This is the time of year, when we start going around the house and deciding what we need to do to clean up and fix up.  The first place I normally look is the garage.  I guess I notice that first because I’m pulling out the lawn mower, and edger and noticing grease spots, and dirt.  And the garage is an easy place to start.  Grease spots are a simple fix with a product called Drive Up.  It is a spray that will completely remove even old, old grease spots.  Maybe you just bought a house, and it came with 20 year old spots.  That’s what happened to my daughter.  She took the Drive Up and sprayed it on the spot, and kept it wet for about an hour, spraying every 20 minutes.  After the hour, she scrubbed lightly with her broom, and then rinsed it with clear water.  It was immediately clean.  She was shocked, pleasantly of course.  And then on top of that, the Drive Up left a nice citrus smell in the garage for a month.   It will also clean up oil stains on asphalt.  Just make sure that the surface is clean and dry.  Because if you have a wet surface, the Drive Up will not penetrate.  Can you imagine your garage, oil spot free?  After that you can stain, or use a product called Final Finish.  But that’s another article, for a later date.

Now that you have out those garden tools, you can clean them up with Drive Up also.  Drive Up takes care of all de-greasing problems.    This weekend I’m going to run a test to clean brick, walkways, my patio, and wooden deck.  I will let you know next week how that goes.

Now to the e-mail…..

Question:  I have heard that there is a window cleaner you can use in direct sunshine. 
Answer:  There is and it is part of the Gel Gloss family of products called “No Streek Aerosol Glass Cleaner”.  It puts foam on the glass so you can tell where you get the cleaner on the glass surface.  You usually can’t clean windows in the middle of the day, but with this product you can.  It doesn’t streak.  So just spray on and wipe off.  It also works on metal chrome, and mirrored surfaces.

Question:  I have some wood windows that I am going to replace the glass.  The putty is old, and is like iron.  Getting it out is almost impossible.  Do you have any ideas?
Answer:  I have good news, there is a Prazi “Putty Chaser” that removes all old putty.  It fits on your drill, and then has a handle with a carbide tip.  That carbide tip will cut through the hard putty, and remove it out of a window in a few minutes with little or no work.  You will love me for this one.

Question:  My dish washer needs cleaning and the racks have some rust spots.  I don’t want to replace my dishwasher right now.  Do you have some answers that will keep it going for a little longer? 
Answer:  The best product to clean your dishwasher is called Dish Washer Magic.  The reason it works better than any other is that the Dishwasher Magic product doesn’t go directly into the dishwasher as soon as you start the dishwasher.  It has a little plug that will melt as soon as the dishwasher hits the hot cycle and will stay in the dishwasher instead of being pumped out with the water in the bottom of the dishwasher first thing.  Then it has a chance to clean for the whole cycle.  To fix your racks, you use a product called “Re-Rack”.  It coats the bad parts of the rack, and makes them like new.   These are both easy fixes and costs about $15.00.  Much cheaper than a new dishwasher. 

Question:  Do they make a product to kill bed bugs?
Answer:  Yes and it’s called Harris Bed Bug Killer.

Question:  We have a two story home that we have rugs on the top floor and when we walk in some rooms the floor squeaks and someone said I have to take the rugs up and nail back down the plywood.  Is that true?
Answer:  You can do that but there is a product called “Squeek No More” that will put a nail into the plywood and top the squeaking right through the rug and it cost about $24 and comes with the special nails and the tool that attaches to your drill.   

Got a question for Johnnie? Tune in to Johnnie's radio show Saturday mornings on KKYX from 11-12 or call (21) 341-1573. Reach him on the web at www.happyhandyman.com.