Household Fixes

Maybe you’re annoyed because the offers for your home aren’t exactly pouring in. It’s easy to blame the economy in general, and to some degree you’d be reasonable in doing so. But it’s also possible that your curb appeal leaves something to be desired.

You’ve in all probability mowed and trimmed the yard. It’s also likely that you’ve planted a few bushes and put down fresh mulch. But there are more than a few other things you can do that may not have occurred to you.

First off, you should find a skilled contractor to clean the black roof mold from your shingles. More precisely called roof algae, these stains can often be so bad that they inhibit a potential buyer from even taking a step out of the car. No matter how wonderful the rest of your home’s outdoor appearance, a stain-covered roof can fully ruin your curb appeal.

Speaking of cleaning, have you taken the time to clean the siding and windows? When I’m walking up to someone’s front door as a potential homebuyer the last thing I want to see is mildew-covered siding or dirty windows. An afternoon spent cleaning these surfaces is always time well spent.

Pressure washing your driveway and walkways is an easy way to clean up your home’s exterior. Most people don’t appreciate how dirty their concrete areas are. A good pressure cleaning, though, can make a huge difference in brightening it up.

Trimming the trees in the front yard is often a wise move. Many people have a special fondness for the trees in their yard, but this shouldn’t be a reason to let them grow out of control. Any low-hanging branches should be clipped so that the whole front of the house is viewable from the street.

Finally, consider painting the shudders a new color or replacing them entirely. I’ve seen many otherwise good-looking homes that had their curb appeal decimated by shudders that were odd tones of brown, purple, or orange. Remember that they ought to flatter the rest of the home’s colors, not contrast with them.

By implementing these simple changes in your home’s appearance you could quickly see much greater interest in your home. Keep in mind that potential buyers are looking for something clean and inviting when they pull up to a house. If something negative draws their attention they may shun your home before even stepping foot inside.

Tags: cleaning, curb appeal, diy, exterior cleaning, Home, Home Improvement, house and garden, landscaping, pressure washing, roof cleaning products, roof stains, stain removal
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If you’ve noticed the black algae stains on your roof then you’re probably already in the process of trying to find an effective roof cleaning product. I have a bit of bad news for you, however. The truth is that there really aren’t any very good products on the market right now.

It can be tempting to always rely on the ready-to-mix cleaners that can be found for different sorts of cleaning projects around the home, but cleaning roofs is a whole other matter altogether. It might be hard to believe, but you can actually put together a homemade chemical solution for roof cleaning from everyday household products. If you make a lot of use of your clothes washer then you probably already have the main ingredient.

There’s a serious issue involved with using those fad products that you find online and in the stores, and it involves possible roof damage. That’s right, using the wrong roof cleaning solution can actually do more harm than good, especially if it’s reliant on high pressure cleaning. Let’s just say that power washing a roof is not the brightest idea in the world, okay?

There are a few proprietors of roof cleaning chemicals who claim that their product can work without a pressure washer, and this might be technically true, but look at the fine print and youll see that with this method youll have to wait several months to see results! In addition, if the stains are severe, you’d be looking at having to do multiple applications over the course of weeks or months. What a waste of your valuable time!

So you’re wondering what this magic homemade solution consists of? The most important part of the concoction is bleach or chlorine, also called sodium hypochlorite. You might be scared to use this for outdoor cleaning but I assure you that it is, hands down, the safest and best way to rid your roof of black stains.

Putting all the parts together is very simple. Just add ten gallons of liquid chlorine or bleach to ten gallons of water from the spigot. You can also add a cap of liquid laundry detergent if you need some clinging action. Time to get out the ladder and prepare for action.

Now it’s time to watch the magic happen! Keep the pressure washer locked up and instead gently apply your homemade roof cleaning mixture to the shingles. Give it several minutes to work, then pull the hose up to the roof level and rinse until all the soap and algae is gone.

A few final important notes. Make sure you have a helper on the ground to wet down any shrubbery around the perimeter of the home during chemical application. Also take great care to protect yourself from the bleach as it can be detrimental to your skin, lungs, and eyes.

Tags: algae, bleach, chemical solution, chris webster, cleaning, cleaning chemicals, cleaning product, cleaning solution, clothes washer, concoction, diy, everyday household products, exterior cleaning, fad, high pressure cleaning, Home, Home Improvement, home;improvement, home;repair, house and garden, landscaping, liquid chlorine, main ingredient, pressure washer, pressure washing, proprietors, roof cleaning, roof cleaning products, roof stains, sodium hypochlorite, spigot, stain removal, stains
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