It’s time to hit the deck — at least to clean it for the warm months of outdoor entertaining and relaxing. If you don’t want to do the job yourself — especially if it has been a while since the last cleaning — there are companies that will do it for you. Check the Yellow Pages or ask friends or neighbors for recommendations. The mild, dry and generally sunny winter probably means that if you cleaned your deck last fall, you might need to just spot clean and add a coat or two of waterproofing, which needs 24 to 48 hours to dry between coats. At least three days of good drying weather should have elapsed between cleaning and coating the deck. A cloudy day is best for cleaning, because the deck needs to stay wet to thoroughly clean the surface. If you haven’t cleaned the deck in a couple of years, you might want to rent a power washer, but check them out first and read the instructions when you get one. The appropriate washer for this kind of job is one that delivers 1,500 to 2,100 pounds per square inch. What cleaner to use• According to home writer Alan J. Heavens of Knight Ridder Newspapers, vinegar works well, as do diluted household bleach and chemical-based cleaners. The odor of bleach and chemical cleaners, however, can be overwhelming with prolonged use. His suggestions: Mix 1 quart vinegar to 4 quarts water, a 3-to-1 solution of water to bleach, or whatever is called for in the powdered or liquid chemical cleaner, then let the mixture sit for 10 minutes or so to settle. Choose an area about 4 feet square and apply the cleaner with a sprayer. Wait five minutes. To clean the area, use a short-bristle brush that doesn’t dig into the wood. Next, rinse the spot thoroughly with water, to stop the cleaning action, and move on to the next 4-by-4 area. If there are plants underneath or near the deck, either cover them with plastic or soak them with enough water to neutralize any cleaning solution, even if the manufacturer says the solution won’t harm plants. If you use bleach, wear old clothes. SCRUB A DUB The Soap and Detergent Association has this advice for spring home cleaning: Airing the house can make a big difference. Cleaning makes it livable, and with the help of some new cleaning supplies, you can almost enjoy the process. It is a far cry from “elbow grease” and forgetting nice nails and soft hands for a while. Besides lemon and pine, there is a new generation of scents to appeal to homeowners, including bouquets of fresh herbs, fruits and flowers. Cleaners designed to kill harmful germs and bacteria throughout the house come in a wider variety, including window, upholstery and countertop cleaners in addition to commonly used hand soaps. Not only are they better and smell better, they come in convenient forms. Wipes are made for glass, furniture, floors and even leather upholstery. Great for dirt-conscious consumers, these disposable towelettes and the germs can be thrown away. Anyone can use single-use dust mitts (dry cloths that fit over the hand). All-in-one mops are making that job easier. These electrostatic mops use cloths or sheets to clean dusty floors of all types and eliminate moving furniture great distances to clean the floor. If you have a paneled den, they are a must. Get this straight from the start: There is no one right product for all jobs. Cleaners are designed for specific jobs. If it does several really well, buy it, but don’t expect it to do all the work. Having the right product or tool will make it go faster and seem more rewarding. For more cleaning tips, visit www.cleaning101.com on the Internet. MOVIN’ ON No move is stress-free, but the U.S. Postal Service’s moving guide reduces the hassle by streamlining some of the most nagging chores. The Web site www.moversinfo.com lets you change your address, forward your magazine subscriptions and order utilities online. You can also learn a bit about your new community, find a mover or a truck-rental company, and find a gas station in your new neighborhood. The site also has lots of how-to information, such as packing tips, a checklist and information on moving with pets and children. You can even find ideas for making traveling with kids fun. POWER UP Computers, big-screen TVs, electronic games, faxes — all add to the load on a home’s electrical system. If a house isn’t adequately wired, that equipment can create a fire hazard, says Mike Kuhn, director of field services for HouseMaster, a home inspection company with headquarters in Bound Brook, N.J. The strength of electricity is measured in amperes, or amps, and is indicated by the thickness of the electrical cable that supplies the home. A four-bedroom, two-bath house with gas heat and appliances should be able to get by with today’s minimum standard of 100 amps, Kuhn says, but a home with an electric range, central air conditioning and an electric clothes dryer would be better off with 150 to 200 amps. Many homes built before 1960 have a 60-amp system, which might not be sufficient for today’s needs. Kuhn recommends that homeowners with such systems consider upgrading. — From staff and wire reports Send home and garden news to Homework, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, D.L. Clark Building, 503 Martindale St., Pittsburgh, PA 15212. Fax: (412) 320-7966. Or e-mail tribliving@tribweb.com .

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