Clever Clarissa’s Household Tips & Advice

Even though you may want to sweep your chimney yourself, I certainly don’t recommend it. Call in a professional chimneysweeper once a year if you use the fireplace regularly (or if you haven’t used it for a long time). Burn wood that has been dried for at least 6 months to minimize creosote build-up.

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Attend to serious stains, such as tire marks, grease and oil, as quickly as possible since concrete is a porous material. Sprinkle sand, dry cement or kitty litter over the stain, let it sit for an hour and then sweep up; in extreme cases, use a commercial degreaser. Once or twice a year wash the [...]

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Keep the surface free of leaves and twigs since the tannin they contain will stain the wood and hold moisture, leading to mildew and rot. Use a heavy-duty broom to sweep the deck regularly; clean out the gaps with a knife. Once a year, clean with a stiff-bristled brush and a solution of trisodium phosphate [...]

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