In San Antonio and the surrounding area we have received more than our fair share of rain lately.  It is great for the landscaping.  But, what is great for the grass and flowers makes the roof, eves, sidewalks and driveways dirty and moldy.    So I want to talk to you about cleaning those areas.  But before we talk about the cleaning products, let me remind you that using a power washer on your home is not recommended.

Pushing water into the outside walls of the house is never a good idea.  I know that it looks simple, but in this case- simple is not better.   Does your roof have black streaks ?  There is a product that you don’t have to rinse, and it is called “Wet and Forget”.  It is applied with a pump up sprayer garden sprayer to the roof and then, that’s it!  No going back to rinse clean.  You can also use it on the driveways, sidewalks, and patios.  Pick a nice dry day, and spray away the mold and mildew stains.  “Wet and Forget” must be used on a dry surface.  When you are cleaning the outside of the house, use Jomax.  It is also applied with a pump up sprayer.  The formula for the Jomax cleaning is 1pt of Jomax, 3 pts of bleach, into a 2 or 3 gallon pump up sprayer and fill with water.   Starting at the top, spray the outside walls and under the eaves going about 8 ft at a time, then rinse with clear water.  Jomax is much more economical than other cleaners.  When it comes to cleaning windows, the product to use is Rinse EZ.  It cleans the windows right through the screens.  You never have spots when you start in the cool of the morning.  Even if you have a second story window, you can clean them by using the Rinse EZ applicator.   Rinse EZ has been around for 25 years, and will do a great job on your windows, without removing the screens.  Now, there are 3 products that will help clean up the house. 

Now to the email…..

Question:  I have off white floor tile in the bath and kitchen.  The tile looks great, but the grout is starting to look a dirty grey.  What can I do to make it white again?
Answer:  Nothing does it faster and better than “Grout Aide”.  It looks like a white magic marker, and all you do it is wipe it over the grout lines.  If it gets on the tile, it just wipes right off.  But when applied to the grout it makes the grout look new again.  

Question:  I have a wooden garage door that is starting to rot.  Is there a product that can fill in the rotted wood or is it time to get a new door?
Answer:  This is perfect timing.  You have a small problem now.  And we will fix it.  Get a container  of Minwax Wood Hardner , and brush on the rotted area until the surface looks shiny.  Let it dry for 24 hours.  Then if you have some areas that are missing, fill in with the Minwax Wood Filler.  It’s a 2 part filler that you apply with a putty knife.  In about 45 minutes it will be dry enough to sand if you need to.  After a few days it will be ready for paint.   One other thing, since we are working on the doors, why not clean and lubricate the track and rollers.  Clean with paint thinner and then lubricate with Tri Flow.  Your garage door will be better than ever.

Question:  My toilet has developed a real lime ring in the toilet and it is turning black.  Nothing seems to budge it.  How about a little help?
Answer:  Degerm to the rescue!   It’s a cleaner and a disinfectant.  Put the Degerm in the bowl and use a Pumie Stick to really get rid of that lime buildup.  Then use the Degerm in the overflow every week and that will keep the bowl clean and all the lime from building up inside the toilet. 

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.