Today’s Homeowner Radio

Danny Lipford and Joe Truini  

Listener Questions

Old house Removing Paint from Cement Blocks 5-years ago Kevin painted his cement block basement, and now it’s peeling. He wants to know what he can use to take all the paint off. A good tool for Kevin to grab is a disc sander.  He can grind away at the paint and use a wire wheel brush and a drill to work off the paint.   To keep the blocks protected, Kevin can add an elastomeric coating After the blocks are cleaned, Kevin can add an elastomeric coating to keep them protected. Behr, and Sherwin Williams provide great elastomeric products.  He can also use 100% acrylic paint.
brick wall Removing Caked on Mud from Bricks Grayling needs help removing red dirt stains from his new brick home. A step to consider when building a new home is to create safe walkways for workers so that mud, dirt, or debris doesn’t track through the home or in Graylings case, splash on the walls. Krud Kutter from Rustoleum as well as an enviro safe oxygen bleach mixture should be able to remove the caked-on mud.  If Grayling decides to create his own mixture, he needs to combine oxygen bleach with hot water.   Soaking nearby plants with water first can prevent them from being damaged while using chemicals on the bricks.

Self Isolation and Organizing

organizing clothes is an important part of de-cluttering
Clean out clothes closet; donate unwanted clothing and shoes.
We spoke with our friend and organizing professional Kandy Negus about how you can use this time of self-quarantine to get your home back in shape. Kandy suggests everyone at home who may be looking to finish some lingering project to start a list.   Organizing doesn’t have to mean sifting through a garage or attic.  Consider small jobs like rearranging photo albums or the movie shelf.

Simple Solution

Push broom leaning up against a wall
Declutter by storing long-handled tools on the wall.
 
 
Make a handy holder for push brooms, rakes, and other long-handled implements from two plastic pipe supports. 
 
wooden kabob skewers
Wooden skewers can solve multiple solutions in the shop. (DepositPhotos)
Multi-Purpose Skewers Wooden skewers used for barbecuing are handy to have around the shop. Use them to puncture the foil seals in tubes of caulk, sealant, and adhesives. 

 Best New Products

Garbage disposal system
Garbage disposals will clog and stink if not properly maintained.
(DepositPhotos)
Drain Clog Dissolving Solution Many of you are in the middle of spring cleaning and one chore around the house that you should definitely consider tackling is unclogging those slow draining kitchen or bathroom sinks.  There are a lot of cleaners out there that boast how powerful they are, but what we often see is how powerful their chemical smell is!  That’s not a problem with Green Gobblers Drain Clog Dissolver!

Products Mentioned

Green Gobbler Krud Kutter Amor All Minwax Behr Sherwin Williams
Editorial Contributors
avatar for Danny Lipford

Danny Lipford

Founder

Danny Lipford is a home improvement expert and television personality who started his remodeling business, Lipford Construction, at the age of 21 in Mobile, Alabama. He gained national recognition as the host of the nationally syndicated television show, Today's Homeowner with Danny Lipford, which started as a small cable show in Mobile. Danny's expertise in home improvement has also led him to be a contributor to popular magazines and websites and the go-to source for advice on everything related to the home. He has made over 200 national television appearances and served as the home improvement expert for CBS's The Early Show and The Weather Channel for over a decade. Danny is also the founder of 3 Echoes Content Studio, TodaysHomeowner.com, and Checking In With Chelsea, a décor and lifestyle blog.

Learn More