6-patio-pieces-you-didn’t-know-you-could-(and-should!)-clean-with-dish-soap
| | | | | | |

6 Patio Pieces You Didn’t Know You Could and Should Clean with Dish Soap

ByStan S.

HOME BUYERS – To get the best exclusive listings visit www.vreg.ca and go to “EXCLUSIVE DEALS”

Read More

Outdoor patio furniture and decor is made of weather-resistant materials, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t get dirty. Properly storing items is essential, as is regular cleaning. The good news is, you can effectively clean all kinds of patio items with one product that may already be sitting by your kitchen sink: Dawn dish soap.

“Patio items accumulate all sorts of grime—from food spills and sticky drink residues to pollen, dust, and even environmental oils,” says Arianna Castro, P&G home care scientist.

Whether it’s regular dish soap or one of the brand’s heavy-duty sprays, Castro says they are extremely useful for cleaning a variety of patio items, and remove up to 99% of grease and grime. “These products are designed to lift and break down these oily and greasy soils, allowing them to be easily rinsed away,” the she says. To help you keep your patio ready for lounging and entertaining all season long, here are the outdoor items you can clean with dish soap.

1. Outdoor Chair Cushions and Rugs

If you notice a stain on your outdoor chair cushions or a dirty spot on the patio rug, Castro suggests spot-cleaning them with dish soap. “It’s great for treating stains, especially those that are greasy or food-based,” she says. Dawn dish soap is excellent for targeted stain treatment according to the expert, but she does recommend using a dedicated outdoor fabric cleaner for full cleaning. Before you use dish soap to spot-treat outdoor textiles, try it on a hidden spot such as the under-side of a rug to make sure it doesn’t cause discoloration.

2. Hard, Non-Porous Surfaces

Dawn dish soap products are gentle on finishes but tough on dirt, which makes them ideal for cleaning a variety of patio pieces and backyard fixtures. “You can use them on hard, non-porous surfaces such as plastic or resin furniture, glass tabletops, [and] vinyl siding on sheds,” Castro says. One option is to mix a couple of drops of dish soap with warm water in a large bucket and scrub the items with a non-abrasive brush or sponge. Another is to use one of the brand’s sprays and spritz the dirty surface, wipe it down, then rinse with water.

3. Synthetic Wicker Furniture

Not all outdoor furniture that looks like wicker is actually made of natural wicker—some is constructed from synthetic materials such as resin or plastic. Castro says you can clean synthetic wicker furniture with dish soap, but does not recommend using dish soap on natural wicker or wood surfaces to avoid damaging their finish. When cleaning synthetic wicker, make sure to use a non-abrasive sponge or brush that doesn’t cause scratches that can leave the material more vulnerable to weather-related damage.

4. Grill Grates

Backyard barbecues may be fun, but cleaning sticky grill grates—not so much. Castro recommends using dish soap, which is both safe to use and effectively cuts through stubborn grease on gas and charcoal grills. As a general rule of thumb Dawn dish soap is safe to use on stainless steel, cast iron, and porcelain coated grills, but as with every appliance, it is best to check the manufacturer’s cleaning instructions to be on the safe side.

5. Kids’ Plastic Outdoor Toys

If your kids have plastic outdoor toys on the patio, Castro suggests giving them a good clean with dish soap. In a large bucket, mix a couple of drops of dish soap with warm water and stir to combine. Use a non-abrasive sponge or bucket to scrub plastic toys clean, making sure you target any extra grimey spots or crevices that collect dirt and pollen. Rinse the toys with a hose and allow them to air dry completely.

6. Outdoor Coolers

Between sticky spills and old food residue, outdoor coolers can get pretty gross. And since they hold food and drinks, it’s especially important to clean them properly and regularly in order to prevent mold from growing and potentially contaminating the cooler’s contents. Castro recommends using dish soap to clean outdoor coolers. If you notice that the cooler has an unpleasant smell, pre-treat it before cleaning. Mix equal parts water and distilled white vinegar in a spray bottle and generously spritz the inside of the cooler (including the lid) with the mixture. Let it work for at least 30 minutes before scrubbing down the cooler with warm soapy water. Rinse it off the suds with water, wipe it dry with a clean microfiber cloth, and leave it open to fully dry before stocking it again.

Share this page

Similar Posts

  • | | | |

    Toothpaste Is the Secret to Perfectly-Hung Picture Frames (Yes, Really!)

    ByStan S.

    If you’re always up for learning a new home improvement hack, you may have come across this viral Instagram reel that shows how to use toothpaste to hang pictures. As stunning as a gallery wall can be, the process of hanging pictures is not always quick and easy—and sometimes results in countless nail holes that need to be patched up. The toothpaste picture-hanging hack promises a foolproof method that takes out the guesswork. Best of all, it only requires a cheap item everyone already has at home: a regular ole tube of toothpaste. Keep reading to find out whether the viral hack actually works, what type of toothpaste works best, and how to make sure pictures are level. How the Toothpaste Picture Hanging Hack Works The viral toothpaste picture hanging hack is designed to take the guesswork out of hanging frames on the wall. It starts with a basic tube of white toothpaste that will serve as a the marker for where you need to hammer or drill a hole. To start, take your picture frame and lay it face-down on a flat surface. Locate the hanging hardware first—typically there will be one or two pieces of hanging hardware on the back of a frame, depending on how large and how heavy it is. The most common types of picture frame hardware are sawtooth hooks, D-rings, triangle hooks, and keyholes. Take the toothpaste a squeeze a small amount of it on the hanging hardware. If it’s a sawtooth hook, squeeze a dot of toothpaste in the middle of the sawtooth hook where the nail will go. Pick up the frame with the hanging hardware facing the wall, position it where you want the picture to hang, then gently press against the wall until the toothpaste transfers onto the wall. The toothpaste mark (or multiple marks) now serves as a guide to show you exactly where the nail holes need to be. Install nails or screws, then wipe off the excess toothpaste using a clean cloth or paper towel. Related How to Make Sure the Picture Is Level The hack seems simple enough, right? But if there is more than one piece of hanging hardware on the back of the frame or if you are hanging a pair of frames, how do you make sure the holes are level? Because there’s nothing more frustrating than realizing a picture is hanging crooked or a pair of frames doesn’t quite line up. This is where a level comes in. The viral Instagram reel doesn’t show a level being used, but it’s easy to incorporate into the hanging method. You may just need an extra set of hands to help you out, especially if the picture frame is beveled or not deep enough to prop a level on. Here’s where the tool comes in: Before you press the picture frame with the toothpaste on the wall, place a level on top of the frame. If the frame is deep enough to hold the level, you can do it by yourself. If not, have someone hold the level in place for you. Make any necessary adjustments and once the frame is level, press it against the wall to make toothpaste marks. Alternately, you can use a laser level that shoots a perfectly straight line across the wall to direct where you should position the frame. What Type of Toothpaste to Use For anyone nervous about whether or not toothpaste can hurt painted walls, you don’t have to worry about it causing any permanent damage. Sometimes toothpaste is actually used to clean scuff marks off of walls, so it is safe to use on most walls and it will not strip the paint. As for the type of toothpaste that’s best to use for the hack, a basic white toothpaste is a good choice. There’s no need for any fancy whitening or breath-freshening toothpaste, since all you need it to do is make marks on the wall. The thicker and creamier the consistency of the toothpaste the better it transfers onto the wall, so try to avoid gel-based toothpastes that may be too thin and run down the walls.

    Share this page
  • | | | | |

    Vancouver swamped by unsold condos as supply outpaces demand

    Bymichael

    Open this photo in gallery: A condo tower under construction in downtown Vancouver, on Feb. 9, 2020. DARRYL DYCK/The Canadian Press In Metro Vancouver, supply has most definitely outpaced demand. The number of newly built, unsold condo units in the Vancouver region is expected to increase by 60 per cent by year’s end. That will bring the total of new units sitting empty to 3,493 – a 60 per cent increase from the 2,179 homes that sat empty and unsold by the end of 2024. These are multifamily units that have an occupancy permit and are move-in ready. Ryan Berlin, head economist and vice-president of Rennie Intelligence, part of Rennie Marketing, a Vancouver-based real estate marketing firm that represents some of the country’s largest developers, said 2025 will close with the “highest level of unsold condo inventory” that the region has seen in many years. It’s a bleak situation for developers, hampered by trade wars, an uncertain interest rate, rising costs and regulations designed to thwart a previous market that was driven by speculation and investment. Those days are over. “Right now, the market is out of gas. Nothing is working for developers. It’s not really working for buyers. So, we’re just kind of stagnating right now,” said Mr. Berlin. The story is all about the missing investor – a key player in the housing market. And they’ve run for the exits. Mr. Berlin has long kept statistics on investors, and from 2020 to 2023 they represented half of Rennie Marketing’s buyers. By 2024, they made up one-quarter of buyers. This year, only seven per cent of buyers are investors, he said. The investor buyer has kept the condo market going for decades. Willing to put up the deposit far in advance of the completed building, the investor enables the developer to obtain financing to construct. Once completed, the investor finds tenants for the unit, and investor landlords became a significant source of housing in the rental market. When lucrative rents were achievable, and borrowing money was cheap, the investor could easily cover costs, known as positive cash flow. But the conditions flipped, and with dropping rents and rising interest rates, many of them entered significant negative cash flow, said Berlin. “It’s not very palatable,” he said. There are other factors. Mr. Berlin said that the capital gains inclusion rate may no longer be on the table, but it created enough fear that people sold off properties. The federal anti-flipping tax, which treats gains on the sale of a house within one year as business income, has also curtailed investor buying. The federal temporary foreign buyer ban has reduced foreign money investment. Short-term rental restrictions have also put a dint in the investor market, particularly in tourist-driven markets like Kelowna. Developers were already dealing with high construction costs and soaring municipal fees. And policies that made sense in a hot market rife with speculation – which defined 2015 and 2016 – are restricting the market even more. “If somebody has money to invest in something and they look at this market, they’ll go, ‘Wow, I’m really being squeezed. Maybe I’ll just put it into a GIC.’ “It’s not to judge any of these policies as being good or bad overall for society, like a sort of net utility,” said Mr. Berlin. “But certainly, for investors … this real imbalance got created between risk and reward. The opportunity for reward diminished and the risks increased.” The dire situation has some developers asking for relief, such as easing up on the requirement that they provide social housing within a rental or strata tower, such as around transit-oriented areas and within some parts of the massive Broadway Plan area of Vancouver. Developer Tony Hepworth, president of Pennyfarthing Development, said six-storey wood-frame buildings are far more realistic than concrete towers. And the requirement to provide 20 per cent social housing in residential towers isn’t viable for most developers in this market. “We haven’t seen it yet, and not in Vancouver, but other municipalities have started dropping their requirement for affordable housing, from 20 to 10 per cent. I think they are going to have to drop it,” he said of Vancouver. “Talking to my colleagues, and some of them are bigger developers than we are, and we are saying that we can’t see how these big towers can go ahead, whether condo or rental at the moment.” Commercial broker Ian Brackett, from Goodman Commercial, said the cost to build a below-market rental unit is about double the actual value of the unit once completed. It means the market rate units elsewhere in the building must be significantly higher, and renters can only pay so much. “It has become very obvious that insisting on 20 per cent below market has become too much of a burden and is rendering many projects unfeasible,” said Mr. Brackett. “The question becomes, would renters and the city as a whole be better off having more housing built even if it is all at market rates, if the alternative is to have nothing built? Twenty per cent of nothing is zero.” The city said in an e-mail response that it is open to making policy changes to address the increasingly challenging market. “City staff certainly appreciate that market conditions are difficult for development at this time,” said Matt Shillito, director of special projects. “The market is dynamic with many different

    Share this page
  • | | | | | | | | | |

    116 Rental Units Planned for Telus Site in East Vancouver

    ByStan S.

    Ledcor has applied on behalf of Telus for the rezoning and redevelopment of an existing Telus owned property at 6486 Chester Street in East Vancouver. The site is an existing infrastructure site for Telus, one of several proposed for residential redevelopment. The proposal is to allow for the development of a 6-storey rental project that includes: 116 rental units; a telecommunications facility on the northeast corner of the site; a total density of 2.89 FSR; A building height of 73 ft. This application is being considered under the  Secured Rental Policy. The architect for the project is Yamamoto Architecture. The full rezoning application can be viewed here: https://www.shapeyourcity.ca/6486-chester-st

    Share this page
  • | | | |

    6 Reasons Your Lights Are Flickering, Plus Easy Fixes

    ByStan S.

    Credit: Getty Images / Kateryna Kukota Lights flickering in your home might seem like a cause for concern, especially if you’re unfamiliar with how home electrical systems work. While flickering lights can stem from a major electrical problem, it is more likely that the issue is related to the bulb or switch. However, it is essential to identify the cause of the flickering lights so you can rule out any serious electrical issues. Learn the most common causes of flickering lights and how to fix them, as well as when it’s advisable to call an electrician. 6 Potential Causes of Flickering Lights Before calling an electrician, try troubleshooting these potential causes of flickering lights. 1. Bulb Issues One of the most common causes of flickering lights is an issue with the bulb. Fortunately, bulb issues are also the easiest fix. Solution: If you suspect the light bulb is burning out, you can easily test your theory by replacing the light bulb. If the new one doesn’t flicker, you’ve likely solved the problem. 2. Switch Issues Light switches see a lot of use. While premium switches may last a lifetime, budget light switches are likely to fail over time. In this case, you might notice the lights flicker when you touch the switch. Solution: If you suspect the light switch is causing the flickering lights, replacing the switch should solve the problem. To do so, turn off the electricity and the circuit breaker box, remove the switch plate, and uninstall the light switch. Wire and install the new light switch exactly like the old one, reinstall the switch plate, and restore the power. 3. Fixture Issues Less commonly, the light fixture itself may be to blame. If there are loose connections or corrosion in the fixture, the lights may flicker. Solution: You can attempt to repair the fixture by fixing the connections or removing corrosion, especially if it’s a premium fixture. However, it may be more beneficial to replace cheaper light fixtures. 4. Incompatible Bulb or Dimmer Switch If you’ve ever shopped for light bulbs, you may have noticed language on the box referring to dimmer compatibility. This is because some types of bulbs and dimmer switches don’t play well together. If you install a light bulb that’s incompatible with the light switch, it will likely flicker as a result. Solution: To ensure your light bulb is compatible with your switch, check the bulb’s specifications before purchasing a replacement. If you’re having trouble finding a light bulb that won’t flicker due to dimmer incompatibility, your best bet is to try a traditional incandescent light bulb. However, they may be difficult to find in some areas due to government restrictions on energy usage. Even LED light bulbs that specify dimmer compatibility can sometimes flicker when tied to a dimmer switch. 5. Wiring Issues Sometimes, the fixture, the bulb, and the switch may all be in good, working condition, but the wiring is to blame for the flickering lights. The wires could be worn or damaged, but it’s more likely that they are loose, causing an intermittent connection, which results in a flicker. Solution: With the power turned off, inspect the wiring and all relevant connections, including those at the switch, circuit breaker, and light fixture. 6. Electrical Load Issues If you notice the lights flickering whenever other appliances turn on, such as a vacuum, dishwasher, blow dryer, or other power-hungry products, it’s likely because you’re running them on the same circuit as the lights, causing an excessive electrical load on the circuit. Whenever these devices turn on, they draw a large amount of power, which causes the current running to the lights to fade, resulting in flickering. Solution: If the circuit is overloaded, move the high-power appliance to a different circuit. For something like a blow dryer or vacuum, unplug it and plug it into a different outlet. Install a dedicated circuit for large, permanently installed appliances, such as dishwashers. When It’s Time to Call a Professional Electrician If none of these solutions resolve your flickering lights or if the lights are accompanied by buzzing sounds, burning smells, heat around the fixture or outlets, or frequently tripping breakers, contact a professional electrician immediately. You should also consider professional help if multiple lights in your house are flickering and the issue isn’t isolated to a single fixture or circuit. If you haven’t already, a professional will likely instruct you to cut the power at the breaker until the problem can be remedied.

    Share this page
  • | | | | | | | | |

    Latest Broadway Plan Tower Application is for 127 Units at East 14th & Prince Edward

    ByStan S.

    The latest Broadway Plan rezoning application is for an 18-storey tower at 360 East 14th Avenue in the Mount Pleasant area of East Vancouver. The site is located just West of Mount Saint Joseph Hospital. The plan for the site includes: 137 units with 20% of the floor area for below-market rental units; a total density of 6.50 FSR; A building height of 186 ft. This application is being considered under the  Broadway Plan . The architect for the project is Stuart Howard. The full application can be viewed here: https://www.shapeyourcity.ca/360-e-14-ave Comments are closed.

    Share this page
  • |

    How to declutter your home: comprehensive, room-by-room tips

    ByStan S.

    Clearing out your house can be an exhausting process: so many decisions to make, so much stuff to move around, and so much research into the best ways to donate or recycle your unwanted things. Tackling one room at a time is logical and helps to make things manageable, and there are few rooms that will take more than one day to clear and reorganise. Some people take to decluttering like a duck to water, but others need a little more guidance. As a general rule, we find that if you can’t remember the last time you used something, or if it takes a while to dive down and find that memory, it’s time to get rid of the item in question. We’ve broken it down room by room, so you can follow along with the process, and find tips on the easiest and most convenient ways to get rid of things (if you live in the UK, at any rate). Some general principles Take everything out of the drawer/cupboard/wardrobe before you start sorting and group it. You need to see all your shirts/tins of food/chargers in one place before you make decisions. When you put it back, keep the groups! If all of the same kinds of thing are together, it makes it much easier to keep track of what you have. If you can’t remember the last time you used an item (assuming it’s something functional), or retrieving the memory takes some effort, it’s time to get rid of it. If it’s expired (for food or bathroom products), if it’s been in the freezer for longer than three months (some might say six months), or it hasn’t fit you in the last year, get rid of it. Create seasonal storage, so that winter duvets, woolly jumpers and puffer coats are out of sight when you don’t need them. Underbed boxes are perfect for this. If you have a large house and lots of different places where things could be, it can be helpful to make a map or diagram of where everything is, and keep it somewhere easily accessible. Have a plan for what you’re going to do with unwanted items. It is overwhelming to pull everything out of your cupboards and have no idea what to do with them. Don’t throw things away unless you absolutely have to. Most things can be recycled, and there are more and more facilities to do so easily. As you begin with any given room, set up a box for things to throw away (keep it to a minimum), things to recycle, things to donate, and things to sell. This will make it easier to take action once the room is in order. Setting up a halfway house box in your house can also be helpful for ambiguous items. If you’re hesitating about donating something or putting it in the rubbish, relegate it to the box for a week or two, and then go through the box and see if your feelings have changed. Many retailers have started offering facilities to recycle old electrical items and textiles, or even buy back old furniture, and some offer vouchers in return. IKEA’s scheme to buy back assembled pieces of furniture is particularly worth knowing about, since old IKEA furniture can be hard to shift in other ways, and they will give you in-store credit for new pieces. John Lewis has promised to have similar schemes in place in every category by 2025, and currently recycle small tech appliances. Listing something for free on Gumtree is very often the quickest way to get rid of something. If you’re tempted to list an item for a small sum, but you want to prioritise getting it out of the house quickly, think about giving it away instead. People become remarkably unfussy when something is free, and they’ll come and collect it without a peep. For whole house clear-outs that involve multiple kinds of item (furniture, clothes, books, etc), booking a collection with the British Heart Foundation (which is great for furniture) or icollectclothes.com (which takes clothes, books, toys and small homewares) is a hassle-free way to go. How to dispose of different types of clutter If the thought of lugging old books and DVDs down to the charity shop is a dispiriting one, Ziffit (run by second-hand book moguls World of Books) is an excellent option for disposing of them, and you can regain a few pennies at the same time. Scan the ISBN or barcode with the camera on your phone, and the Ziffit app tells you how much they’re willing to pay you for it (usually somewhere between 50p and £5). You can then package them up, and organise a collection: minimal effort and a tiny bit of money back, hurrah! Electrical and electronic items Small electrical items like hairdryers/DVD players can be a pain to recycle. Looking at your local council website is a sensible place to start, as they will have the location of big recycling centres as well as any nearby WEEE (Waste Electric and Electronic Equipment) bins. These are usually located on major roads or in car parks, and take small devices that plug in. Some retailers also offer WEEE recycling: Currys is one of the best, and will take pretty much anything and give you a small voucher in return. Find out more here. You can also take small

    Share this page