Big Bend Real Estate Guide September 2020 | Page 14
Preparing for indoor, outdoor entertaining
With warm weather comes an
overwhelming urge to get outside and
enjoy it. From barbecues and cookouts
to ice cream parties and poolside
hangouts, summertime is a popular
excuse to kick up your feet and invite
your friends and family over to
celebrate together.
Now is the perfect time to give your
deck or patio area a little attention
before inviting the masses. Follow these
tips to revamp and refresh your home’s
exterior and interior ahead of hosting
your next summer event.
1. Get your gardening gloves on. A
little color goes a long way for a bed of
plants and flowers. Plant some bright
flowers along your patio or consider
growing functional, edible plants that look
and taste great. Gardening is a fun
summer project that can add beauty to
your home’s exterior lounging areas. If
gardening isn’t your thing, fresh-cut
flowers in a vase as a centerpiece can do
the trick.
2. Ready the deck and home exterior.
Fungus on the deck isn’t appealing, nor are
mildew stains, dirt or weather-beaten
patches. Pressure wash your deck then restain
it with a matching color and finish,
and apply a wood preservative to help
prevent water damage and discoloration. In
addition, it might be time to give dull
shutters and doors a fresh coat of paint to
prevent them from looking washed out.
3. Remove mold and mildew. Mold and
mildew can form on the exterior siding
and trim of your home, as well as on patio
furniture, flower pots and swimming pools.
It’s important to regularly clean the
outside of your house as well as your
outdoor furniture and accessories that may
have been stored away all winter. It’s easy
to remove mold or mildew with a garden
hose, a long-handled brush and a mixture
of a 1/2 cup of bleach per each gallon of
water.
4. Stop the spread of fungal disease in
gardens. Fungal diseases can be deadly to
plants and wildlife. When used as directed,
bleach is a simple but powerful tool that
can be used to help stop the spread of
fungal diseases. It can also keep cut flowers
alive longer when you add a few drops to a
water-filled vase.
5. Clean up the bathroom and kitchen.
Don’t forget about indoor spaces. When
hosting friends, it’s likely that you or a
guest will need to visit the kitchen to
prepare a side dish or grab another drink
and bathroom visits are inevitable. Clean
up any loose items and use a disinfecting
wipe on hard surfaces like countertops,
door handles and light switches.
When it comes to summer entertaining,
all you need is a quick refresh before you
kick back with loved ones in a clean,
relaxing space.
14 Big Bend Real Estate Guide • September 2020