DIY Network

Garage Cleaning From "Spruce It Up With the Queen of Clean Outside the Castle" episode SCO-104

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Linda Cobb, the Queen of Clean®, shares great techniques for cleaning and storing garage tools. Figure A Figure B Figure C Figure D

Storing and Cleaning Garage Tools

• Consider hanging big items such as bikes and lawn chairs on the wall. There are great hooks you can purchase (figure A) for just that purpose.

• To get grass off your lawnmower before you store it in the garage, spray the blade with nonstick cooking spray before you mow. Do this each time you mow for easier cleanup.

• An easy way to clean your tools is to keep a bucket of sand in the garage. When you are through using the tools, just stick them in the sand (figure B). Not only does it clean them, it keeps them from rusting. Cat litter will work too.

• Before you go out to garden, spray your trowel with nonstick spray. It will keep the dirt from sticking. Hose it off when you are done and store back in the bucket of sand.

• To sharpen your tools, use a file on the edges until they are shiny and sharp.

• To remove rust from your tools, paint them with Naval Jelly Rust Dissolver (figure C). You can find this in your hardware stores. On painted surfaces that are rusted, you need to remove it immediately. For regular metal, you can leave it on for 10 to 15 minutes and then rinse it off.

  Note: Use caution when using chemicals and read the label instructions.

• To prevent splinters on rough wooden tool handles, sand the handles smooth with some sandpaper. Then, put some boiled linseed oil on a cloth and rub it into the handles. Do this from time to time when you see your handles drying out.

• To help keep track of your tools, spray the handles in a bright color (figure D). This makes them easier to spot if a neighbor borrows them or you leave them lying in the grass.

• A cheap garden hose will crack in the winter and swell and split in the summer. Do not buy an inexpensive garden hose. It's worth the investment to buy a quality garden hose.

• To keep the ladder out of the way, find an easy way to hang it instead of leaning it against the wall.

Queen of Clean's Dirty Little Secrets:

• Kill weeds in sidewalk cracks with a mixture of 1/4 cup salt to 2 cups boiling water.

RESOURCES :

Talking Dirty With the Queen of Clean
ISBN: 0743418301
Author: Linda Cobb
(1998) Simon & Schuster / Pocket Books
Website: www.simonsays.com

Talking Dirty Laundry With the Queen of Clean
ISBN: 0743418328
Author: Linda Cobb
(2001) Simon & Schuster / Pocket Books
Website: www.simonsays.com

The Queen of Clean: The Royal Guide to Spot and Stain Removal
ISBN: 0743437837
Author: Linda Cobb
(2001) Simon & Schuster / Pocket Books
Website: www.simonsays.com

A Queen for All Seasons: A Year of Tips, Tricks, and Picks for a Cleaner House and ...
ISBN: 0743428315
Author: Linda Cobb
(2001) Simon & Schuster / Pocket Books
Website: www.simonsays.com