Spring clean your outdoors

As the days become longer and the weather warmer, it’s time to start thinking about outdoor spring cleaning ready for summer. Most patios and driveways look dull and dreary after long months of wet, cold weather, as do roof profiles, gutters and outdoor furniture. Moss and grime can build up and look unsightly and dirty, not to mention posing a safety risk to anyone unlucky enough to slip. Slimy green or slippery black can quickly turn into a skating rink in the shade, meaning it’s important to act fast.
Let’s look at how to get your home in shape for warmer weather.

The start of the spring clean process is to create a checklist of what tasks need to be completed and which tasks are the most important. Start by looking at visual areas that need obvious attention like cobwebs around the ceilings, windows, eaves and outdoor living areas. Check for moss-covered paths, patios and driveways and you will want to inspect your roof and check gutters for grime and blockages. Also add replacing light bulbs, scrubbing patio furniture, working on the garden and cleaning out the garage to your list.
Great! You have your list and you know what needs to be done, so now it is time to hope for a bit of good weather to tackle each task. To eradicate lichen, spore-related growth and moss, you can either use a water blaster, a chemical mix or a combination of the two.

Water blasting
Water blasters give you a mechanical solution to remove grime and dirt build up and you probably have one at home. however, if you’re looking for a new water blaster, the Nilfisk models available at Mitre 10 have a reputation for excellence.
The important factors to consider when purchasing your new water blaster are ensuring the hose is sufficiently long enough for ease of use and finding out what attachments can be fitted to the machine to accommodate for future endeavours.
The Nilfisk water blasters can be fitted with a wide range of attachments, including a roof cleaner, which is a telescopic attachment suitable for cleaning anything above easy reaching height. With its unique long extension, it can reach heights of over 4 metres and project to at least 11 metres. This means cleaning a roof or even second-storey windows is safe and easy. A brush can be attached to reach grime-covered surfaces and it is suitable for clearing out blocked gutters.
There are also patio cleaner attachments that incorporate large spinning nozzles and cover large areas all at once. This makes cleaning any large outdoor area faster than using a standard nozzle. Accessories are available for these machines that allow you to clean cars, barbeques, outdoor furniture and even external painted weatherboards.
 
Chemical mixes
There is a large array of chemical products on the market but some are far more effective than others. Three products that stand out from the rest and are well known in the market are 30 Seconds, Spray & Walk Away, and Move It.
The 30 Seconds range comes in more than one form, with specially formulated roof treatment to get rid of lichen, moss and algae from any type of roof. It causes no damage to roof profiles and slowly kills the spores and mould, therefore keeping it away for a long period of time. The key to correctly applying the product is to do so at night or first thing in the morning, so the area remains moist and cannot dry out too fast. Lichen and sooty mould can take longer to kill and in some cases it may take up to three or four months to completely disappear. There is also the 30 Second Outdoor Cleaner, which acts as an effective cleaner for all general exterior cleaning jobs.
Spray & Walk Away needs to be mixed and then applied to a dry surface, once again at night or early in the morning. It will work in a slow-release manner, with initial results being visible within three to four weeks. Black sooty moulds will finally disappear after a few months as each rainfall gently works with the product to clean the surface.
Move It is a similar product, specifically formulated to kill and reduce the potential re-growth of lichen, spores, moss and mould. It needs to be applied at the same time of the day as the other products, with the surface dampened with water, then sprayed and brushed thoroughly. The infected area then needs to be left for 30-40 minutes, kept damp during the whole process, then brushed and hosed off. This will kill the unsightly green or black mess from surfaces and protect it for up to 12 months. Move It is also a general purpose cleaner and it will effectively kill moss on lawns, without killing the lawn.
If your barbeque is on your to-do list, you can also elect to use a chemical wash, such as the 30 Seconds BBQ Cleaner, which is easy to apply, eliminates fat and grime and is approved as a food grade cleaner for use on food preparation surfaces. Of course, the trusty water blaster is also ideal for this application, especially when the correct attachment is used.
Whatever your outdoor chores this spring, they need not take you weeks to complete, nor be unsatisfactory. If you select the correct chemical and/or water blaster, big jobs can be tackled promptly and you can have the exterior of your home looking as good as new in no time. If you are unsure, talk to the professionals at your local Mitre 10 store.

Windows
Cleaning the inside of your windows is a project that you would take on regularly and involves not only cleaning the glass with a reputable glass cleaner and clean cloth, but also wiping down the frames to prevent mould and spore build up. Condensation over the winter really can create the perfect environment for this unhealthy build up. If you want to polish your windows to a sparkling shine, use crumpled newspaper; it will also leave a film that’s resistant to dirt.
For a solid clean on all your external windows, fill a bucket with warm water and add a little detergent. Spray the windows with a hose or light water blaster to remove loose dirt and wipe away cobwebs. Using a sponge, start cleaning the window and frame from the upper left to the bottom of the window.
Clean the inside of your windows with horizontal strokes and the outside with vertical strokes, so you can pinpoint which side has a streak.
Clean one window at a time. Go slowly and ensure you have a tool like the Raven window cleaner to clear away the soap. Hose the window down immediately afterwards to avoid cleaning solution drying on the window surface and causing spotting.
For those of you with second-storey windows, this process becomes slightly more difficult. There is no reason not to purchase an extendable washing brush for this job; it will reach the top of second-storey windows and is affordable.


Eaves
This is where a water blaster will come into its own with its powerful spray able to dislodge spider webs, dirt, grime and event salt build-up from under your eaves. Once you’ve sprayed the majority of dirt away, you can turn to your extendable window washing brush and use it to remove the stubborn stains and marks.
Cleaning the eaves of your home will give the whole house a fresh, clean look and is well worth the time and effort.

Clearing rubbish
Working hard to clear up your property after winter is gratifying and a perfect antidote to the winter blues. With all that hard work, there is one thing for sure – you will generate a lot of waste that needs to be removed.
The traditional thinking is to pile up the trailer, hitch it to the back of the car and make several long and expensive trips to the landfill; essentially spending more time at the refuse centre than actually working around the house.
The Flexi Bin is a woven polypropylene material bag in three metric sizes, from 1m³ to 3m³, specifically designed to be cheap, strong and convenient. Just fill it at home and have it collected by the Flexi Bin team when you’re ready. You can use the Flexi Bin to dispose of gardening waste, household junk, general home or garage clean-outs, construction clean-ups and demolition waste; pretty much everything except hazardous and toxic waste.

Outdoor furniture
The best way to clean timber tables and chairs is to wash them thoroughly with soap and water, using a soft to medium bristle brush. Once dry, coat the timber in quality timber oil. There are many oils on the market to choose from; Mitre 10 recommends Altrend Furniture Oil.
For non-porous surfaces such as chrome, stainless steel and plastic, the Move It General Purpose Cleaner may be more effective and easier to use than plain soap and water. Not only will it rid the furniture of any dirt and grime, it will also help protect the surfaces against future re-infestation of bacteria and spores. Another noteworthy cleaner is 30 Seconds for this type of task. Simply wet the surface with the cleaner, leave it for 30 seconds, then completely wash it off. There is some plastic-based furniture that may not tolerate harsh chemical cleaners; if in doubt, test on a hidden area first.
Outdoor cushions are a completely different type of product to keep clean. While they are coated in a synthetic fabric to combat the elements outside, they are best stored inside over winter. To clean them, use a mild detergent and rinse well. If you need to, brush the surface down first prior to cleaning. This is also a safe way to clean all plastic furniture, umbrellas and canvas, as harsh chemicals may scratch or damage these surfaces. If you’ve had problems with water stains on plastic or other types of furniture before, a clever trick is to meticulously rub the surface down with a soft, dry towel as soon as it has been cleaned.
Your spring cleaning project is a great way to lift your spirits as well as get ready for the warmer months. All the tools you need are available at Mitre 10 and the friendly staff will be on hand to make sure you have all the advice you require to get the job done.