How do you clean your grill?

Some people are really on their game and they thouroughly clean their grill before they store it away in the fall. Some people open it in the spring to find the whole previous summer's worth of "leftovers" to deal with.  Either way, it needs to get cleaned at some time!

But how?

Very basically, you want the grates to be clean. Once you have removed the debris from your carcoal grill or gas grill, the standard recommendation to clean your grates is to preheat your grill for 10-15 minutes before brushing them with a stainless steel bristle brush. This will clean off any excess debris that may have been left on your grill from prior cooking. 

The rest of your grill will need to be cleaned too... When your gas grill is cool, you can use the grill brush on your gas burner tubes and deflectors. The drip pan and deflectors can be removed and cleaned with warm soapy water (think dish soap - not bubble bath please!) and a non-scratch scouring pads.

For the exterior and inside the lid, most commonly just warm soapy water and a sponge or maybe window cleaner/stainless steel cleaner and a lint free cloth.

But there are always other creative ideas...  I have heard people soaking their grill grates in coffee, coke and countless other cleaning products. 

What has worked best for you?

5 Steps to getting your house ready to sell

The costs of expensive upgrades are rarely recouped at the time of sale and studies show that smaller, simpler actions can yield a bigger return on your investment of time and money.

Here are five inexpensive, yet highly effective, ways to prepare your home for sale.

1) Create curb appeal
The outside of your home is the first thing buyers see. Trim hedges, maintain the lawn, power wash the siding and deck (and clean stains from the shingles if possible) and try to inject some color with potted flowers and plants (you can take them with you!). Make a great first impression on buyers!

2) Just store it (or sell it or throw it...)
Less is more when it comes to showing your home so put your knick-knacks, clear the paperwork off the counters, remove stacks of books and clear your fridge-covering artwork. Be sure to avoid stashing personal items in your closets because empty, clutter free closets are more appealing to buyers.


3) Lighten and brighten
Extra sunlight lends an airy feeling to your home, and interior lights provide warm glow. Wash your windows, keep curtains and blinds open, replace burnt-out bulbs, and add outdoor lighting to your landscaping, if possible. Also, keep your lights on in the evenings in the event that potential buyers drive by after-hours. With the lights on, your home will look inviting instead of dark and gloomy.  You always leave a light on for guests, right?


4) Paint an appealing atmosphere
A new coat of paint will freshen up any "lived-in" room but stick to neutrals such as light grays and tans. Also, consider repainting rooms that are currently bright, fun colors or busy designs - this can divert a buyer’s attention away from the home and toward money-costing “projects” that would come with buying the home.  I am sure you know, the wall paper must go.  A buyer sees pain and expense when they see wall paper - even if it is just a border.

5) Clean floors
New carpet or flooring can be expensive.  But you should spot clean stains and have carpets cleaned to freshen up the appearance (and smell). Using a wood floor or laminate floor cleaner can restore life to tired floors.  Be careful to use the right product for your floor so it doesn't become a slipping hazard!

With the help of your REALTOR® and a little hard work, these tips should help you increase your home’s appeal to more buyers without breaking the bank and even help you sell your home more quickly if you are priced right.

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The best window cleaning products!

With fall around the corner, it's a good time to get some cleaning done.  We have fewer hours of daylight in the winter and we want to make sure we let every bit we can into our homes!  Clean windows will help you capture as much as possible. Since I have never heard anyone say "I love cleaning windows" let's eliminate some frustration and talk about the best cleaning products for the job.


At the cleaning supplies place you can spend a lot of money on all kinds of special window cleaning detergents. And as expected, some work better than others.

Some people recommend vinegar in warm water. It's safe and cost effective but the biggest problem with vinegar: no bubbles. Suds make it easier to see any water marks that need wiping off. They also help to show areas that need more scrubbing because the bubbles separate more where there is a finger mark or some other dirt.  When using a squeegee, the suds are important to lubricate the rubber as it passes over the glass, making it a lot easier to turn the squeegee.

So what is the secret product of the professionals? It might just be under your kitchen sink, Palmolive.  In addition to the suds factor explained above, it's easy on the hands.

Now you know!  Grab your bucket of Palmolive suds, a few lint free cloths and squeegee and make those windows sparkle!


cleaning, spring cleaning, spruce up your home, window cleaning, cleaning secrets