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Posts Tagged ‘wash<’
Preparing the exterior walls of a house or bungalow for painting is an onerous task that few private homeowners attempt. Does that sound too much for you too? No worries. We can help you Find a Painter who’s been rated by other customers already.
When he or she arrives they complete the preparation of the outside as summarised below. That’s assuming they don’t find anything exceptional, that they did not anticipate when preparing their Detailed Painting Quote. If they do, they’ll negotiate in good faith.
 Cast an eye over the structure to make sure there are no cracks that might admit water and cause damp. They’re likely to report any structural concerns they may detect too, although that’s not the job you’re paying them for.
Clear out and close-up any gaps with rendering. They’ll work elsewhere on the building for the next few days while the fresh plaster dries.
Remove all flaking or damaged paint using a combination of hand-scrapers, sanders, power washing and chemicals. Attend to any mould or fungus.
Discuss the best paints to use and the colours that you like and are practical too. When that’s done they can begin apply the paint.
I was chatting to my old friend a retired London Decorator who has a thought on anything and everything. I just can’t understand, he said, why so many folk try to paint outside in winter, when it makes so much more sense to do the inside then.
Mr-Skill provides a FREE service to UK customers requiring the services of a Painter / Decorator, or for that matter any other Skilled Person. They pay to list with us after we have checked them out. That’s the only money that ever changes hands as far as we are concerned. We make not a penny more from it, no kidding, so all this is FREE to you with our compliments. Isn’t it nice to know that you can still get good service like this today?
Tags: bungalow, chemical, clear, close, colour, cracks, damaged, damp, decorate, decorator, exterior, find a painter, flaking, fungus, house, london decorator, mould, paint, painter, painting quote, plaster, prepare, redecorate, remove, render, sander, seal, structure, wall, wash, water
Posted in Painting & Decorating | Comments Off
Posted in Handyman Services on Oct 23
I was looking around my yard the other day and just couldn’t believe the number of odd-jobs waiting to be done. It’s not the lack of wanting that’s holding me back, it’s the lack of time. I think I’m going to take my own advice and get a London Handyman estimate. And then I think I’ll accept it and then get on with things.
•  Clear out the gutters on the house. They’re full of leaves again! I’m fortunate to have a bungalow but just don’t feel like climbing up a ladder. Besides, how much can this cost?
• Clean the outside window frames. These looked so crisp when I had them put in a few years ago. They’re UPVC. They’ll just need a good wash with detergent.
• Tidy up the back porch. Five years of muddy boots have taken their toll and the spiders have done the rest. That’s one Handyman Quote I’m definitely going to accept!
• Tidy up the path around the back and sides. Paths under the eaves provide a valuable service by handling rainwater run-off. My house is hardly new, and I think it’s time to sort out the cracks before the weeds take hold. Don’t you too?
•  Sort out the garage. While I’m at it, I think I’m going to Find a Handyman to give the garage roof and door a make-over. I’m planning a new car next year, and I’m sure it will appreciate a near-new place to sleep at night.
That’s enough for now. I’m really looking forward to getting in a Rated Handyman from Mr-Skill to catch up on my backlog. The twin advantages are that I’ll be getting a better price, and will be able to review feedback from other previous customers too.
Come on all you Handymen. I can’t wait to see my garage door looking half as smart as this again!
Tags: backlog, block, car, clean, detergent, door, estimate, find a handyman, frame, garage, gutter, handyman quote, handyperson, house, job, ladder, leaves, london handyman estimate, mud, odd job, oddjob, path, porch, price, quote, review, roof, spider, tidy, time, want, wash, water, window, yard
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Posted in Cleaning Services on Oct 12
Outdoor garden furniture bears the brunt of weather when left outdoors throughout the year, and if neglected soon loses its showroom gloss. This is especially true in larger cities where airborne pollution can be quite severe. In fact I know of several London Cleaning Services who make a living out of dealing with the consequences.
 It is not always necessary to request a Cleaner Quote on Mr-Skill though. Regular attention along the lines below can help avoid unnecessary expense, assuming you have the time available and the will to do it.
• Wash wooden furniture that has been coated with exterior grade varnish with soapy water and then rinse it clean. If possible store it in a dry place for winter or at least wipe away accumulations of rainwater regularly. Once a year apply a proprietary cleaner followed by a protective coat.
• Machine-wash fabrics from cloth chairs and hammocks using a gentle wash cycle. Stretch the cloth back into position before completely dry, to avoid it shrinking.
• Clean aluminium, wrought iron and mild steel frames with soap and rinse. Coat metal furniture with a protective coating, or else it will definitely rust.
•  Umbrella covers need machine washing and the frame joints need lightly oiling too. As with chair seats, refit the covers before completely dry.
• Remove acrylic seat-covers and wipe them clean, using a bleach solution to remove any mildew. Let the mixture stand for 30 minutes before wiping clean again.
• Clean wicker furniture using water under pressure from a hose or pump, using soap if necessary. When dry, the application of a paste wax will restore the shine.
A lot of work perhaps for something we may not use every day, and that stands idle in the winter. Why not get a Cleaner Quote from Mr-Skill instead? Then you can put your clean outdoor furniture away for winter, and have it ready to use again in the spring. Now that makes sense.
Tags: acrylic, aluminium, attention, chair, clean, cleaner quote, cloth, coat, dry, expense, find a cleaner, frame, furniture, Garden, hammock, london cleaning service, mould, oil, outdoor, pollution, protect, regular, rinse, shrink, soap, stain, store, stretch, summer, time, umbrella, varnish, wash, water, winter, wood
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Its amazing how many homes there are across the length and breadth of the United Kingdom where the beauty of their bathrooms are spoilt by a grotty run of silicone sealer around the edges of the bath. To make things worse, some cowboys even add silicone on top of silicone,  until the effect looks really dreadful.
No Bathroom Fitter in London associated with Mr-Skill (or any others located elsewhere for that matter) would dream of doing anything as unprofessional as that. If they did, we would delete them from our system with a single click of our system administrator’s mighty mouse.
Here’s how you could expect the job to be done, if you decided to Find a Bathroom Fitter Here.
o Cut away carefully behind the old silicone on both sides with a sharp Stanley knife, taking care not to scratch the surface of the bath if it’s one of those new ones that scratch so easily. Peel as much of the silicone away as you possibly can. If it is really grotty behind it, you may like to use disposable gloves to protect your skin.
o  Clean the area thoroughly with a good disinfectant soap, and dry it well with paper towel.
o Pop down to your local hardware shop and buy some proprietary silicone remover, a tube of mould resistant silicone, and a caulking gun. While you are there, study the instructions on the silicone tube, to find out how to neutralize it when its job is done, and what safety precautions to take when working with it too.
o Using the silicone remover, strip every vestige of remaining silicone around the bath, and tidy things up generally. Now’s the time to attend to any grouting that might need cleaning off and tidying up too.
o Obtain a roll of the thinnest “sellotape” that you can find, and mask off around where you want the new silicone to go. Take your time here, because this is what will make the final difference.
I’ll continue in the next blog. Meantime, anytime you need to Get Bathroom Fitters Quotes to do a complete bathroom upgrade instead, we have some really good ones listed on this website.
Tags: bath, bathroom, bathroom fitters london, bathroom fitters quotes, blade, careful, caulk, clean, cut, effect, find a bathroom fitter, glove, grout, gun, hardware, knife, mould, peel, remover, seal, sellotape, silicone, spoil, strip, surface, tidy, tube, wash
Posted in Other Craftsman Services | Comments Off
Years ago, when I was doing my apprenticeship under an irascible tradesman working for a Decorator in London, leaned the hard way that paint quality is all about preparation. This was  Ithrough the many times that I was forced to repeat a job in my own time over weekends, and once when I thought I was about to be brained by a pot of paint.
Those days are long gone past, and these days I spend most of my time training apprentice painters. I must confess though that sometimes I wish I had a pot of paint handy too, especially when feeling more than a little frustrated with certain of the British youth. For the record, if you have in mind to Find a Painter, these are some of the things you need to look out for when it comes to undercoating.
o Do they specifically propose to clean down all surfaces thoroughly first? Walls and ceilings must be scrubbed to remove all traces of dirt and mildew, preferably using sugar soap. This includes door and window frames, skirtings and the like.
o  What kind of crack filler are they going to use? Will the crevices be raked out and will all loose bits be removed? How will they be rendered dust-free, and how will the filler be worked away so as to become invisible?
o What different primer paints do they propose to use, and where, and why? Primers disappear under topcoats and cheap ones are often the main reasons behind attractive “budget” Decorator Quotes. If in any doubt, check first with the manufacturer of the paint – they all have customer hotlines these days.
Of course, when you Find a Decorator on Mr-Skill you can go ahead with far more confidence. This is because we assess them carefully ourselves, and you can usually see what other customers have to say about them too.
Tags: assess, clean, confidence, crack, crevice, customer, decorate, decorator, decorator london, decorator quotes, door, dust, filler, find a painter, frame, manufacturer, paint, painter, pot, quality, rake, scrub, skirting, sugar soap, surface, topcoat, tradesman, undercoat, wash, window
Posted in Painting & Decorating | Comments Off
Posted in Cleaning Services on May 23
Some people still think that a housekeeper’s job is a simple one and that all they really produce is a shopping list for the butler to order over the telephone. That may have been true in the grand  old days of pot boys and chambermaids. These days when you Find a Housekeeper though you literally get a Jill or Jack of all Trades.
A good housekeeper arrives early in the morning to feed and walk the family dogs. By the time he or she returns the family have gone to work or school leaving disorganized chaos behind them. It can take as much as half the day to wash up dishes, pack things away in bedrooms and get the laundry started. After that it is time to plan the evening meal that will be waiting for the family when they return home.
Which room will be thoroughly spring cleaned today? No doubt there will be stains to get off chairs and carpets, and walls to scrub clean too. It is amazing how much grime a busy family can create in just a single week, although this hardly surprises an experienced housekeeper.
 In the course of their busy day a housekeeper finds endless extra things to do. Chores like replacing broken shoelaces, sewing buttons on and replacing defective light bulbs too. In the middle of everything the kids arrive back from school – hungrily demanding their lunch and ready to turn everything back to chaos instead of doing homework.
Half an hour before their employers return, weary housekeepers put everything back in place again before slipping out of the backdoor. If the lady and master of the house find a single thing out of place their inevitable remark is I have absolutely no idea what that housekeeper does all day. Perhaps you know now? Then remember this when negotiating Housekeeper Quotes because most housekeepers really do earn their keep.
Tags: bedroom, bulbs, buttons, carpet, chair, chaos, clean, cleaner london, cleaner quote, dog, dust, feed, find a cleaner, find a housekeeper, grime, housekeeper london, housekeeping quotes, kids, laces, lunch, order, pack, school, shopping, stain, supper, sweep, tidy, walk, wash, work
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Not cleaned the greenhouse yet? It is almost summer already and time to get going. Clean it to maintain the structure. Clean it to get rid of pests. And do it on a warm breezy day so your plants don’t catch a chill and everything dries nicely.  You could Find a Gardener on Mr-Skill to do this for you, or you could take the weekend off and do it yourself.
o Begin with the Exterior by washing it down with warm water and a sponge. By all means use a little washing up soap but do remember to rinse. Use a soft inside broom soaked in warm soapy water to reach the roof and upper sides. Mind the glass!
o Check the frames and glass for any damage as you go along. Replace where necessary to keep your greenhouse looking good and to extend its life. If yours has a wooden frame, sand it down and paint it. Anything less and it will rot away. If rot has already set in however, get Gardener Quotes to build a new one, rather than throwing good time and money after bad.
o  Before cleaning the Interior please make sure that the electricity is turned off and isolated. Remove the contents to a sheltered place away from wind and fierce sun.
o Have a general clean-out of leaves and dirt. De-clutter your greenhouse – throw the junk away. Scrub down, including brick walls and inside pathways and disinfect thoroughly. When you are satisfied that everything is clean and functional inside, you can bring your plants back home and turn on the electricity again.
A Gardener in London who I know quite well always leaves a cyclamen behind as a special thank you, and believe me she gets regular return business. I’m not a gardener myself however I do think that this is a beautiful idea that should be propagated everywhere, just like cyclamens.
Tags: breeze, broom, clean, dirt, disinfect, dry, electricity, exterior, find a gardener, find a landscaper, frame, gardener london, gardener quote, gardening london, gardening quotes, glass, greenhouse, inspect, interior, isolate, junk, landscaper london, landscaper quote, landscaping london, landscaping quotes, leaves, maintain, off, paint, pests, plant, replace, rinse, rot, sand, soap, sponge, summer, warm, wash, water, wood
Posted in Gardening & Landscaping | Comments Off
Did you dance the fandango all last night, or have a few neighbours round for tea? Well maybe not as many as in the  picture to the right, but then as the sayings goes, it takes just two to tango. Party time is the best time too and we all enjoy it hugely. Instead of facing mess on the morrow though, why not speak to Mr-Skill about a cleaner?
You could Find a Cleaner in any part of Britain, and save up to 30% on average charges too. All their cleaners and housekeepers are vetted, and you can even check their feedback in terms of customer ratings. How much better is that than letting in a stranger, and finding Great Aunt Flossie’s silver teapot missing the next day?
A Cleaner in London (and elsewhere for that matter) has an amazing array of skills, and also  works quickly. In no time at all, your beloved house will be clean and tidy once again, the washing-up done and everything stored the way you like. Stubborn stains? No problem sir or ma’am, we will attend to it right away.
A good cleaner will also go out into the garden to find missing glasses and tidy up. Seedlings replanted, roses staked, what more could you want? In fact, you could almost organise a party as an excuse to get your place the way it would be if you had the time.
So, what not get Cleaner Quotes as part of party preparations? You could request a waiter on the night in question, so you could have fun as opposed to clearing plates. Another great idea from Mr-Skill. Enjoy the celebration and thanks for visiting.
Tags: birthday, celebration, clean, cleaner london, cleaner quote, dance, enjoy, find a cleaner, find a housekeeper, Garden, home, house, housekeeper london, housekeeping quotes, mess, neat, night, party, plate, quick, reception, save, skill, tidy, wash, work
Posted in Cleaning Services, Project Advice | Comments Off
Some say that uPVC Windows are the greatest thing since sliced bread, and I for one do not miss the annual chore of sanding down and sealing wooden window frames. While some suppliers may claim that their uPVC windows are maintenance free, I still believe they need a hand kept to them.
That does not mean that you need to rush off and Find a Window Fitter, provided you perform these simple tasks from time to time.
o Glass – Wash when necessary by hand with a mild detergent solution or proprietary glass cleaner. Remove hand jewellery first and use a soft cloth to avoid scratching. Rub repeatedly to loosen stubborn dirt, and never be tempted to use a scraper.
o Gaskets and Seals – Clean with a mild non-abrasive detergent every three months. Make sure they are correctly located. If damaged, or otherwise in need to replacement Get a Window Fitter Quote to do what is a specialised job.
o Frames – Wash by hand with a mild detergent solution quarterly. Never use abrasives, scrapers or chemicals either. While doing so, make sure that the external drainage slots are clear.
o Moving Parts – Inspect and clean all hinges and locks once a year and lubricate these with light oil. Remove all traces of oil from the glass and uPVC frames immediately.
Specialists in Window Fitting London increase the frequency of inspections because of the grease and grime born by the air pollution. This applies equally to other large cities as well. Look after your uPVC windows as circumstances require, and you should not need to replace them ever. This is just as well, because uPVC windows are expensive to replace.
Tags: chemical, clean, cleaner, damage, detergent, dirt, door fitter quote(s), door fitter(s) london, door fitting london, door fitting quote(s), drain.moving, find a door fitter, find a window fitter, frame, glass, grease, grime, hinge, lock, lubricate, maintain, oil, pollution, replace, rub gasket, seal, service, uPVC, wash, window, window fitter london, window fitter quote quote(s), window fitting london, window fitting quote(s)
Posted in Uncategorized, Window & Door Fitting | Comments Off
Silver is a thing of great beauty, especially when it is clean and shiny. In fact, I doubt many British households do not have at least one interesting piece bequeathed by a maiden aunt or commemorating some retired colonel’s military  success. Unfortunately, these days few of us have time for laborious polishing and cleaning, and so our precious silver languishes forgotten in that other great British institution, the cupboard under the stairs.
Before rushing off to Get Cleaner Quotes ahead of the arrival of the maiden aunt or retired army colonel, here is how you could refresh your silverware yourself. The trick to keeping silver looking good is managing the tarnish, which develops in contact with the air
o To Clean: Forget about expensive pastes that wear your silver thin. Mix two tablespoons of salt and two tablespoons of baking soda in a bowl, and add this to a sink-full of steaming hot water. Put a small sheet of aluminium foil in the bottom of the water and find a way to keep it there. Dip the silver items one by one – hey presto the tarnish will slide off, although you may have to soak stubborn pieces for five minutes more. When satisfied, rinse well, dry with a soft cloth and either store away, or display again.
o To Maintain: Wash silver once a week, and every time you use it. Soak it in warm water with mild detergent, hand wash each piece separately, rinse and dry it with a soft cloth. That is all you need to do, unless you want to buff a special piece up with a dry cotton cloth.
That was easier and cheaper than you thought. Now you can display and use your silver every day, without ever needing to Find a Cleaner with Silver Expertise. Your neighbours will be jealous, and who knows, that maiden aunt might leave you all her silver in her will – assuming that you really want a bucket-load to clean.
Tags: aluminium foil, baking powder, clean, cleaner london, cleaner quote, dip, display, dry, find a cleaner, find a housekeeper, hot water, housekeeper london, housekeeping quotes, polish, rinse, salt, silver, silverware, soak, store, tarnish, wash
Posted in Cleaning Services, Project Advice | Comments Off
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