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Make this Fathers Day the best ever by knocking a few chores off his to-do list. Here’s a few suggestions.
Clean the pavers
After a winter’s worth of mould growth and little use, his paving or concrete probably isn’t looking it’s best. Grab a pressure washer and give them a blast. For stubborn stains, you might need to give the surface a scrub with a stiff broom and a specialist paver cleaner first. Once dry, make it look better for longer by applying a sealer.
Fix a rattling door
If one of your dad’s pet peeves is a closed door that rattles when the wind gets up, solve the problem for him once and for all – and it’s really easy! Grab a screwdriver and remove the metal plate on the door frame that the latch goes into. There’s a little tongue on the side of the hole in the plate. Bend it slightly towards the hole. Screw the plate back on the frame and close the door. The tongue will push the latch against the frame, stopping the rattle.
Sharpen his tools
There’s nothing worse than working with blunt tools and your dad will be rapt to find his tools razor sharp the next time he goes to use them. Chisels are best sharpened using a sharpening stone but if they’re in really poor shape you might need to use a bench grinder first. Use a fine metal file on his gardening tools and remove any built up sap or rust using a bit of oil and fine steel wool.
Service the lawnmower
Get his lawnmower in tiptop shape for the sunny season ahead. Remove any old fuel then give the underbody a clean so the clippings will flow into the catcher. While you’re there, remove the blades and sharpen them with a file or replace them with new ones if badly chipped. Finish by giving the engine a service. You can pick up an engine service kit from your local hardware store with all the parts and materials you’ll need to get the job done.
Spruce up garden furniture
Timber garden furniture can show it’s age after a while, but it doesn’t mean it’s ready for the scrap heap. Start with tightening any bolts and screws holding it together to remove any wobbles. Use a deck cleaning product to remove any grey, weathered timber and built-up dirt. When it’s dry, finish off with a coat of garden furniture oil or if you really want to surprise him, a stain to give it a whole new look.
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