Hour 1
Hear how to spring clean in any time frame, reattach cup hinges to particleboard, and more.
Spring Cleaning for Any Time Frame
Spring is just around the corner, and it’s time to declutter your home and start the season fresh. The Home Depot has rounded up the ultimate spring-cleaning checklist that caters to all time frames. Whether you have 10 minutes, 30 minutes, an hour, or a full day, they have got you covered.
10 Minutes
In just 10 minutes, you can declutter your home by moving out-of-place items into storage. Then dust high-traffic areas, wipe down counters in the kitchen and bathroom, and clean hardwood floors and tiles with ECOLAB’s Hardwood and Laminate Floor Cleaner.
30 Minutes
In 30 minutes, wipe down your kitchen and bathroom with Harris’s All-Purpose Cleaning Vinegar Concentrate, available in citrus and lavender scents. Clean, disinfect, and scrub toilets, baths, and more with EcoLab’s Foaming Shower, Tub, and Tile Cleaner.
1 Hour
For an hour of your time, declutter your home using a four-bin cleaning system, which includes four containers: Keep, Give Away, Repair, and Trash. Clean outdoor windows and screens with 30 Seconds Ready-To-Spray and Walk Away Cleaner, which attaches to your garden hose and doesn’t require any rinsing.
Full Day
If you have a full day to dedicate to cleaning, start by using The Pink Stuff All-Purpose Cleaning Paste or The Pink Stuff Cream Cleaner to clean scum and grime from showers, tile, and oven walls. Deep clean and polish all floors with the O-Cedar Easy Wring Spin Mop and Bucket System, which gets rid of up to 99 percent of bacteria using plain water. Vacuum carpets and wash rugs, bedding, pillows, and towels. Finally, prep the grill for spring with a thorough grate and exterior clean using ECOLAB’s Fast Action Degreaser.
Check out The Home Depot’s DIY Projects & Ideas for more spring cleaning and organization tips and tricks.
This portion of the Today’s Homeowner Radio Show is sponsored by The Home Depot.
Reattaching Hinges to Particleboard
The European-style cup hinges have broken free from a homeowner’s wood-veneer particleboard cabinet door.
He says, “There’s no way to tighten up the screws because the particleboard is cracked and crumbly, and I can’t find replacement doors. Is there any way to fix them so that I can reattach the hinges?”
It’s not uncommon to run into some issues with particleboard, especially when it comes to those European-style cup hinges. Real wood has the grain to hold things, but with particleboard being sawdust and glue, you don’t get that same strength.
There are a few ways to fix this. One option is to remove the hinges and fill the area with Bondo Wood Filler, then drill out a new cup hole for the hinge.
Alternatively, you can use a hinge replacement kit, which is a steel plate with a pre-drilled hole that covers the damaged area.
But, to prevent this from happening again, it’s important to take preventive measures. Apply some epoxy glue to the back of the hinge to help it adhere better to the particleboard, along with the screws, to ensure a stronger hold.
So don’t let particleboard troubles get you down. With a little creativity and know-how, you can fix those pesky hinges and get your cabinets back in working order.
Hour 2
Hear what to do after a tornado hits, a better alternative to painting brick, how to solidly secure a swingset, and more.
Post-Tornado Priorities
A homeowner wants to know: “If somebody went through a tornado and they’re standing there looking at the wreckage, what should be the first thing they look for? Protecting the wiring system? Shutting off water valves?”
If you find yourself in this situation, there are a few things you need to be careful of.
First, you need to be mindful of any gas leaks, electrical issues, and water problems. That’s why it’s important to know where your cutoffs are before the storm hits.
Make sure you have the proper tools, like a water key (that controls the water flow) and a gas cutoff tool, and know where your main breaker is located.
Once you’ve ensured your safety, assess the damage around your home, but be on the lookout for nails and other hazards.
Also, stay informed about any potential risks. Sometimes, tornadoes can spark other tornadoes, so you may need to look for shelter.
When assessing the damage, take as many pictures as possible, and get your insurance adjuster out there as soon as possible.
Read: How to Protect Your Home from 4 Unexpected Disasters
A Better Alternative to Painting Brick
A homeowner wants to update the look of their red-brick home, but she doesn’t want to paint it.
“Our neighbor painted their house a few years ago and it’s already peeling off the bricks. Can you stain brick? What other options are there?” she asks.
We don’t blame you for being hesitant to paint your brick home. As you can tell from your neighbor’s home, if you slap some regular old latex paint on those bricks, it’s not going to last.
We suggest using a product like Romabio limewash or masonry paint. It allows the brick to breathe, which is essential since moisture will be passing through those bricks no matter what you put on the outside.
So, before you get started, make sure to pressure wash the brick to remove any dirt and debris. Then, apply the paint with a paint sprayer and backbrush it to force the paint into the brick’s rough surface. This helps ensure good coverage and longevity. Finally, apply a second coat with the paint sprayer to really lock in that color.
Now, keep in mind that this is not your regular old latex paint. Some of the color and texture of the brick will show through, which can actually be a good thing. It gives your home a more natural, textured look that stands out in a sea of flat, painted surfaces.
Prep properly and follow the application instructions carefully, and you’ll be enjoying a beautiful, long-lasting finish in no time.
Watch: How to Paint a Brick House
Solidly Securing a Swingset
A homeowner is building a swing set for his gang of rambunctious grandchildren, and he wants to ensure that it’s solidly secured in place.
“Must we set the legs in holes filled with concrete or is there some other, easier way to keep the swing set from tipping over?” he asks.
First off, I would definitely recommend setting the four legs in holes filled with concrete. That’s going to give you the strongest, most secure base possible, and it’s really not that difficult to do.
But here’s something else I would recommend. Drill in several deck screws into the bottom sides of the 4-by-4 posts right where they will enter into the ground, and let the screws hang out about an inch and a half. The screws will then be embedded into the concrete after you pour it in, anchoring the posts even more securely. It’s a simple step that can make a big difference in the stability of your swing set.
Now, when you dig the hole for the post, make sure to go about 16 inches deep. That should give you plenty of room to set the post and pour in the concrete. We recommend using Quikrete Fast-Setting Concrete Mix in the red bag. It’s easy to use and sets fast, which is important when you’ve got a bunch of rambunctious grandkids eager to start swinging.
Watch: Setting Posts in Concrete the Easy Way
Trust me, from experience, when you get those kids out there, they will try to swing as high as they can, and the last thing you want is for the legs of the swing set to lift off the ground. By setting the posts in concrete and using those deck screws, you’ll be giving your swing set the solid foundation it needs to keep your grandkids safe and happy for years to come.
Best New Products
Experience Ultimate Outdoor Cooking with the Traeger Timberline XL Wood Pellet Grill
Hey there, outdoor cooking enthusiasts! If you’re like me, there’s nothing quite like firing up the grill and cooking up some delicious meals outside. But let’s face it, sometimes it can be a bit of a hassle to have to move back and forth between the grill and the kitchen for different steps in the cooking process. Well, that’s where the Traeger Timberline XL Wood Pellet Grill comes in.
This grill is truly a game-changer when it comes to outdoor cooking. With 6-in-1 versatility, you can grill, smoke, bake, roast, braise, and BBQ all in one location. And thanks to its fully insulated construction, you have precise cooking control in all kinds of weather. The oven-like controls allow you to set it and forget it, so you can focus on enjoying your time outside with friends and family.
But that’s not all. The Timberline XL also features WiFIRE technology, which means you can monitor and control the grill from your phone or tablet. So even if you need to step away from the grill for a bit, you can still keep an eye on your food and make sure everything is cooking to perfection.
And how about that induction cooktop on the side? It’s perfect for frying, simmering, and searing, so you can do even more cooking without ever having to step inside. Plus, an internal cook light keeps you going after dark, and clean-up is a breeze thanks to the grease and ash collection system.
Oh, and let’s not forget about the downdraft system, which keeps fresh smoke flowing over the food for even more flavor.
Listen to learn all about this Best New Product!
Find the Traeger Timberline XL Wood Pellet Grill at The Home Depot.
Simple Solutions
Trimming Branches with a Reciprocating Saw — A reciprocating saw is one of the most versatile power tools you can own. It can cut virtually any building material. But it’s also great for trimming tree branches.
Now you can use a standard reciprocating saw blade to cut tree branches, but you’ll get much better results if you use a pruning blade. Most people don’t realize that they sell pruning blades specifically for reciprocating saws. You’ll get a nice clean cut, in a fraction of the time.
Watch: Use a Reciprocating Saw to Prune Tree Branches Faster Than Ever
Removing Labels Cleanly — It seems that most metal products come plastered with all sorts of glued-on labels and stickers. Peeling them off cleanly is nearly impossible, Until now.
Use an electric heat gun or even a blow dryer to warm the label. Then, once the heat has softened the adhesive, you can peel the label right off. If there’s any residual glue left behind, wipe it off with a white cotton cloth dampened with mineral spirits.
Watch: How to Remove Stickers and Labels Using Heat
