When summer comes to an end, it's a good time to use the remaining pleasant weather days to clean outdoor areas, furniture and tools for the coming months, as well as extend the life of the products. Here are 5 cleaning tips to transition seamlessly into winter.
1. Power Tools and Lawnmower – Keeping the lawnmower and other motorized tools clean will extend its life and ensure optimum performance. Use a firm sponge or microfibre cloth to remove dried mud, grass and dirt from the machine, blades and underside. If you have a lawnmower, empty it so that the leftover gasoline doesn't get old and dirty, which can damage the carburetor.
2. Balcony, Patio and Garden – Sweep the area first to remove loose debris, grass clippings, dirt and leaves. Then remove any remaining dirt and stains from your balcony or patio with a mop and a bucket of hot water mixed with dish soap.
3. Patio Furniture – An easy way to clean soiled patio furniture and children's play sets is to use a scrubbing brush with some soapy water or dish soap.
4. Garden Tools – Remove built-in grime from a season of weeding and gardening to prevent rust buildup and keep tools dry and ready for the following spring. Cotton gloves can be thrown in the washing machine and air dried. Scrape the dried mud off leather gloves and check their washing instructions before hand washing.
5. Garage Floor – Remove dirt, grass clippings and garbage that has accumulated in your garage over the summer.
Taking the time to clean summer tools and outdoor areas will help make next year's spring cleaning and preparation less stressful and time consuming.
