Backyard Clean Up
Brad and I spent a lot of time working on outside projects this weekend. One thing we tackled was power washing our back patio. The last time we broke out our power washer and cleaned the patio was about three years ago. It was time for a bath.
Here’s the before– stained with mold and other goodies.
Here’s the during. How can one resist the urge to write their name on a grimy concrete patio with a power washer? Not I.
And here’s the after. Oooh ahhh.
While we had the power washer out, we decided to clean our vinyl fence. Brad power washed it a couple years ago, so it was in need of a cleaning too.
The power washer did a good job but there were places on the fence that needed more attention. Like where the birds use the fence posts as latrines. Or where the lawn mower has attacked the fence posts. Poor fence posts can’t catch a break.
Thankfully, Procter & Gamble and Lowe’s were kind enough to send me some cleaning supplies to put to use in our backyard. I grabbed the Mr. Clean Outdoor Pro Magic Erasers to take on the bird dropping stains and lawn mower marks.
And I tell you what, these bad boys did a heckuva job. Even Brad was impressed– he thought we’d need to spray paint over the marks. Nope, Mr. Clean (and a little Chelsea elbow grease) did the trick. I even left the little lawn mower mark to the right of the fence post so no one could accuse me of trickery.
I even made a fun ‘pinnable’ image to show the drastic before and after.
After mastering the art of bird poop stain and lawn mower mark removal, I moved on to our stainless steel grill. I used Mr. Clean Outdoor Pro spray and Bounty, as well as the Magic Erasers to get the grime off the grill.
Gross.
Yep. Ready for grilling.
Brad swore the grill wasn’t that dirty and grimy. The proof is above, dear husband.
I would love to get some pretty plants but I need to get some cleaner and sealer for the deck.
Buy stuff for my lawn
Flowers for our new yard!
Buy stuff for our new house!
I would get new plants and flowers for my side yard.
Since we moved into a new house this weekend, I could use this! I’d be looking for some organization tools!
We are just beginning our first home-buying experience so I’d love to save the giftcard to use towards some patio furniture or a grill… looking forward to having a backyard!
a raised garden bed–filled with lots of flowers and veggies!
As much as I would love to use a Lowe’s giftcard for outdoor stuff, I currently reside in an apartment, so I would like to redo my craft room and get some supplies to build a new more open desk for photography and crafts.
I’m still working on my Sandy-damaged home–these would be GREAT!
I would buy some new outdoor cushions!
Wow! I must get these!!!!
Oops…I would get come cleaner and wire brushes because my bathroom grout needs some attention!
I would buy some organizational tools for my new house or either ceiling fans…it gets to hot in the south in the summer time not to have ceiling fans.
I would buy gardening supplies. Thanks!
I LOVE Magic Erasers! They really are magic!! 😉
Also, I would totally buy some gardening supplies at lowes. Or paint. Or hardware… (I just moved so what DON’T I need right now??)
I’d buy paint and items for my potential new home!
Oooh yes, would love to buy some outdoor furniture or plants to up the ambiance outside!
Hey I never thought about taking my beloved Magic Erasers outside. I have a play ground with some tough grime, I wonder if Mr. Clean can come through on that for me? I’ll try it. Oh and I’d probably buy more plants at Lowes, I skimped this year on my initial purchase of flowers.
Bliss
I would buy some paint and cleaning supplies.
I would buy all of the products you mentioned above!! Plus some plants and flowers for our yard.
We’re just about to move into a new house and I know we’ll need lots of things! First thing that comes to mind is paint!
I’m reorganizing my craft/office room downstairs, so I would get some much-needed storage for that and a few little plants to add to the office/craft room as well.
I am thinking I would use the gift card for some paint for 2 bedrooms.. Thanks for the chance to win!
I need mulch but I’ve been putting it off because there are so many things I’d rather buy than mulch! lol
We ripped out everything out of our back planter over the winter and now that I have a party to host in two weeks I’m scrambling to get it replanted in time. I need new plants and pots!
We put down a layer of mulch in the flower beds earlier this year, but the weeds are poking through! Looks like it’s time for a thicker layer so the flowers don’t have to compete.
I love Magic Erasers but had no idea they came for outdoors. You learn something new everyday! Thanks for sharing the great info.
I would buy a new screen door for our gazebo, tomato plants, herbs and some mulch!
My husband and I are closing on our first house on July 12th so we would love to be able to buy some paint for our new house!
Um…casters for my card catalog which I’m NEVER going to finish. You figure with $100, I can get pretty decent casters right?
New lighting
What can Mr. Clean Erasers NOT do? Wow! That is an amazing transformation! Would love to try those myself….
My wife would probably confiscate the card and buy some plants for the yard.
I would absolutely buy these cleaning products first- they work amazingly!!! AND then with some leftovers I’d hunt for a patio umbrella…. Thanks for the giveaway!
I love outdoor Magic Erasers. They really helped clean our outdoor furniture. I would love to buy some patio pavers for our backyard. We could use a few more bushes around our yard too.
I would love to get a new outdoor rug for our back deck.
I would give the gift card to my parents to help offset the cost (any bit counts!) of the new kitchen they are remodeling and building!
I would buy some flowers for my yard
I would get some patio furniture!
Towards a cordless drill for my hubby!
I would use the Gift Card to purchase accessories for the Grill I recently purchased at Lowe’s 🙂
Definitely some hedge clippers & a lawn edger. We’re getting a lot of stink eye from the neighbors.
If I won the gift card, I would purchase the entry light I’ve been eyeing for quite some time. What would you buy?
If I won the gift card, I would buy screen doors for the patio 🙂
OH my gosh….your fence looks so much better! I’ll have to try those in our yard for sure. If I won I would use the money towards new plants and planters for our backyard.
I would put it toward the purchase of the glass/hidden screen door I want for our front entrance!
We are moving soon and I could use a nice Lowe’s treat!
A new outdoor light for our side door.
I would get paint for the 1/2 bath I’ve wanted to paint since we moved in 8 years ago and a new grill cover to replace the one that blew away last week (oops).
I think I would have to purchase all the products you mentioned above… and then, I think I would buy some wood to put towards building a shed to hold all of my garden tools!
I think I’d put that $100 towards some patio furniture!
Hmmmmmm….. I think I’d go for something in the garden center. Maybe some new hanging pots to transplant my ferns. And/or a rocking chair.
Thanks for the great giveaway. I’m impressed by all your clean-up. Our yard badly needs this, too. Especially the grill.
well since we are going to be moving to Kentucky in August, I ‘d buy some new things to setup the new house!
I would put it toward a new spiffy grill…
We just moved into a new house and I’m at Lowe’s several times a week. I have so many things I could use the gift card for! Paint supplies, for one 🙂
We are in the process of refinishing some furniture, so we would buy some materials for that.
I’d love to put it toward a pressure washer!
Paint and wood to finish kitchen remodel
I would get new pillows to spruce up my patio dining set!
Wow, what a difference that makes. I would use it for wood, tools for the hubby to get more projects done.
So many projects so little money! Lol. I would probably use it to get either more paint, go towards new flooring or buy some Airstone!!
I’d get some chairs for our back deck! We have zero furniture on the deck right now.
I love your blog and doing home imporovent projects….. so you inspire me! I could so go for a Lowe’s gift right about now to put towards some stuff we need! Thanks for the chance to win!
I would buy new flowers for my backyard
I would love to “freshen” the patio area with new cushions, pillows and flowers. 🙂
Plants for our new planting beds my husband built!
I would buy gardening supplies.
I would use it to buy flowers and hanging baskets to spruce up the front of the house.
I’ve been eying a patio set for my new home – I’d either put the gift card towards that, or towards plants for my new garden!!
I have been working feverishly on our backyard….there is plenty we still need to get!!!
I would buy a screen for my front door!
Planters for our front porch – it looks so bare!
I would get a power washer and some paint to re-do my house- it needs it desperately! Thanks for the giveaway!
I would get some plants and mulch to spruce up our front yard!
MR CLEAN MAGIC ERASERS are the BOMB! I remember the first time I used it, I was in heaven, it is a delightful memory I have! lol
Think of all the magic eraser I could buy with that gift card! Thanks!! : )
I would love to get some paint to freshen/clean the walls in our apartment, but then definitely planters for my herb garden!
I would buy flowers, plants, and mulch for my garden and flower bed!! Thanks for the chance to win!
My bathroom needs an update so I would buy paint and some new decorations.
Woohoo! I want to build one of those flower towers that Michelle shared! Or get some stuff to refinish our patio!
Wow, where do I start?….we need yard tools, cleaners and cleaning equipment, etc. etc. for the exterior then there is the inside too where we need lots of home improvement items that Lowes has…….! Thanks for the inspirations and the chance to win!
I would buy some plants and flowers for my yard.
We need everything for our new home but I’d probably spend it on materials for a new en suite!
I would totally buy a paint sprayer…I have quite a few makeovers coming up, including some Craigslisted porch furniture. 🙂
I love my Magic Erasers! I would buy the new outdoor erasers and more rose bushes!
I’d get me some junk for our flower beds!
I’d buy plants for our front porch, or maybe wood to build a porch swing? So many options!
I need to buy a power washer! So I would totally put that card towards it!
we would get some paint!
Oh I would put it towards a power drill that I have been planning on buying..:)
Wow–your patio and fence look great! We’re doing a lot of shelf building right now, so I would certainly use it for that!
Edit: I am Medb O’Hanlon on facebook and rafflecopter. 🙂
I’d love to try out these cleaning products and buy some decorative items for our deck too!
I would definitely buy paint for our bedroom and bathroom! 🙂 Gotta mark some things off the list this month! 🙂
I love a good powerwashing!!! Want to do this to our patio as well!!
I would get lumber to replace our front porch stairs. And some more Mr. CLEAN MAGIC SPONGEES?
I would get paint to finish our newly renovated bathroom and make our claw foot bathub two-toned 🙂
The Magic Eraser for Outdoors would be a must buy…and I’d love to get some flowers to spruce up our joint.
I have so many things I could do if I win, where do I begin?!! I would tackle my baseboards, my patio furniture, and repurpose my dresser!
I’d buy screen and lattice. I am redoing my back porch and would need those supplies.
I would buy some plants and other supplies like paint for our new house!
What would I do with $100… replace the AWFUL steps we have out back. they’re rapidly approaching NOT SAFE! (or I would buy paint b/c who doesn’t love an easy peasy paint make-over?!)
We already have a power washer, The item we need and that I would likely buy is a hedge trimmer.
I would apply it towards a push mower.
A new light fixture for the bathroom 🙂
I would love to power wash my patio, deck and vinyl fence too!! Thanks for the giveaway opportunity!
I would buy lightbulbs, stringlights and stock up on batteries.
SPRAY PAINT, PAINT, LIGHTING, WEDDING DIY’S – YAY LOWES!! 🙂
I would get some pretty plants to dress up my front stoop, as well as some window boxes (and plants/herbs) to dress up my deck!
I would buy paint for my bathroom
I would put it towards a new gas grill. I’m afraid ours is on it’s “last legs”. Thank you.
We just moved into our new home in December and are still making it ours. I think, being it is summer, I’d use on the outdoors. Fresh flowers, pots, maybe paint the vinyl shutters and our front door =)
This could definitely help me moving between apartments!
I’d use it for bathroom shelves and new blinds for my laundry room!
I would buy all of the items we need for the finishing touches on our vegetable garden! We are renters, so we built a corner planter out of some wood and have it set on our back patio. It would be nice to fill that baby up with some more good eats, fertilizer, tomato cages, etc. EEEK!!
This looks like an awesome prize pack – I would love to win. The gift card alone would be great. Fingers crossed! 🙂
Outdoor chairs to watch my husband grill 🙂
I would buy several gallons of paint to re-paint one of my daughter’s bedrooms after allowing her to pick her own color. Ugh.. NEVER again will that happen!
The before and after is impressive!! I would put it toward new patio furniture so we could spend more time and dine out on our patio!!
I would get some perennial shade plants – I’m in the midst of relandscaping!
I <3 Magic Erasers! I'd buy the outdoor versions and a few more plants to add to our garden.
I’d get a ceiling fan for our master bedroom. We’ve been wanting to put one in for a while! Thanks for the chance to win!
I would buy new cushions for our outdoor seating!
I would put it towards a new grill purchase.
Wow! What a difference without the use of a ton of chemicals. I didn’t know that Mr. Clean made outdoor Magic Erasers. Need to give our grill some love!
plants for around my deck
Whoa I can’t believe you got that fence totally white!
I would love to put it towards a grill! We do not have one and I know we would really enjoy one and use it all the time! I LOVE how your cement turned out! I really need to do that!
I would definitely buy some supplies for the new house!
We could definitely do some backyard cleaning also! Thanks for the chance at the giveaway!
A fire pit! I have wanted one forever!
My backyard could use a spruce up! I hope I win! Thanks!
Plants, flowers, fertilizer, weed killer.
I would buy plants!
I would buy paint
I’d buy supplies to build the 4 foot fence we’re adding to our backyard!
I would buy a new bathroom faucet!
I would finally get a real herb garden going!
I would use the money toward get my husband a nice new grill!
New cushions for my outdoor furniture- they’ve seen better days!
Stuff for the garden!
Outdoor lighting! Ours is crazy dated.
With the $100 Lowe’s gift card I would get some supplies to give our lawn a face lift…fertilizer, dirt, grass seed, spreader, more hoses, sprinklers, etc…all the little things we need!
I would put it towards blinds
I’d buy some new blinds.
I would put it towards organizational units for our closet!
Items for some projects I want to work on.
I feel like we live at Lowe’s! I’d either get (more) paint or patio furniture to spruce up our patio.
We’d buy deckboards for redoing ours!
My porch needs a good scrub and some pretty plants.
I would buy a leaf blower!
I’d purchase a few wooden boards and some paint to create some great blog photo backdrops!
Danielle at Framed Frosting
I would buy paint and supplies to redo my classroom over the summer. Right now its basic white and has scuff marks all over it from years of student abuse.
I’d put the money toward a new mower for the hubby 🙂
New closet doors!
I would replacing some flooring in the bathroom and some paint for the back bedroom
I have been doing a lot of reorganization projects and would love to get some tools to help me stay organized/pretty up my space.
We had a new patio slab installed at our townhosue and they left big gaps and a mess.. so id buy some filler dirt, pebbles and some other pretty things to make the patio safe for the kids and nice to look at!!
I would get gardening supplies
stuff to decorate my front yard flower beds
we’d get a fruit tree for our yard
Wild love to get some more plants/flowers to fill our planters and would love to fix our window box.
I would put it towards a new grill
I would buy some bricks to edge all my garden and driveway.
Thanks for the chance to win a gift card!
I would use the gift card to purchase paint for my dresser and a new doormat that I have been eyeing.
I would buy a couple of new light fixtures for my bathroom! I found some beautiful ones at Lowe’s this weekend!
I would buy us some patio furniture as a surprise for my husband! We moved here with the Air Force a few months ago, and we won’t be able to afford any furniture for outside anytime soon, so I’d love to get it and set it up for him while he’s at work and surprise him!
I’d buy pretty planters/flowers for my back deck.
Deck restore to paint on our old splintered deck!
I would use it to buy an outdoor holder for our garden hose. You know, one of those nice ones that can sit on your patio and keep the hose from getting tangled. And some magic erasers because our grill looks like the “before” of yours and it needs some help 🙂
I would use it towards a new deck!
I would use it towards patio furniture.
This would go towards creating a mudroom!
We would use the $100 gift card for paint! Our downstairs needs a pretty color 🙂
I would get some ant killer (ha!) and some pretty potted plants!!!
Oh I had no idea they had “outdoor” magic erasers! Must go grab some asap… so I guess that is what I would do with the $100 gift card!
Our grill is disgusting! Plus we’re in a new house so any help would go a long way!
Wow, that stuff looks like it is amazing and I could really use all of it! Please choose me!! 🙂
I am getting married in October and we are currently building our first home together, so there are so many things we would use this gift card on. To start a we could use it on any of the following a grill, a lawn mower, weed eater, etc.
Wow! squeaky clean. Looks amazing. Thanks to your power washer and good cleaning supplies. Great job!