How I did it: Well, it was my Birthday. It was a really nice day outside, so I wanted to do something out there. I asked my kids if they wanted to go for a bike ride, and they turned me down! Then my wife bitched at me about something, and I decided I needed to go outside, desperately!

So I committed to cleaning up the back porch. I pulled off all the nasty and/or broken lawn furniture, and raked up the 2 years worth of leaves that had gathered. I removed a tarp, that was hiding some really good dirt, good compost material.

As I worked at this, my wife joined me. We hooked up the hose, and started scrubbing the deck. (Naturally, she started directing me, but I didn't mind.) Then my daughter came out and helped. We cleaned up the chairs, moved the worst broken ones over by the shed, and set everything up so it looked a lot better.

Lessons & tips: Just do it. It's amazing how when you start to do something, everyone seems to come around and tell you how it's supposed to be done. Soon you have more help than you ever expected!

Resources: Rakes, the hose was indeispensible, scrubbers, and people who actually care how your house looks.

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Jun 08, 2009, 01:55AM PDT | 0 comments | 2 cheers