable and energy efficient all year long, increasing their usefulness and overall value.

Additional space and added home value are important benefits that come from a sunroom addition, but there are other benefits that are more personal and harder to evaluate in terms of dollars and cents.  A sunroom allows you to enjoy the physical and emotional benefits of natural sunlight throughout the entire year.  The sense of comfort and relaxation that come with a sunroom are also excellent for reducing stress. When a sunroom is used as a gathering place for the family it enhances togetherness and family relationships.  If you love plants then a sunroom is a great way to grow and enjoy plant life all year long.  In the end, the benefits of adding a sunroom can be measured in dollars as well as peace of mind and comfort.

For more information, visit the source of this article at http://ideas.reliableremodeler.com/Article.aspx?Title=Adding-Sunroom&AC=19&ID=1186

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Enjoy The Outdoors All Year Long!!

Want A Sunroom But Think You Can't Afford It?

If you enjoy the open air feeling of your existing deck but want protection from the bugs, the elements and harmful UV rays, the Sunspace model 200 is what you are looking for. Made with two inch foam panels and extrusions, the walls incorporate the versatile WeatherMaster four track vinyl window system.
The vents are glazed with ViewFlex, a tough resilient vinyl, available in clear, smoke grey, dark grey or bronze. The window units effortlessly slide up or down allowing a generous 70% ventilation opening!  We have just introduced our new line of vinyl glazed sliding window or door systems which are light as a feather and simply lift out to clean.

We all love the great outdoors but there are some things we can do without: bugs, extreme heat, humidity and bone chilling winds. With a Sunspace sunroom you can extend your outdoor season by weeks even months in perfect comfort.
Watch the flowers grow and the leaves change from your favorite chair.