Last week I wrote about a great product that would take the oil spots out of concrete and asphalt.  I was going to test it on brick, and on a wood deck.  First I called the people at Drive Up and asked them if I would harm my wood deck if I applied the Drive Up.  They assured me that not only would the Drive Up not hurt the deck, but it would remove any oil that had stained the deck.  Can you think of how much grease, and oil goes on to the deck especially around your BBQ pit?  And some of us have brick patios with BBQ pits on them also.  Well it’s good to know that Drive Up had already tested their product and that it will do what it says that it will do.  Drive Up is the best cleaner that I have ever used.  A quart costs less than $9, and will take care of a lot of oil spills.  Do you have a oil stain that you are not sure about?  Well just email me and I will take care of the answer.   

Now to the email…..

Question:  Johnnie I have so many newspaper clippings from your columns that it’s time to order your book.  But my question is how to keep the shine on a solid brass sink drain and shower head. 
Answer:  The product to clean brass is called “All Gleam”.  And if you want to keep it from tarnishing then use the companion product called “Superior Shield”.  It is a spray that will keep your newly polished item looking great for a long time.  I used it on a pitcher many years ago, and it still looks like I polished it yesterday. 

Question:  How do I redo my garage floor?  The cement has been painted and repainted two times.  Now the paint peels every time the car touches the floor.  If you have a miracle solution I will be very grateful. 
Answer:  We need to get all the paint off the garage floor.  And the best remover is a product called “Soy Gel”.  It will take all the coats of paint off at the same time.  Just let it keep working until you can take a finger and can go all the way down to the concrete.  Test a small area first to see how long the product will take to remove the paint.  Once you find out that then do your project.  When the paint is ready to be removed, just take a hose and wash it off.   After removing the paint get a good “floor paint”.  Test a small spot, and then do the whole floor.  I like Coronado Final Finish.  Check for a dealer in your area.  

Question:  Please help us find a solution to a problem.  We have tile called Marazzi Porcelain tile.  I really like the color but it doesn’t have any shine.  My husband wants us to put something on it to add sheen at least.  The color is a golden brown and the grout is a little lighter.   What do you recommend?
Answer:  I love questions like this, because it is such a simple fix, with such great rewards.  Use a product that we talk about all the time, “Quick Shine”.  It’s made by Holloway House and they also make a mop to apply the product that makes the job even easier.  You can do a room size 24 x 18 in less than 15 minutes.  It will provide instant shine.  And I have never seen it make a floor slippery.  You can use it on wood, laminate, ceramic tile and regular floor tile.

Question:  I read about the product Bath Tub Finishing Kit for Dummies, and it seems too good to be true.  We live in a house built in 1941 and the upstairs bathtub has taken a beating and is showing it’s birthdays.  Does this product really work on something that is pretty scarred and with rust?  How strong is the odor?
Answer:  This finishing kit really works as well as it says.  We used it at the hardware store in a back sink, that looked worse that anything that I have ever seen.  We had tried several refinishing kits only to have the paint just peel off in sheets after a few weeks.  This time we sanded down the sink, cleaned it with Delete Germ and then used the kit.  The finished job was so great that we always show customers what their sink or tub can look like.  And it is durable!  You will need ventilation, but in a couple of coats it will look like new porcelain.

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.