Spring Reminders
Bathtubs, Sinks, and Showers

• To clean vitreous china and porcelain enamel, use a nonabrasive cleaner to prevent scratching or dulling surfaces. Mildly abrasive cleaners are safe if used with plenty of water. If you prefer a dry cleaning material, baking soda is nonabrasive.
• Stainless Steel requires a thorough scrubbing only occasionally due to its resistance to staining. Use a nonabrasive cleanser or a household stainless steel cleanser.
• A nonabrasive cleaner usually works well with plastic and other substances. Special commercial cleansers are available. You may apply a wax or other surface protector to make cleaning easier and keep the units glossy.
• To clean glass shower enclosures, use an ordinary dishwashing detergent (not soap). If hard water minerals have built up, use a household glass cleaner. In order to keep your glass looking clean, the enclosure should be wiped clean after every use. Warning: Use ample ventilation, avoid breathing the vapor from the spray, and wear rubber gloves.
• For food stains, use a solution of chlorine bleach (about 3 tablespoons to a quart of water), and rinse well.
  
• Mildew can appear in bathrooms and other areas that collect water vapor- always use the exhaust fan during and five minutes after baths and showers to help remove water vapor. Wiping condensation from tiles after bathing or showering is also a good idea. Spread out damp towels and washcloths rather than fold them.
  
• To eliminate mildew, clean with a mildew remover, rinse, and dry; then use a disinfectant to retard mildew growth and eliminate odor.
• Most oil-based paint will come off easily with turpentine. Water-based paint will come off with a cloth dampened in liquid household cleaner. Small paint spots may be removed by scraping with a razor blade. To prevent surface damage, be sure the blade is slanted against the fixture. Remove any residue with a heavy-duty liquid household cleaner. Rinse thoroughly after using any of these.
• Rust stains occur when wet metal utensils are left on the surface of the sink or tubs. Steel wool soap pads also will rust and stain when wet and should be kept in an appropriate container. It is important to note that rust stains are almost always permanent on fiberglass surfaces.

Blinds

• Clean the slats often with a soft cloth or blind-cleaning tool.
  
• Occasionally, blinds will need to be taken down and washed thoroughly.

Cabinets

• Kitchen and bathroom cabinets (or vanities should never be cleaned with harsh abrasives.
  
• Use a detergent solution for cabinets made of laminate wood or metal.
  
• Clean wood cabinets as you would clean any other wood furniture unless they are plastic coated.
  
• Keep cabinet doors and drawers closed when not in use. Occasionally, check the cabinet hinges and screws to make sure they have not worked loose.

Carpeting

• Promptly cleanup spilt liquids that can stain or damage carpet.
  
• Attaching furniture rests to the bottom of furniture legs distributes weight better and helps protect carpet.
  
• Your carpet should require little maintenance beyond regular vacuuming and occasional cleaning for tough stains or buildup of dirt in high traffic areas.
  
• If you plan to use carpet stain removal products from a supermarket or home supply store, read the manufacturer’s instructions carefully before using. You may want to apply a small amount of cleaner to an out-of-view area of the carpet to test for color fading.

Doors

• Wood exterior doors should be painted when the house or trim is painted, or about every four to six years. Varnished doors may need to be re-coated more often. Aluminum, vinyl-clad wood, and slid vinyl doors do not need to be painted.
  
• To clean painted doors, use a mild detergent. For doors with a polyurethane varnish, use a damp cloth. Doors with other types of varnish should be cleaned like good furniture.
  
• The moving parts of garage doors should be greased every three months with a substance specially designed for garage doors

Drains

• To clear drains of the grease from soap and cooking utensils, run hot water through the drain, turn off the water, add 3 tablespoons of washing soda (not baking soda), and follow it with just enough hot water to wash it down the drain opening, Let stand for 15 Minutes and run more hot water.
  
• To avoid clogging drains or toilets, never pour grease into them.

Driveways, Walks, and Steps

• Oil, gasoline, or similar substances can cause serious damage if dropped or spilled on a black-topped driveway, walk-way, or parking area. Wash the surface immediately with sudsy water and then rinse.
  
• Do not rest sharp objects such as outdoor furniture legs and bicycle stands on the asphalt because they can poke holes in it.
  
• Never burn leaves or anything else on your driveway or parking area.

Repairing Minor Cracks In Concrete Driveways

1. Roughen edges of crack if smooth.
2. Clean out loose material and dirt.
3. Soak old concrete thoroughly. Crack should be sopping wet, but water should not be standing in it.
4. Fill crack with patching cement slightly higher than crack to allow for shrinkage. Be sure mixture is appropriate for concrete.
5. Cover patch and keep damp for several days. The longer the drying time, the stronger the patch will be.
6. When the cement has partly set, remove excess cement with wire brush.

Electrical Receptacles

• Test your Ground-Fault Circuit Interrupters receptacles monthly by pressing the “test” button.

Faucets

• Cleaning the aerators will be your most frequent task in maintaining faucets. An aerator adds air to the water as it leaves the faucet and eliminates splashing. It also reduces water usage, thereby saving you money.
  
• To clean an aerator; First make sure the drain is set, then unscrew it from the mouth of the faucet, remove any deposits, remove and rinse the washers and screens, replace then in their original order, and put the aerator back on the faucet.

Indoor Air

• Replacing air filters and regularly letting fresh air by opening windows and doors are simple ways to help keep your indoor air healthy.
  
• Your kitchen and bathrooms may have exhaust fans. Use them to eliminate excessive moisture and odors.
  
• Kitchen exhaust fans (and some bathroom exhaust fans) usually have filters for grease or dust. Clean or replace exhaust fan filters as necessary.

Landscaping

• Drainage swales or other discharge channels were sized and sloped to accommodate water runoff and should be kept clear of debris such as leaves, gravel, and trash.
  
• Allow 6 inches of clearance between your grading and the wall siding; otherwise, water may enter the joint between the foundation and the wall material, or the wood may decay.
  
• Depressions may form as the soil around that house becomes compacted. Fill any depressions with dirt so that water will not form puddles or cause dampness.
  
• Water your new lawn and shrubs often.
  
• When watering the lawn, avoid sprinkling painted parts of the house; doing so can reduce the life expectancy of paint.
  
• If you plant flowerbeds near the house, do not disturb the earth next to the foundation. Always dig the beds several feet away.

Septic Tanks

• For best results, inspect your septic tank annually.
  
• With ordinary use and care your tank will probably need cleaning every two years. Your local health department may help you locate someone to perform this service.
  
• Warm weather hastens bacterial action, septic tanks should be cleaned in the spring.
  
• No chemicals are capable of reducing solids in a septic tank to the point where cleaning is unnecessary. Cleansers generally should not be added to the sewage

Water Heaters

• Every three or four months you should check the temperature and pressure relief valve on your water heater to be sure the lever works properly. If the thermostat should fail to operate properly, this valve would prevent a dangerous increase in water temperature and pressure.

Windows

• When exchanging the glass and the screens for your storm windows in the spring, be sure to clean them both.