Click on a title to read the full-story.
Cleaning, Home Improvement Library
If the smoke has actually coated the surface with a yellow residue you need to scrub the walls down with TSP “tri sodium phosphate” to clean the walls so paint will go on properly. Also, use a good quality oil based primer on the walls to help hide the outlines of...
Cleaning, Home Improvement Library, Painting
Mold and mildew grows in the water of old latex paint, so I recommend disposing of old paint after 2-3 years even if it seems good. The only reason to keep old paint is for touch up painting. Dispose of the old paint by pouring it over rubbish or trash and let the...
Cleaning, Home Improvement Library, Roofing
The mold or algae on the roof shingles is most likely an algae called gloeocapsa magma, or as it is more commonly referred to as blue-green or black algae. Algae is actually a solid deposit of spores and dirt. Wash roof shingles with a soft bristle brush or broom (no...
Cleaning, Home Improvement Library, Remodeling
Cleaning cabinets is risky because the grease and oil residue that typically coats your cabinets also softens and destroys the cabinet finish. Removing the grease and oil from your cabinets usually removes the clear coat stain or paint on the cabinets themselves which...
Cleaning, Electrical, Home Improvement Library
Built in vacs are great, especially for allergy or asthma sufferers because they suck up dust mites, dust etc. and blow the “exhaust” outside the house. Regular cannister vacuums just recycle the dust into the same rooms. A central system exhausts outside...
Brick & Masonry, Cleaning, Home Improvement Library, Painting
Solutions include scraping heavy deposits of paint off the brick, wire brushing the rest of the solid paint off the brick, and burning the residue off the brick with a torch, heat gun or Bernzomatic flame. Solvents are not good for this purpose because they turn the...
Cleaning, General Construction & Repairs, Home Improvement Library
The caulk likely failed because the surface of the shower wall was not cleaned thoroughly with a solvent, like alcohol. The old caulk may peel off like a rope, or it may be cut off with a razor blade. Caulk remover will not be effective. Any solvent that attacks the...
