hNew SpinSweep cleans hard surfaces outdoors

hNew SpinSweep cleans hard surfaces outdoors
Hoover has done the push broom one better with SpinSweep, a lightweight sweeper designed for use on hard surfaces outdoors.
SpinSweep has two brushes that rotate in opposite directions, pulling debris into a self-contained collection bin that can be detached and emptied. The device is powered manually: Pushing the sweeper makes the swiveling wheels turn, which in turn causes the brushes to rotate.
The sweeper has an adjustable brush height for various surfaces and picks up everything from sand and grit to leaves, grass clippings, pebbles and empty cans. It weighs 13 pounds and can be stored upright or hung flat on a wall.
SpinSweep will be available at hardware stores and the lawn and garden sections of mass merchandisers starting this month. Retail prices are expected to range from $99 to $129.
Use mild acids to clean soft marble surfaces
Many folks think marble and granite are much alike.
Actually, granite is a very hard stone, and most varieties of marble are composed of a soft substance derived from sea shells. Marble is easily damaged by cleaning products containing alcohol or acid. Most perfumes and many medicines contain alcohol.
Citric acid from oranges, lemons and grapefruit can dissolve marble, yet mild acids such as grapefruit also can be used to clean a marble surface.
If you have a dirty marble surface, try this: Put a layer of table salt on a small table, then slice a grapefruit in half. Dip the grapefruit into the salt and rub it on the surface of the marble briskly -- in the direction of the grain. If the marble can be cleaned, this will do the trick.
Squeeze tube endsmess of applying caulk
Applying caulk can be intimidating. For many homeowners and do-it-yourselfers, it's just too messy.
GE's Caulk-It attempts to eliminate mess from those otherwise simple caulk jobs. Featuring a squeeze-tube applicator -- no caulk gun is needed -- Caulk-It applies caulk with just the right-size bead. The offset nozzle is precut for a narrow bead, and if a larger bead is needed, the nozzle opening can be cut easily.
GE's new paintable latex formula is easier to tool (setting or smoothing the bead by wiping with a wet index finger). The applicator can be resealed and stored.
GE Caulk-It runs $5 to $6 a tube and is available at hardware stores, home centers and paint stores.