A Resource of Helpful Cleaning Tips
Tools & chemicals:
Use only water and a stiff brush since birds are sensitive to chemicals.
Technique:
Clean bird feeders thoroughly every 2 months by emptying and rinsing with water. Use a stiff brush on wood feeders. Use a brush and hot water on plastic feeders. Use only water since birds are sensitive to chemicals. For hummingbird feeders rinse and clean often since the sugar water can create mold and bacteria quickly.
Description:
It is important to have fresh water in your birdbath because stagnant water breeds bacteria.
Technique:
Empty the birdbath and scrub with a brush regularly (once/week) and change more frequently if your bath is used heavily. You may want to change it daily. Avoid using any chemicals.
Description: This includes plastic playhouses, wagons, sandboxes both plastic and metal toys.
Tools & chemicals:
Bucket, mild or multi-purpose chemical, cleaning rags and a soft or medium stiff brush.
Technique:
First brush off any caked on dirt to make cleaning easier. Plastic can seem to absorb a coating of dirt that becomes embedded. Scrub the plastic with a medium stiff brush using a mixture of mild detergent such as dish soap and warm water (1/2 oz dish soap to 2 gallons of water) or use a general purpose cleaner and warm water (1 oz cleaner to 1 gallon water or follow instructions on chemical container). Rinse the plastic after washing. When cleaning metal or wood be sure to dry the toy well after cleaning.
Description:
Outdoor furniture is designed to take a beating from the weather. Most common are plastic, wood or metal.
Tools & chemicals:
Water hose, bucket multi purpose or specialized chemical, cleaning cloths or soft brush.
Technique: A regular hosing is an effective way to clean outdoor furniture. Be sure if you have any seat cushions they are the all-weather type that can be sprayed (most are). Try using a mixture of dish soap (use one ounce per gallon of water) and pre-spray your plastic, aluminum and even wood furniture, then spray off with a garden hose.
If dirt persists, scrub with a brush after pre-spraying.
Do not use abrasive cleaners or cleaning tools.
General information:
To clean your electric lawn mower is a very simple task, if it is done after each use.
Store indoors, or undercover, but before putting the lawn mower away, simply unplug and hose off the top, undercarrige, wheel, and blade. Wipe down the top of the unit before storing. Even if it is used frequently this maintenance keeps the unit looking and working like new for many years.
This question was submitted from EMEADS.
“We have a small fish pond which keeps getting an algae build up. We have a pump, biological filter and a U.V.C. light filter. Any suggestions?”
Try these techniques :
The first thing to do is remove excess debris; use a pool skimmer or make a skimmer yourself by stretching an old pair a pantyhose over a wire clothes hanger.
If the pond is really bad you may have to empty the pond and clean. Do this no more than once per year by removing fish, etc., and draining the water and cleaning the pond. Be sure to use a de-chlorinating agent for the water in the bucket or wading pool you use as a holding tank for the fish (use 50:50 fresh water and pond water).
Remove silt and debris from the bottom of the pond (it makes good fertilizer).
If you have plants, remove and place in a shady area so they do not dry out.
Use a brush to scrape down the sides.
When refilling the pond, pour half of the holding tank water in the pond to inoculate the pond with healthy bacteria for the fish; fill the pond and be sure to use a de-chlorinating agent. Be sure to reintroduce the fish slowly by filling the fish holding tank with water of the same temperature as the water in the pond. Fill the 50% you emptied in the pond and empty another 50% into the pond and then fill again so you slowing are changing the water temp.
Be sure to clean the filtration system, usually just by rinsing with water – any soap residue will harm the fish.
Be sure you have removed much of the pond water before trying to net the fish – it will be easier than trying to catch them with the water full.
You should also not clean your pond more than one per year since it take time for the beneficial bacteria to build up.
If you want to clean without going to the extreme of empting the pond then use a rake and pull the debris and scoop it out, but be gentle so you don’t stir up the pond to badly.
The easiest way to keep the algae down is maybe to increase the scavengers in the pond and regular skimming of the pond to remove leaves etc. Snails, mussels and tadpoles all remove the wastes created by plants and fish, inhibiting the growth of algae. A good rule of thumb is one scavenger per square foot of surface.
Technique:
The most effective way to clean the outside of the garbage can is to hose it down then scrub it with a brush using some multi-purpose detergent.
For the inside, if it is heavily soiled, mix a disinfectant solution and water and let the solution sit in the garbage can. Using a deck brush, scrub the bottom and sides of the garbage can. Let soak then rinse out. Let the garbage can air dry before placing a garbage bag in it.
Technique:
Lay the hose on a flat surface, such as the driveway, and spray off the hose.
If the hose is heavily soiled, dip a rag in a bucket of warm water and multi-purpose cleaner, and use the rag to wipe the hose clean as you are rolling it up.
In winter, you should drain your hose and store it in a dry, dark place.
How can I clean up my garden tools for springtime? I have rust all over them. Thanks, Dixie
We have shrub trimmers, shovels, rakes, edgers, weed pullers, hoes, pruning shears, pitch forks, hole diggers, axes, and a hundred other tools. As different as all these tools are, they do have a few things in common. Most of these tools have wooden handles and an attached metal implement. Metal and wood can last generations if they are properly cared for. Mind you, it isn’t likely that you will be handing down your axe to your great grand children, but if you were able to keep your tools for a lifetime, wouldn’t you?
Most of this maintenance is typically done in the fall, before you store your tools at the end of the season. In the spring it can be a bit depressing to grind rust from a shovel, sand down the handle, and hone the cutting edge, only to thrust it into a pile of gooey mud.
For wooden handles, check for cracks and splinters. The handles can become rough over time, which is a precursor to splintering, and inevitable slivers. Sand with a fine 100 grit sandpaper, and treat with boiled linseed oil.
Some gardeners suggest painting the handles a bright color, so your tools are easily located in the garden. Use Marine Enamel paint, and try keeping the same color for all your tools, which make identification easier when you spot them in your neighbors yard. Bright, ugly colors are less likely to be stolen, and will add character to your garden shed.
For the metal implement, the best tip is to always keep them clean and dry. Hose them down and dry them after each use. For longer storage periods, spray the tool with WD-40, which will act as a vapor barrier, and protect it from rust. If you have a tool with rust, add a metal brush to your drill, and goggles to your face, and grind away. Most surface rust will come out very quickly. Always oil this surface, or protect it with paint (see above). Marine Enamel paint will also work well on the business end, however on shovels and hoes it will likely wear off within a season, rakes or less used tools might last a couple of years.
Most tools have a cutting edge of some kind. Even your hoe should be sharpened! Use an aluminum oxide disc on your drill to restore this edge. This is less accurate, but much faster than a file or a wet stone. Never grind for long periods, as the metal will lose its temper if it becomes too hot. If it is badly deteriorated, grind a bit, then let it cool for a few minutes before resuming.
Always wear safety glasses while working on cleaning and protecting your tools. Happy gardening!
Here is a recently submited question:
How do I clean and make a hardwood floor glossy without refinishing?
Information:
You can use a few different off the shelf products which both clean and add polish to the floor. You should be sure that you have really swept or vacuumed the floor well before using these products. Since they have solids in them (wax) and dust will affect the apperance.
You could also use a wood soap such as a Murphy’s Oil soap which will leave a bit of a sheen after cleaning. However the shine will not last with the above methods and you will have to constantly reapply them.
If you have hardwood that is very worn you may have to apply the cleaner/polish product a few times to get the shine up as the wood absorbs the wax.
Tools & Techniques:
Use a hardwood floor mop and a spray bottle to apply the cleaner/polish.
Spray only an area that you can effectively clean.
A hardwood floor mop looks like a dust mop only the fibers are shorter with a large surface area for polishing and cleaning.
If you don’t have a mop use something like a beach towel which will do an effective job of polishing, but is hard on the knees.
