From the Floors Up

How to Remove Stains from a Concrete Driveway

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Concrete driveways can really increase your home’s curb appeal. They are durable, functional, and very visually appealing. However, this porous surface is susceptible to staining. Whether you spill something or a car leaked in your driveway, that stain can become an eyesore. Trying to remove it can even seem impossible at times. Well, to help, there are a couple of tricks you can apply to your driveway to make the stain disappear. Let’s take a look!

Oil and Grease 

First, you will need to identify the stain on your driveway or sidewalk. Oil or grease stain can penetrate deep and are best treated sooner than later. Get a degreaser and spray it onto your stain. You can use a bristled brush to really scrub your degreaser into the pavement. Allow the degreaser to sit for a little bit of time, and spray your driveway down with an even coat of water using a hose. Next, hook up your pressure washer and attach your concrete cleaning detergent. Use your pressure washer to evenly wash the driveway. Allow the detergent water to sit for a little bit but do not allow detergent to dry. Unhook your hose and spray down your driveway to remove the leftover detergent. 

Paint 

If you notice you have stained your driveway with paint, apply a paint thinner, and allow it to sit and break down the paint. You can use a damp cloth to scrub and remove excess paint. First, spray your driveway down with water. Hook up your pressure washer with your concrete cleaning detergent. Be careful not to use too strong of a tip because this can etch and damage your concrete. Next, spray the area back and forth until the stain is completely gone.  Allow the detergent water to sit for a little bit but do not allow detergent to dry. Lastly, unhook your hose and spray down your driveway to remove any remaining detergent. 

Rust, Leaf Stains, and Common Muck 

These common stains are much easier and will not need as much prep work. Simply apply your concrete detergent to the stained areas, and wet down the driveway using your hose. After, hook up the pressure washer and spray back and forth with the spray wand.  Allow the detergent water to sit for a little bit but do not allow detergent to dry. Lastly, unhook your hose and spray down your driveway to remove the detergent. 

You may need to work in smaller sections so the detergent never dries since this could lead to streaking. If the stains remain, add detergent again directly to each stain and scrub with a brush. To prevent future stains, consider adding a sealer to your concrete driveway. For more household tips and tricks, make sure to subscribe. 

How to Maintain and Clean Your Countertops

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If you are anything like us, once you invest in your countertops, you want to get the most out of them. Your countertops’ longevity is directly correlated with your maintenance and upkeep. Since not all countertops are created equal, no “one” remedy handles everything, but knowing how to clean each type of countertop will help you get the most out of your investment. To help, we explored different countertops and various remedies to help you keep them clean and lasting as long as possible. Let’s take a look!

Laminate

Laminate is a great, affordable countertop solution used in many homes today. The surface is nonporous which makes it easy to clean. It will not need to be sealed or refinished like some countertops. A simple way to clean laminate is with a homogenous blend of water and vinegar. You can use this to get the shine to come back. To remove dirt, simply wipe with a rag to remove debris.

Granite

Granite is a durable, gorgeous countertop option. If you have granite, cleaning it is essential. Try to avoid glass cleaners regularly because this can dull the shine in the counter. You should consider having your countertop sealed annually. Depending on the countertops’ use, you may need to have frequent sealings. Granite is a natural element, and it can be stained. Try to remove spills immediately to prevent penetration into the countertop.

Quartz

Like granite, quartz countertops are very durable; however, they are more flexible. This is an added benefit making the surfaces hard to chip or crack. Because quartz is non-porous, you do not have to seal them. Quartz is a very low-maintenance countertop solution, and it should be noted that direct sunlight can cause discoloring. If you have the opportunity to block UV rays with blinds or shades, remember to do so.

Butcher Block

Butcher block countertops are coming back into the market for their natural aesthetic appeal. Butcher block is typically oiled. To clean, remove dirt from your countertops. Pick a food-safe oil but avoid walnut and culinary oils because these can oxidize and build of the surface. If you have a coating on your surface, this should be sanded off before application. Apply a mineral oil and allow it to absorb. You can then add a conditioner as well to prevent cracking to the wood.

All countertops have pros and cons, but you should be able to decide which is best for you and your lifestyle. Remember to consider the maintenance requirements to sustain your countertops for longer. For more tips and tricks, make sure to subscribe.

Fitness House Chores: How to Work Out While You Clean the House

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Part 1 – DISHES

At first, the idea of combining house chores with working out might sound like a method of torture. Most people don’t enjoy cleaning, and nearly everyone struggles to find motivation for exercise. Why in the world would any sane person want to do them at the same time? Because it’s a smart way to multi-task.

You could easily gain an extra two hours per day if you didn’t have to go to the gym after you’ve tidied up the house. Not only do you save the hour of exercise, you also recapture the time you would have spent driving to and from your gym. Furthermore, both activities are more likely to get accomplished in the same day.

Imagine, no guilt at bedtime about skipping one or the other! Most importantly, though, doing these two tasks at the same time translates into some serious fun. Just add your favorite music. You must be willing to sing and dance, and enjoy some air guitar on the mop or broom!

So, before you try the suggestions in this three part series load your favorite party playlist and let your hair down. You’ll get the best results if you also mute your phone. You’ll get a fantastic, uninterrupted workout, and the house will get cleaned in record time. 

 

“Dish Squat” – Each time you put away something in a lower cabinet, squat rather than bend. Keep your feet wide apart and use your glutes and hamstrings to raise and lower your body. Engage your core to stabilize your back, and don’t over extend your knees past your ankles. Challenge yourself to do one dish at time, so you can accomplish multiple squats. Dance between sets!

 

“Cabinet Calves” – Each time you put away something that is slightly higher than your natural reach, raise your heels off the floor three times to work out your calves. Do this with feet straight forward, then toes turned slightly in, and then toes turned slightly out. And of course, to the beat of the song!

 

“Balance Cutlery” – Improve your balance and coordination by standing on one foot while you place silverware in its tray. Alternate sides. Start with something simple like lifting your foot an inch off the ground, and then challenge yourself by raising it higher each time. You can also extend it in different directions to increase the difficulty. Engage your core actively if you start to wobble. 

Next read Part 2: How to work out while you clean the house – FLOORS 

From the Floors Up

From the Floors Up blog was created with the goal of providing a destination for consumers, designers and those interested in the flooring, design, and kitchen and bath industries. Here you’ll find, current, accurate and informative information that is always just a click away!

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