DIY Tasks you can Complete in a Day - or a Week
With one week left until lockdown ends, if you have been twiddling your thumbs until now, there's still time to get stuck into one of these DIY projects in and around the home.
28/04/2020
You might not as yet be able to pop into the hardware store, but there are still plenty of tasks that can be done at home.
With only one week remaining until the end of the lockdown, those homeowners who have been putting off essential DIY tasks or repairs can take solace in these DIY jobs that can be completed in one week or less.
Don't let the time spent at home be a waste when there are DIY repairs, home maintenance or home improvements that you haven't yet got round to doing. A week is long enough to get stuck into one of these tasks:
Cleaning and Maintaining Garden or Outdoor Furniture
The weather is mostly sunny and warm, and the summer is well over. Before you pack away or cover up your garden furniture until later this year, take the time to check the condition, re-apply sealer or varnish, and have everything done so that it is ready for the next season.
Plastic chairs are an affordable solution for outdoor furniture for many homeowners but they do tend to stain after a couple of years. Regular cleaning after every season will prevent this and ensure your plastic garden furniture - especially white furniture - stays looking good.
Try not to use a cleaner that is too abrasive, as this will affect the surface of plastic furniture. All you need is regular dishwashing liquid, a sponge, soft cloth and possibly an old toothbrush to get into any crevices. NEVER use bleach on plastic furniture as this can destroy the finish. If there are stubborn stains that need to be removed, sprinkle bicarbonate of soda on a soft cloth and use this as an abrasive to scrub away stains.
For more advice and information on cleaning and maintaining garden furniture and outdoor accessories, visit our Garden Projects section.
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Prevention is the best method for white plastic garden furniture. A regular wiping down with dishwashing liquid will prevent stains and staining.
Cleaning that Tends to get Put Off
- WINDOWS
There are plenty of cleaning tasks that aren't too pleasant but that needs to be done. In my case, it is cleaning the upper floor windows in my double-storey house. Not an easy task, but one that needs to be done. Take a look around the house, both indoors and outdoors, and consider all the projects you just haven't got round to doing yet. There are bound to be several that have been put off for another time, and there's no better time than the present.
While cleaning the windows, check for repairs that can be done, such as replacing the sealing around the glass panes, maintaining steel or wooden window frames, and replacing hardware.
- GARDEN SHED AND GARAGE
Garden huts and garages are spaces that tend to accumulate plenty of junk over time. You take something out - you toss it back in. Items that have nowhere to go get tossed in a garage. With a week on your hands, you have plenty of time to get stuck in and clean out these spaces.
If you are cleaning out a garden hut or garage, now's the time to look at how these can be more organised to make searching for stuff a thing of the past.
Essential Home Maintenance you can do in a Week
We've already discussed home maintenance that can be done during the lockdown, or jobs that you can do to get a head start on annual maintenance. But if you've yet to get started, there's still a week to go around and check what needs to be done.
This year is the year I tackle the exterior of my house, so I decided to start by chasing out all the cracks that had accumulated in the past 7 years, to get the walls prepped for painting. If you plan on doing exterior painting this year, getting all the prep work out of the way will make it easier to get the job done much faster. In the week ahead you can fill cracks, remove paint on areas affected by damp, inspect garden and perimeter walls, and so on. There's always plenty to do when you own your home.
With a week to go, there are bound to be a few essential and necessary tasks that need to be done in and around the home. It's not often we have the opportunity to tackle these types of repairs at our leisure, so take advantage of the situation and make your life easier for the next few months.