Welcome To Kendra Cooke's Monthly e-NEWS - May 2008

Spring Has Sprung!!  Have you completed your Spring Cleaning?  When was the last time you cleaned out your old paperwork like bank statements, tax returns, old files of receipts, etc?  I have a perfect and SAFE place for you to deposit your personal paperwork that needs to be shredded!  I am teaming up with the 5th/3rd Bank here in Smyrna on Sam Ridley Pkwy to sponsor a Community Shred Day!  We have sponsored a truck to be there on Saturday, May 31st from 9-1pm.  Bring your personal documents by to be shredded by a professional service.  You will enjoy the extra space you will have once it is all gone and you will have peace of mind knowing it was disposed of properly!  Each family can bring 4 boxes of papers to be shredded!  Please let me know if you have any questions and I will be glad to help.  I look forward to seeing on Saturday the 31st !

Kendra Cooke 

Kendra Fact

Kendra was recently honored by the United Way of Rutherford County at a High Tea.  She was honored as one of the top 20 leaders in the County under 40!  The event was to honor young women who are committed to impacting many lives and that help to maintain the “giving culture” in our Communtiy.

Cleaning Outdoor Furniture
From "Talking Dirty With the Queen of Clean"

We're getting ready to clean the dirtiest of your outdoor furnishings: the grill. But first, we'll clean the most common kinds of outdoor furniture, starting with your cushions. Basic Recipe for Outdoor Cushions

1 teaspoon dishwashing detergent
1 quart warm water
1 tablespoon borax

1. Saturate a sponge and use it to wash the cushions. You can put it in a spray bottle and saturate cushions on both sides, paying particular attention to the crevices and creases. Let the cushion sit for 15 minutes.

2. Spray the solution off with a hose using a strong force of water.

3. Stand each cushions on its edge out of the direct sun to dry.

4. When almost dry, spray with a fabric protector.

5. To remove dust between cleanings, vacuum as needed. Or, if the cushions are small enough, just shake them out.

Canvas Seats and Chair Backs

If the canvas is removable, you've got it made. Most canvas is machine-washable. Just remember to put the canvas back on the furniture while it is still damp to maintain the shape of the canvas.

If the canvas cannot be removed, you'll need a scrub brush and a bar of Fels-Naptha laundry soap. Run the brush back and forth across the soap, and scrub the canvas. Rinse well and stand cushions up on edge. This method removes bird droppings and many stains.
To clean plain aluminum (the old-style lawn chairs), you'll need a plastic scrubber or fine steel wool soaked in detergent. Simply scrub the chairs, rinse well and dry.

Here are some Queen-tested recipes for cleaning different types of outdoor furniture:

White Plastic
1 gallon warm water
3 tablespoons automatic dishwashing detergent (contains a bleaching agent that will whiten the plastic)

Use a sponge or soft brush. Leave the solution on 15 minutes, then rinse and dry. Note: Don't use this on colored furniture

Colored Plastic or Resin
Clean colored plastic furniture with an all-purpose cleaner and water. Rinse well because sunlight and weather will hurry in fading process.

• To clean aluminum with a baked-on enamel finish, keep in mind that the surface can scratch.. You'll need a sponge soaked in detergent or your favorite all-purpose nonabrasive cleaner. Just scrub, rinse and dry with a soft cloth.
• To maintain the shine on plastic, resin and metal furniture, give it a good waxing. Remove the cushions first, if possible, because the wax can stain. Use a soft cloth or the applicator that comes with the wax to apply, then let the wax dry. Finally, buff it off.
• Clean plastic webbing with an all-purpose cleaner. Your scrub brush will probably come in handy here as well for any stains. Rinse with plenty of water.

Remember, if you clean your patio furniture on a regular basis, you can expect it to give you years of comfort and good looks

Tip: To clean your grill window, spray the inside of the glass with oven cleaner. Wait a few minutes and then scrub it. Rinse well when you are through.