Thanks to Lowe’s and P&G for sponsoring this post and giveaway!
Summer has definitely arrived here in the South with 90 degree temperatures starting to appear on the thermometer (or actually my smartphone welcome screen – that is how we do it 21st century style, right?)
And I feel like I am a little behind on getting the outdoors ready for summer, entertaining, and just enjoying summer around our house. I still have some yard work to do, and definitely have some maintenance and cleaning to do.
Enter our back deck.
Pretty sad picture. I haven’t completely neglected this area as I did wash the pollen off after it was finally done in the Spring, and did plant some flowers in the pots, but other than that, I haven’t done much else.
Everything was pretty grimy, and has the mildew on it that comes from a rainy winter and spring.
We usually keep our grill covered but just in the day (or 2-3) that it takes for me to remember to put the cover back on after it cools down, it was very grimy and dirty too.
And the wall by the back door was disgusting. We just had our house pressure washed a year ago but this side of the house always gets mildew on it.
And I painted our door 2 years ago too – but you couldn’t tell from these pictures.
It was definitely time to get to cleaning. And thankful Lowe’s and P&G came to my rescue and sent me some great new products to try.
Duracell batteries, Mr. Clean Magic Eraser Outdoor Pro, Tide Pods, Bounty paper towels, and Mr. Clean Outdoor Pro Spray.
I pressure washed the deck, but even that didn’t take care of much of the dirt and grime. So it was time to apply some elbow grease, although the Mr. Clean products fortunately didn’t require much sweat or tears since they worked amazingly well!
I went to work on the grill first using the Mr. Clean Outdoor Pro Spray and Mr. Clean Magic Eraser Outdoor Pro. See that line down the middle of the grill? The right side has been cleaned, the left side hasn’t! Big difference!
Here’s some more before/after pictures:
Then I started tackling the door and wall. I was so excited when the Mr. Clean Magic Eraser Outdoor Pro easily removed ALL the mildew and dirt of the door. It was simple and easy too – no scrubbing – just a simple rub with the eraser and the door and white paint looked brand new! Seriously, not even the pressure washer took this gunk off.
Here’s some more before/after shots.
And the wall…
Yep, I am sold! All that grime and mildew literally wiped off using the magic eraser – something even the pressure washer couldn’t get completely off. It worked great on the vinyl siding, the white trim pieces, pretty much everything!
One last offender was the glass coffee table.
The Bounty paper towels and Mr. Clean Outdoor Pro spray was a quick fix for that too.
And here’s a sneak peek of some other things happening out there. I was all inspired to do some “prettying up” and decorating out there once the deck area was all sparkling clean.
My top 3 tips to get your outdoor spaces ready for entertaining are:
1. Clean it up (and the Mr. Clean Outdoor Pro products make this easy!)
2. Add some green/color (potted plants, wreath on your door, plants, etc.)
3. Decorate! Add some fresh colorful pillows, a fun lantern or candle, or some other decorative item.
If I get the pillows all all finished and everything put back into place, I plan to show you my new clean and decorated deck tomorrow!
If you are looking for some more outdoor cleaning tips, check out this site for lots of tips.
Now, the exciting giveaway – one of YOU will win your own outdoor cleaning kit pictured below courtesy of Lowe’s and P&G!
And as a added bonus not only do you get all the cleaning supplies I used and more, but you also get a $100 Lowe’s gift card!! So that way when you head to Lowe’s to pick up some flowers, citronella candles, or charcoal, you can pick up a pretty pillow or two or something else on your list.
Here’s what is included in the prize pack:
· $100 Lowe’s gift card
· Mr. Clean Outdoor Pro Spray
· Mr. Clean Magic Eraser Outdoor Pro
· Bounty
· Tide Pods
· Duracell AA Batteries
Just enter using the simple rafflecopter widget below. (If you are reading this in a reader or email, you will need to click over to the post here to enter.) Giveaway ends Tuesday, June 18th at midnight EST.
(NOTE:Leaving a comment on this blog post is a MANDATORY entry for this giveaway. If you click “I commented” on the rafflecopter widget, you MUST comment on the blog post or I reserve the right to delete your entry.)
Thanks to Lowe’s and P&G for providing me with the products to try out and sponsoring this giveaway. All opinions and statements are mine.
What would buy a couple gallons of their new product Restore to seal our garage floors. Been looking to do that for a couple months now! Wish me luck!
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We just had our roof replaced. It looks so good and makes very apparent that we need to spend some time sprucing up all around the outside of our house.
Wonder if you can buy that Mr. Clean by the gallon??? LOL . . . that stuff is amazing!
We are building a new deck this summer and that Lowe’s gift card would come in very handy!
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I want to refinish these great nightstands I bought off of Craigslist! So with a Lowes gift card, I would buy wood filler, some new pads for my sander, stain, protective top coat, and some new hardware! After that the skies the limit! My husband and I love refinishing furniture together ???? and I am a huge cleaning machine so I would make quick use of all those wonderful products! Love your website!
Material to build my sister a shelf in her bedroom.
You pretty much sold me on that Mr. Clean outdoor cleaner. Wow! Impressive!
im with Sandy! you sold me on the Ms. Clean outdoor cleaner! my grill needs a serious makeover!
and i would buy some perennials (hopefully that’s right – come back kind) and a new American flag for my front porch.
Going to go eat some mr clean outdoor cleaner!
If I win I would buy mr clean products and some flowers for my deck
You know I’m all about using chemical-free stuff, but those Magic Erasers are one thing I’ll never give up! I haven’t tried the outdoor kind, but I was pretty impressed that it took everything off your door and siding. Glad to see the gift card is for Lowe’s and not HD since that’s all we have here!
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Looking forward to painting the front door a fresh, new color
The deck looks great! I love your colorful pillows! So many great finds at Lowes, but I’m really wanting a jigsaw at the moment. =)
Is that small wall of your house facing north? The north facing side usually ends up looking like that, and in not much time at all!!!
I would have Chet buy whatever he needs to finish our house to get it ready to sell.
Ooooo! With $100 definitely flowers and paint, and a new lawnmower blade. Hope to get my deck looking half so nice.
I would grab some sealer to seal my outdoor chairs, a new paintbrush, and some flowers to spruce up my front yard! Thanks for the giveaway!!
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Love your blog. I would spruce up my furniture. I would get a patio umbrella. We don’t have one and it would make a huge difference.
I’d have to buy some materials to finish my basement–namely, trim!!
I would buy paint and brushes.
I would get some outdoor blinds for my patio
This is exactly what I need right now!
I would buy some yard decorations & flowers.
seashell210 at gmail dot com
With a Lowe’s gift card, I would put it towards 2 chairs that match the bench for the front porch.
What a great giveaway! Both things would be a great help to all the sprucing up I have planned around my house!
I would paint this beautiful wooden adirondack chair I bought a few years ago. It was made by hand locally and really isn’t weathering very well.
I would look in Lowe’s clearance section first— maybe flowers? Colored light bulbs if they have them? a Father’s Day present?
I would buy some plants for my garden
I have been using organic cleaners for inside my house.
It would be great if I could find organic cleaners that work well outside, especially for the glass coffee table.
Thanks for the great post.
You have provided an inspiration! Thanks
I would get new paints and grill for our patio.
Love your before and after pictures. I would use the Lowes gift card to buy some new cushions for my front porch chairs.
Great before & afters! New pillows for the outdoor furniture or maybe a rocking chair. I’ve always wanted one of those.
I would use the gift card to buy some plants. My front and back porches desperately need some pretty plants to dress them up. As for the supplies for free…I REALLY need them too! We have some vinyl siding on our house, although it is mostly brick, that need cleaning so badly. I would sure love to be the winner!
If I won these great products and a $100 gift card I would buy some flowers and some solar lighting. This way I could enjoy my clean and beautiful yard and deck both day and night.
I would buy a nice umbrella to shield my table and chairs, so I can enjoy them.
I would buy some plants and pillows to spruce up my porch
I’ve cleaned and put out plants, but my grill cover is faded and tired looking. It is still functional, so I don’t want to replace it. Got any creative ideas on sprucing up an ugly grill cover?
Those outdoor magic erasers are awesome!
If I won, I’d use the Lowe’s gift card towards a new American Standard Champion toilet 🙂
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The deck looks great – I am inspired to give our patio a little sprucing up:)
paint for the baby’s room!
Need new organizers for the pantry!
we’re going to use free bricks to make a patio. I don’t love that, but they’re free. so i’m thinking a big outdoor rug from lowe’s would be a good compromise. thanks!
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New closet doors to update our old ones
I would go nuts with flowers to add to my yard!!! Load up on color!!
Wow, I could use one of those erasers and the cleaner spray! We just pressure washed our deck, and still have some areas it didn’t get. Yours looks great!
Some pretty plants.
With the Lowes gift card I would buy sealer for my deck and also some beautiful flowers!
I’d get some plants for my front yard with that $100 Lowes GC!
HELLO – I’d love to win the cleaning supplies and $100 Lowe’s certificate. I enter these blog give aways all the time – and sadly never win. But I keep trying. 🙂
I would buy paint for our bathroom and a lighting fixture in our dining room
I would buy supplies to spruce up my deck.
I would put the $100 toward buying some wicker chairs to replace my current patio chairs.
Hope my deck looks as nice as yours!
tools for my garden
That Mr. Clean Pro Spray looks like it really works well on mildewy siding. I am guessing it does not come in a package for spraying areas that are out of reach. That would sell me on it!
I would love to buy some new cushions for my outdoor furniture
I would buy paint! Thanks!
That Mr Clean sounds like it is just what I need! Power washing didn’t get it all. You know I’ve got to try it now!!
If I win the $100 Lowes gift card, I’m getting more plants, potting soil and containers. My deck needs some greenery, and my houseplants need repotting. Thanks for the tips and the chance to win.
I actually feel like cleaning off my back patio since I’ve read your post. I think I will check out the outdoor Mr Clean stuff too. I know the little white sponges work great. Always enjoy your posts.
I am presently looking at a shower unit at Lowes so it would be great to help with that expense.
I would buy paint and paint supplies!
Man! I have got to get some of those Outdoor Pro Mr. Clean erasers! I’ve got a nasty back door too. Your porch looks great!
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I would buy landscaping rocks for my flower beds.
We need some sheetrock patchwork supplies and some paint. Thank you!
Will be getting some Mr. Clean outdoor cleaner for the lake house. Lots of winter grime, spring pollen to clean up. Thanks for sharing the products.
Hmmmm…I love Method soap and cleaners…have to get that at Lowe’s or Target. 🙂
and I’m comin’ up on needing some wood for planking the walls in the bathroom. A gift card would be great for that!
Thanks!
Kelly
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Can’t wait to try these products. Lots of cleaning up to do outside. Thanks for a chance to enter!! Love your blog.
I would buy paint for my bathroom
I would love to paint our rooms, and bathroom!
What an awesome giveaway!!! Cleaning supplies and gift cards are a few of my favorite things!
Great post… you’ve inspired me to tackle the green mold on our North walls!
My husband and I just moved to Louisiana from our home state of Georgia and our new home needs some sprucing up. I would buy some paint to paint our foyer and two of our three bedrooms.
Love it….so makes me wanna clean my deck and I’m thinking of getting rid of my big table and replacing it with a coffee table….
Great post! thanks for the cleaning tips!
Love your deck…it looks amazing! I love magic erasers but I never thought about using them outside. Great idea (and I think we have the same grimy back door 😉
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I would use the gift card to either buy wood to have a friend build me a shelf for my new rooms or something to help decorate my new rooms
Thanks for the inspiration to get me going on cleaning up my back deck. I am in the midst of our LR and DR make over, getting towards the end, so I would get some of the final touches as we finish up – possibly a new ceiling fan.
I would paint the bathrooms/bedrooms!
well…. I think we would try to fix a few things around our house 🙂
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I would love to decorate my front porch. Besides a welcome mat, it is bare. That needs to change 🙂
Go yard sale shopping with me and maybe we can change that 🙂
Love your blog and I sure could use the Lowes Card and cleaning supplies;)
I would buy some patio chairs, soon to be a family of five and we only have three chairs 🙂
I’m going to run out and try that Outdoor Pro Magic eraser. I love th regular in the house, bu seeing what it did for your siding…..I’m sold! Oh and I would use the gift card to replace a window.
I have just moved home to be with my parents and I have been looking at their screened in porch trying to figure out what I can do to spruce it up and make it more inviting…you have given me some great ideas!!!! So excited!!!
I would probably give it to my husband and let him pick out tools or things he needs that pertain to his business. I might also like some flowers. 🙂
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I would give it to my hubby to get some things for home repairs
I pretty much don’t have anything outside. That’s why I’d love the gift card – To start a great outdoor space. We’ve always dreamed of a fire pit. (I have a few other ideas in mind also). Oh, and I LOVE Mr. Clean magic erasers. We’ve used them for years with our church VBS crafts (easily wipes crayons or even markers off of the white tables).
Would love to get some of those cleaning supplies. Would probably use the gift card to buy some vegetable plants.
You’ve inspired me to clean up my back porch. I didn’t even know they made an outdoor magic eraser. I love my indoor ones!
Would love to get some new indoor, outdoor carpet from Lowes, for my deck. Of course, I need to clean the deck first…. 🙂
Woo hoo! We are redoing our back yard for family times. A Lowes card would be amazing!
Oh yeah and those cleaning supplies would of a world of difference
We have a huge front porch. I would love to spruce it up with some plants and outdoor rugs. 🙂
I would definitely buy flowers and planters.
Your deck looks amazing.
monk5 at charter dot net
Awesome results on your before/after pics! Thank you for sharing!
Oh our grill broke last fall, and I really miss grilling! I would for sure buy a new grill!
I think I would get an Indoor/Outdoor rug, that would bring our outdoor space together.
My outdoor space could use a little more color. Your deck looks great.
I would buy flowers!
I would put it towards a pressure washer. It would really come in handy for cleaning outside stairs, lawn furniture before it gets painted, and to keep the new garage floor clean!!!
I need to try the outdoor Mr Clean magic erasers, love using the regular ones!
Where to begin? I’d probably use the card to build a custom desk for the office and get rid of the current monstrosity.
Lowe’s gift card would definitely help me spruce up my porch/patio area too!
We need to re-stain our deck. so If I won it would be gallons and gallons of deck stain.
I had no idea there was a magic eraser for outdoors! So excited to try this on our grill. If I won the gift card I’d run to Lowe’s and buy paint for my front door….or maybe flowers… Oh the possibilities!
I would love to get an indoor / outdoor rug for the porch. Love your deck; it looks great!
Love, Love, Love your blog!! Thanks for sharing about the Mr. CLEAN outdoor products going to definitely try these. If I were to win the Lowe’s gift card, I’d buy a sander for furniture projects, or maybe some paint or drop ceiling tiles for the basement!!
Wow! The transformations were amazing. If I won the gift card I would probably buy some plants and plant stands to go on our almost finished deck:) Anxious to try the outdoor Mr. Clean products.
I would get a bench for my front porch. A cute little yellow one I saw there a couple of weeks ago. Thanks for the chance to win.
I just got married 2 weeks ago and so with the Lowe’s gift card we could get a deck box to store all of the new outdoor items that we got from our wedding. Also maybe some paint to spruce up the patio set that I got from a yard sale for $20 to make it look a little better.
Wow I had no idea Mr. Clean Magic Eraser had outdoor stuff…………………..we just bought a house with a pool and have an outdoor aluminum patio that could use some cleaning up. I am so heading to Lowe’s on my lunch break. I have been following your blog looking for ideas to spruce up the patio or as I call it the “ackward space”. I have a big family and want a space that allows for dining at times but also lounging as well. Having a hard time finding inexpensive furniture that serves both. Been doing some garage saling due to inspiration from your blog and found some nice pieces that need new cushions and a coat of paint……………….I am sure Lowe’s would have what I need.
I would buy paint to paint my fence and also would love to have great cleaning products!!
I would buy some furniture for outside! We’ve never owned any. We talk about when we can eventually afford it after our student loans are paid off. I would love to surprise my husband with it! He’s in the Air Force, and it’d be great to see the look on his face after he came home from work and found me and our daughter out there with it!
I would love to buy my sweet hard working husband a new miter saw for Father’s Day. He has been wanting one and since we just bought our house the budget is tight! Love your info!
I would buy the Mr. Clean Outdoor pro spray & magic eraser. Didn’t know about these products! I would also like some lattice & spray paint to dress up the side of my deck. Thanks for the chance!
I would buy some mulch for our outside garden areas 🙂
new plants!
We would buy paint for the living room and bedrooms.
Would love to do a few projects outside .
I would put it towards a new grill
We SO need a new grill, this would be a great help towards that!
I would love to get some plants and flowers
I would buy some hanging plants to line my front porch 🙂
Some flooring for the bathroom and paint for the walls
If I win the Lowe’s HI gift card, I would buy some very much needed outdoor lighting fixtures, to replace the very dated ones on the front of my house, and I need a new door mat. Thanks for the great blog and giveaway!!
Gosh! There are so many things that I need to do in my backyard. We have an acre and it is so bare. We keep it cut but, I would love to plant a garden and make a nice sitting area.
This is the first summer in our new home , would love to be able to do something to the back yard so we could entertain outside.
I would love the GC and products. We just moved into a new home and it needs so much TLC. This would be such a great help to us!
I would definitely buy items to spruce up our deck. It needs major washing and a paint job! The old owners of our new house let it basically fall to pieces!
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Love this giveaway!! I love all these cleaning products and definitely would use them for my back porch! The gift card from Lowes would be great to replace my patio cushions and plants!
I could def use some out door love. We have wanted to add A deck for some time now. Looks good
Would love to win this to clean up outside!
I would buy some plants to spruce up the patio & paint to freshen up the front door.
We’re at Lowe’s at LEAST once a week. One of our favorite places to shop! I would definitely use the outdoor cleaning products for everything grungy, and the $100 gift card would a BIG plus for necessities!
I would purchase some more plants to bring a pop of color to my back patio area. We are working a little at a time to change it into an area that we can enjoy spending more time outdoors as a family!
I wonder if the magic eraser will work on plastic patio furniture??? Also want to try the spray for the deck, I washed my deck and it still looks icky. I can’t seem to get the mildew off .
Love reading your posts, I have learned so much, thanks.
I would buy some stain for my deck, a couple of small chairs and a hanging basket to make my little deck beautiful 🙂
I wonder if the magic eraser will work on plastic patio furniture??? Also want to try the spray for the deck, I washed my deck and it still looks icky. I can’t seem to get the mildew off .
Love reading your posts, I have learned so much, thanks.
My Lowe’s list is pretty long… some gravel and patio blocks would sure help around our fire pit! Thanks for the great ideas you always have!
I amgoing to have to get the Mr.Clean Outdoor Pro. Looks like it work great. I really enjoy the ideas you shar with us and look forward to many more Thank you.
a reversible drill. someone stole mine and I used it so much!
Just found your blog via Pinterest. My deck is really in need of a good cleaning, so I appreciate the tips for products that work with ease! I would use a Lowe’s gift card to get some cushions for my deck chairs.
Looking forward to reading your blog now that I’ve discovered it!
For sure we would replace the worn out cushions on our outdoor furniture!!
I’d use the gift card towards patio furniture, or a grill!
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Great job buddy!!
Cleaning you house and and the deck area is very daunting task especially in spring. I agree that Mr. Clean outdoor cleaner can really help you out to perform your task.
Thanks for sharing this valuable post. Keep sharing more..
Cheers!!
I saw a guy that recommended cleaning the bbq with a steam cleaner and I kinda like his idea more.
Hi Christina,
Amazing tips thank you!!!!
I will surely follow these tips to clean mildew in my bathroom. I am preparing for the annual deep cleaning and I want to make a very thorough list of the places.
Did I miss something? What did the Duracell batteries have to do with cleaning up the mildew from the wall and grease off the barbeque?
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This sounds great!!! Your patio is gorgeous!!!