#gocleanco

"It's all about the right tool to get the job done right!"  -- Jennifer

I know not everyone gets as excited about tools as I do, but I wanted to share a few of my favorite with you in case you are looking for some unique holiday gift ideas! You can muster through almost every job with the wrong tools, but let me tell you, it goes a whole lot better (and much easier) with the right tools! Here are a few of my favorite go-to’s for your hard to buy shoppers. And trust me, even if they already have a drill, my dad owns 5! You can never have too many tools! Happy shopping!

A few of my favorite things…

Compact drill with lights!

All in one screwdriver (with regular and mini bits!)

Pry bar

All time favorite cleaning combo from @GoCleanCo: Get a 2 gallon bucket with Powdered Tide, microfiber rags, bleach and tie a bow on it! Any woman would love this!

"You never get a second chance to make a first impression. "  -- Oscar Wilde

A cleaning company once told me that they cleaned the glass of the front storm door every single time they came because a sparkling clean door indicated a sparkling clean house (even if it wasn’t always!). The reverse is also true, if the front door is dirty, you wonder what condition the rest of the home might be. It’s honestly true! Well, just like clean glass, the threshold of the door (the bottom part of the frame you walk over) can get pretty disgusting and sometimes, there is only so much elbow grease can do. So, what’s next? Grab your can of gel stain and get to work!

Investment

Money | Maybe nothing if you have some leftover materials on hand! Supplies below.

Time | 1 hour working time; more for drying time.

Supplies*

Bucket of hot water, 1 tsp Clorox and 1 tsp Powder Tide from @gocleanco and an old toothbrush!

Painters tape

Gel stain

Steel wool or small paint brush

General Finishes oil based topcoat

Steps

Scrub the entire door threshold with the Clorox tide mix above. Get in the grooves and the corners. Wipe and let dry.

Tape off any area that isn’t wood to avoid getting the stain on it (floor and door edges). Seal tape edges well.

Use a very small amount of steel wool (fine grade!) with the gel stain in your desired color choice to go on the wood. Rub it in there with the steel wool and let sit for a minute or two. Use the steel wool again to wipe it off. Leave as much on as you want, depending on desired color. If you want more of a wood grain look, use a 1” chip brush to show the brush marks in the stain and let dry.

Let stain dry for 2 hours.

Apply first top coat with a soft cloth. Wipe on and wipe off excess. This should be a very thin coat. Let dry 24 hours.

Sand lightly if needed; apply second coat. Let dry 12 hours.

Apply third coat. Let dry 12 hours.

Enjoy the Project

Playlist | Very Nearly Nashville by Spotify

Wine | Angeline Merlot