Rust-Proof Means Worry-Proof

A garden swing glider can be the source of much backyard enjoyment for your family. Although they do require regular oiling to keep it sliding smoothly, one way that glider swings are lower maintenance than hanging porch swings is their lack of rust. Hanging swings depend on metal chains in order to create the back-and-forth motion which a glider also produces. Unfortunately, these chains are prone to rust, especially if your swing is in an area where it comes into regular contact with rain or other precipitation. The chains are nearly impossible to repair, and a pain and an unnecessary expense to replace.Gliders, on the other hang, swing using a gliding track system located on the bottom of the glider. Not only is this track system more sheltered from rain and the other elements than swing chains (which are located on top of the swings), but it is also typically made from rust-resistant hardware. If you are thinking about purchasing a glider, make sure that all of its zinc hardware includes a rust-proof coating. As long as this coating is included on your garden swing glider, you should never have to worry about rust slowing you down, and if you keep your glider well-oiled, it will never stop swinging!

How to Keep Your Glider Sliding

One of my favorite pieces of outdoor furniture is the glider. Whether it’s a bench, chair, or swing, an outdoor furniture glider is sure to bring comfort and entertainment to your backyard. However, gliders are unique pieces of furniture, and therefore can require a little more maintenance than a plain old bench. The reason that gliders are able to move back and forth is their gliding track system. A track system that isn't kept well-oiled, will not be able to properly slide back and forth, causing the gliding motion to be choppy. If you go long enough without oiling, your glider swing could even become locked in place, causing it to be unable to move even the slightest bit. How often you should oil your glider’s track depends almost entirely on location. Weather, such as rain and other forms of precipitation, are the most influential factor on how often you need to oil the track. Rain, snow, sleet, and ice all wear away at the oil, causing the protective coating which allows the glider to glide to erode at a much faster rate. So if you live in a rainier climate or place your glider in a location where it is more exposed to the elements, you will probably have to oil your glider’s track system more often.

How to Clean a Dog House

If your dog lives in an insulated dog house, it is not only important to keep their home clean; it’s also a law in some states. Here are a few tips to making your dog’s house squeaky clean:

• Clean their dog house at least once a month. During the wet seasons, humid summers, and colder weather, it is important to clean the doghouse more often.
• Make sure you wear rubber gloves when you clean the doghouse, as you most likely will have to remove feces and urine from bedding.
• Begin by removing all feces around the doghouse.
• Make sure to clean the surrounding areas as well, so that your dog does not track filth into your newly-cleaned dog house.
• Soak all of your dog’s toys in container of warm, soapy water.
• Remove all of bedding from the doghouse and throw it out.
• Fill a large bucket with hot, soapy water. Use a stout brush to thoroughly scour the both the inside and the outside of the entire dog house.
• Use hard spray on your garden hose to completely rinse the house.
• Use a household disinfectant to thoroughly clean the dog house.
• Allow the dog house to air dry.
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  If you follow these few easy steps, your dog’s home will be clean and habitable. And doesn’t your beloved pet deserve that?

How to Keep Teak Protected

In yesterday’s post, I told you all about the importance of keeping your teak furniture clean and how a teak cleaning solution is the best way to do that. However, cleaning is not the only part of taking care of your outdoor teak furniture. Today I want to recommend that on top using a teak cleaning solution, you also purchase a teak protector as well.

As we all know, when you first buy teak furniture, it is a beautiful, honey-brown ginger color. Unfortunately, exposure to the elements will cause the wood to weather and fade, leaving it stripped of its original beauty. Also, if mold and/or mildew begin to grow on your furniture, they will create unsightly black spots on your wood, which also detract from the aesthetic appeal of your patio. Using a teak protecting solution will prevent wood from fading, mold and mildew from growing, and black spots from appearing on your furniture. However, if your teak is already afflicted with these problems, never fear! Simply use teak cleaner to restore your teak to its original glory, and then follow up with teak protector to keep it that way. If you take proper care of your teak, you can keep it looking like new for years to come.

Cleaning Teak Furniture

Wooden teak furniture is a beautiful, and admittedly pricy, addition to your patio or backyard. If you have made the decision to purchase teak furniture, it is clearly important to you that your yard looks classy and attractive. However, if you don’t take care of your teak furniture, it will become dirty, dull, and lifeless. It could also become damaged or irreparably harmed. Nothing will take away from the aesthetic appeal of your expensive teak furniture faster than it being in terrible condition.
These reasons are exactly why it is so important that you take excellent care of your teak furniture and do everything in your power to keep it clean. With most wood furniture, cleaning is simply a matter of washing it with a mild soap and water combination. This easy care routine will keep cheaper wood furniture sets looking as good as new. However, this same care will not have to same effect on teak furniture. To keep your teak patio set at its best, it is essential that you use a teak cleaner on it. Not only will a high-quality teak cleaner remove the dirt and grime of daily use, but it also will restore your teak furniture to the original shine and luster it had the first day you bought it. It even reverses the process of weathering on your teak, transforming its color back to a rich, honey brown. Soap and water just won’t do for your teak furniture, so if you’re serious about keeping it clean, you should invest in some teak cleaning solution.

Painting Your Picnic Table

Few things destroy the aesthetic appeal of a wooden picnic table faster than a poor or deteriorating paint job. Here are a few tips for keeping your picnic table looking great and freshly painted.
• Begin by washing your picnic table and allowing it to air dry.
• Using a wire brush, go over the entire picnic table and scrape off any peeling paint.
• Use sanding paper to sand out any rough parts you may find in the wood. If there are a lot of spots you need to sand, you might want to consider using an electric sander. Start by using a coarse grit sand paper on the tougher spots, and finish up by using a finer grit sand paper. Also be sure to sand the ends of the table carefully and completely.
• Make sure that you pick a dry, windless day to paint the table outdoors. You should also paint in the shade so that it is easier to see any spots you might miss as you go along.
If you follow these simple tips, your painting results will be much better. It is important to repaint your picnic table on a regular basis in order to keep it looking fresh and clean.

Personalizing Your Cedar Mailbox

I don’t know about you, but I think that a cedar mailbox is the most attractive kind of mailbox there is! However, you can make your cedar mailbox even more aesthetically pleasing by personalizing it. You can paint your name or even a one of a kind design on your mailbox. Or, if you are not artistically inclined, you can use a stencil. Get creative and really put your personality into your mailbox!
If you choose to design your own image for your mailbox, be sure to plan it out before painting it onto the wood. Draw it out on paper first, and once you are satisfied with your design, lay a sheet of tracing paper over it and trace away. Then, set the tracing paper on the wooden mailbox and trace over it again. You’ll be able to see the indentations on the wood, and then fill in the rest with paint.
Your mailbox is the perfect place to make a statement and share your creativity with the world. It is the first thing your guests will see when pulling into your driveway, and a personalized mailbox allows you to welcome them into your home before they even get out of the car. It also will make it much easier for them to find your house!

How to Care for a Cedar Log Arbor

A log arbor is a beautiful addition to your back yard. But of course, it won’t look good unless you take care of it! Here are a few tips for keeping your arbor gorgeous!
• Choose how you want to treat your cedar log arbor. If you leave it untreated, it will eventually turn a weathered gray color. However, if you treat the wood with an oil-based stain, it will maintain its beautiful gray color.
• Pick out the type of stain you want to use. For the most natural look possible, use a clear stain. Or you can pick out a stain that will add a slight colored tint to the wood.
• Don’t use varnish, because it will peel and crack with exposure to the elements.
• Once a season, be sure to clean the cedar logs with a stiff scrub brush in order to loosen dirt and get rid of the mud build-up.
• Make sure to wash your log arbor once a year with a power-washer. You can rent one of these at your local hardware store, and will reach spots that you won’t be able to get without it.
If you follow these few simple steps, your arbor will stay looking great for years and years!

Replacing Rusted Porch Chains

Log porch swings are an attractive addition to any porch, patio, or backyard. However, it is important to keep your swing well maintained, or if can become dangerous and unusable. One of the worst problems you can run into is a broken or rusted chain. This predicament can cause the chain to loose strength and possibly break. Rust can also create jagged edges, which can be dangerous if you have small children. Luckily, it is incredibly easy to replace broken or rusted chains. All you have to do is unhook the chain from the swing and from the suspension hook. Then, replace it with a new and un-rusted chain that is cut to the appropriate length. The tools needed to cut chain are available at any hardware store, or they can cut it for you. This simple replacement will keep your family safe and your swing usable.
Although this repair is very simple and will not take much time, I know how easy it is to procrastinate on your chores. However, it is CRUCIAL that you replace your chain as soon as you notice any rust! Your chain has a much increased chance of breakage if you continue to use a rusted chain, and you will endanger your family every time they use it until the chain is replaced.

How to Clean Your Cushions

So I’ve already told you how to care for your wooden furniture. It’s important to regularly clean your furniture to keep up the appearance of your yard. However, one of the biggest problems you might run into is keeping your outdoor cushions clean. If these get dirty, it is pointless to clean the wood because everything will still look bad. Plus, no one want to sit on a dirty cushion! Here are a few quick steps for general outdoor cushion cleaning.
Step One: Start by brushing off any loose dirt that is on the surface of the cushion. You can use your hand or a towel if you would rather.
Step Two: Mix up a cleaning solution that is a quarter cup (2 ounces) mild soap per gallon of lukewarm water. (Make sure your water is no more than 100 degrees)
Step Three: Using a soft bristle brush or sponge, wipe down the entire surface of the cushion.
Step Four: Allow the cleaning solution to completely saturate the fabric
Step Five: Rinse the fabric thoroughly with clean water
Step Six: Just allow the cushion to air dry.

If you just follow these simple steps on a regular basis, you will keep your cushions in top shape! They will be clean, attractive, and totally sit-able!

How to Build a Backless Bench (Part Two)

In my last post, I started telling you how to make a quick and easy backless bench project. Here are the rest of your steps to finish up your beginner carpentry project.
Step Six: Insert the other brace between the legs, above the point of the "v." Drill pilot holes and fasten with wood screws.
Step Seven: Stand the leg frame right side up and center the backless bench top on top of the legs. Drill pilot holes through the bench top and into the ends of the legs. Drill two pilot holes for each leg. Insert the wood screws and attach the top and the legs.
Step Eight: Lay the backless bench on its side. Position the bench sides longwise and flush with the bench top at a 90-degree angle. Drill pilot holes through the sides and into the legs. Insert the wood screws to attach.
Step Nine: Finish up by sanding the edges and surface of the backless bench and apply whatever finish you want.
And that’s it! Nine easy steps to creating a backless bench on which you can sit back, relax, and reap the rewards of all your hard work.

How to Build a Backless Bench (Part One)

A backless wooden bench is a great addition to any backyard. It creates seating and adds ambience to your yard. Not only that, but it is pretty simple to make, so it is a fun and easy project for the beginner carpenter.
Step One: Using a 1-by-8 pine board, measure and cut one piece of wood 30 inches long (for the backless bench top) and two pieces of the pine 18 inches long for the legs.
Step Two: Measure and cut two pieces of wood from the 1-by-4 pine board. Cut each of these pieces 30 inches long. They will be used for the backless bench sides.
Step Three: From the 1-by-2 pine board, measure and cut two 20 inch long pieces for braces for the backless bench.
Step Four: Place a "v" on one end of each leg piece, 2 inches from each long side and 5 inches up from the bottom. Cut out the "v" using a jigsaw.
Step Five: On a level work surface, stand one of the legs on its top end. Then set a brace on one long side and position it against the leg at a 90-degree angle. Drill two pilot holes from the outside of the leg and into the end of the brace. Insert the wood screws into the pilot holes and attach the brace to the leg. Repeat to attach the other leg to the other end of the brace.

Keeping White Furniture Clean

Wooden furniture can be painted virtually any color, to create a unique look that is perfect for your backyard. One of my personal favorites is white paint. I think it gives your outdoor furniture a crisp, clean, classic look.
Regrettably, this look can be somewhat difficult to maintain over time, if you do not routinely care for your white furniture. White is an incredibly difficult color to keep clean. Because it is so light, it will show even the tiniest amounts of dirt and grime, ruining the look of your furniture. Unfortunately, with painted wooden furniture, you have to be very careful about what cleaner you use. In fact, the best care is in most cases the least invasive cleaning possible. Many polishes and waxes will damage the paint and the color.
Therefore, to keep your furniture clean, vacuum it regularly with a brush attachment, and wipe off dirt and smudges with a sponge or soft rag. Be sure just to use water and a mild soap. Avoid strong cleaners, because they can strip the paint off the furniture or cause the color to fade. If you need to use wax, use a hard paste wax no more than once a year.

How to Keep Your Wood Clean

Regular cleaning is essential to keep your handcrafted wood products at their best. Daily cleaning can prevent the build-up of dirt and stains, and will keep your wood looking beautiful, longer. It also keeps you from having to spend a really long time cleaning or damaging the wood with harsh cleaners. Here are a few tips for how to keep you wooden furniture clean with daily cleaning.

• Be sure to dust your furniture daily because gritty dust can scratch wood surfaces. You can use either a feather duster or a cloth. Dusting everyday keeps grime from building up on your furniture.
• Clean up spills right away to avoid stains.
• After cleaning, be sure to wipe up any excess water or cleaner with a soft, dry cloth because standing water can cause your furniture to warp.
An excellent product to use for cleaning wood is Murphy’s Oil Soap. There are many different varieties of this cleaner from which you can choose. Click here to find the right Murphy’s product for caring for your wooden furniture.
A little discipline in cleaning and caring for handcrafted wood products will save you time doing heavy cleaning later, and will also keep your furniture in the best shape it can possibly be.

Give Your Furniture an Instant Weathered Look

Let’s say you’ve just purchased some brand new outdoor furniture. It sure is beautiful, but it looks out of place because it is so new. Perhaps it stands out next to your older furniture, or maybe you just want your furniture to have an old, “weathered” feel. Regardless of your reasoning, it is quite easy to create a battered look in your backyard.

Several different manufacturers produce bleaching or weathering stains. These stains give your wood a weathered, gray look. It is also recommended that you periodically apply clear water repellant with mildewcide.

One of the highest recommended of these finishes is Cabot Weathering Stain Silver Gray. This stain is a deep penetrating, oil-based finished that lightens and protects exterior wood. It is a light color and immediately creates a natural silver gray "weathered" look while still allowing the grain, texture and color variations of the wood to show through. This stain is water repellent is also crack, peel and blister-repellant, as long as you apply according to the directions.

Cabot’s is just one of the different options for creating a weathered look. Do your research, and figure out which stain is perfect for your furniture. All of them are easy to apply, and give your wood an aged, grayish appearance.

Dealing with Mildew on Cypress Wood

If you leave your cypress wood unfinished and untreated, it is inevitable that you will soon be dealing with a mildew problem. Mildew is unsightly and damaging to your wood. Unfortunately, you can’t just apply a finishing treatment over top of the mildew; it will continue to spread and destroy your wood.
Luckily, there is no need to panic at the first sign of mildew on your furniture. Your wood CAN be salvaged; you just need to eliminate the mildew before moving forward in saving your furniture.
There are several products on the market that can kill mildew on your wood. However, a treatment by Advantage Cleaners called Spor-X seems to be the most recommended by professionals. Use it to annihilate the existing mildew, then power wash your furniture to destroy any remaining trace of the spores on your furniture. Once the wood dries, apply another treatment of Spor-X to prevent future mildew growth.
After you have been through this whole ordeal, be sure to apply some sort of chemical treatment to your cypress wood so that you don’t let mildew attack your furniture again. You can use opaque paint, or if you want to maintain the natural look of the cypress, use a clear or translucent varnish.
If you haven’t had a problem with mildew yet, but your wood is still untreated, apply a chemical finish as soon as possible to prevent mildew infestation! Trust me; it is much less work in the long run than battling with mildew.

How to Protect Your Cedar Wood Doghouse

Cedar is an excellent choice for a doghouse. One of the biggest advantages of cedar wood is its ability to accept many different kinds of finishes. It is crucial to finish your doghouse, because it will be located outdoors and therefore, face different types of weather. If you do not finish a doghouse, the wood will warp, crack, decay or otherwise fall apart. Unprotected and unfinished wood cannot stand up to nature on it own. Plus, your doghouse needs to be able to stand up to the wear and tear your dog will cause it, which makes finishing your doghouse even more important than finishing other outdoor furniture.

Cedar wood protection is simple, as long as you do your research. Paint, or other opaque finishes are the best choice for your doghouse, because they provides the most protection and does not need reapplied as often. However, other choices may be more aesthetically appealing. These options include semi-transparent stains, oils, and natural finishes. They need to be reapplied more often, but they have a natural wood look, which I think looks a lot prettier. Be sure to research all you different options, and follow the directions for use and reapplication. Cedar wood protection is essential for your doghouse, so your beloved puppy has a safe quality place to live!

How to Maintain the Color of New Teak Furniture

Teak furniture weathers more gracefully than many types of wood. And it does so naturally. Teak has long been known for its ability to last years without splitting, cracking, or warping. And this endurance is natural, not the product of chemical treatments.

Many people enjoy the rustic appearance of weathered teak furniture. After perhaps a year or so outdoors, it fades to a silvery gray. However, others would like to preserve the warm tones their teak furniture displays when it’s new. I like both looks; it’s too hard to pick.

But for those who prefer the color of new teak wood, I’d like to explain a couple options. From the outset, you can apply a protectant such as teak oil, or a specially formulated substance. The special formulations I’ve seen claim to last four times as long as teak oil. Teak oil can darken the wood slightly, but the special protector does not. It just maintains the original color of your teak furniture.

If you’ve allowed your teak furniture to weather and decide that you don’t like that look so well, you can also restore weathered teak furniture to its original color. Look for a teak cleaner. These clean and brighten the wood in one step. In addition, they are water-based and not flammable, so you can breathe easy about your choice. It only takes a moderate investment of your time to keep or restore the color of your new teak furniture.

Caring for Teak Deep Seating Cushions

In my experiences with outdoor furniture, I have found that caring for the cushions is an integral part of caring for the furniture; this principle applies to teak deep seating, as well. Many of the teak deep seating pieces I’ve seen come with cushions that raise the standards for outdoor furniture. These cushions are thick and luxurious, more reminiscent of living room furniture than typical outdoor seating.

As a result, you’ll want to keep your cushions in good shape with some simple techniques. Teak deep seating cushions, like most other outdoor cushions, are made from materials that dry quickly and resist stains and fading.

The two best things you can do for teak deep seating cushions are to bring them inside and clean up spills immediately. Certainly, whenever you don’t expect to use your teak deep seating for an extended period of time, you should store the cushions indoors. This period could fall in the winter or during a long vacation. However, it’s also a wise idea to bring the cushions inside during heavy rains, high winds, or storms. Allow the cushions to dry thoroughly before storage.

Aim to wipe up spills immediately. The durable material that covers teak deep seating cushions should resist stains, but cleaning spills immediately should prevent most stains from forming. For tougher dirt and stains, you can try a mild soap and warm water. Hose the cushions thoroughly when you finish scrubbing. Bleach is not advisable; however, if your other efforts don’t work, you can try bleach. Spot test in an inconspicuous place before proceeding.

In my opinion, it’s worth your attention to keep the cushions spotless. Nice cushions do more than any other factor to keep teak deep seating looking attractive.

Less is More When Caring for a Teak Patio Set

A teak patio set lasts surprisingly well with no maintenance. For those who really prize that new look, however, a teak patio set will require a little extra care. I have often found that a little preventive maintenance actually saves time in the long run.

You can start with this step. Keep your teak patio set covered, or store it indoors whenever you aren’t using it for an extended period. A cover can also help guard a teak patio set from precipitation, but you should take care that the cover isn’t trapping moisture underneath for long periods. This can promote mildew on your teak patio set.

Secondly, you can apply teak oil or an alternative protectant designed to condition the wood and restore the original coloring. Depending on the formulation, it may also darken the wood.

But I’ve found that less is more—in several areas of life. When it comes to a teak patio set, you shouldn’t oil any more frequently than a few times a year. Excessive oiling can actually blacken the teak patio set. And of course, if I wanted a black patio set, I wouldn’t buy teak. I don’t imagine you would, either.

In most cases, cleaning is as simple as water and mild soap. You can buy special cleaning solutions, but these are optional.

Cleaning a Cedar Adirondack Chair

When you bring home a cedar Adirondack chair, you want to know you’ll have easy ways of maintaining it and cleaning it. In my busy lifestyle, I cringe at the thought that a new furnishing is going to require large chunks of my time. But a beautiful cedar Adirondack chair is one of those pieces that won’t require regular maintenance.

Cedar holds up well to weathering, and you shouldn’t have to clean it continually. When it does come time to clean, the method depends on the finish of your chair. Finished cedar should only require a wipe-down with a damp rag occasionally. Of course, if you’ve chosen to finish your cedar Adirondack chair, you’ll need to repeat the staining or painting process every few years.

On the other hand, an unfinished cedar Adirondack chair doesn’t require the extra time to restain or repaint, but the cleaning process can take a little longer. After a while, an unfinished cedar Adirondack chair can pick up stains and discolorations. A water-and-bleach solution can take care of this, however, Add a small amount of bleach to a bucket of water. Aim for an ounce of bleach to every gallon of water you use. Use this cleaning solution to scrub at the stains and rinse off the cedar Adirondack chair when you’re done. Don’t use an abrasive scrubber or cleaners. That’s all there is to it. Even I can manage that!

A Long Life for Your Teak Furniture

If you’re planning to invest in some teak furniture for your patio, you’ll want to get the best use you can from it, right? Teak is a popular hardwood for outdoor furniture because it’s naturally very durable. Nevertheless, you can take several precautions to encourage a long life for your teak furniture.

You can do a few basic things that you might do for any outdoor furniture. Cover it or move it inside during extremely wet or harsh weather, or during any extended period when you’re not using your teak furniture. Clean your furniture before storing it or covering it for extended periods.

You don’t need any special cleaners for your teak furniture. Just mix a little mild detergent or dish soap with water. Scrub with a non-abrasive cloth or sponge. Never use abrasive compounds or cleaners on your teak furniture because these can damage the natural finish. Rinse all traces of soap away.

Some owners prefer to treat their teak furniture with teak oil as a method of preventive maintenance. Teak oil is the natural substance that teak wood produces. You rub this extra oil on the surface of your furniture to enhance the oil already in the wood.

You can also sand natural teak down a little. In this case, you want to rub a fine sandpaper lightly in the same direction as the wood’s grain. Sanding a removes a slight outer layer to reveal a fresh layer beneath.