Einhell expert gives seven tips for the garden spring-clean
As nature begins to awaken in the spring, so too does the urge to get things fresh, clean, and tidy. The annual spring-clean is not just a long-cherished tradition, but also represents a symbolic new beginning. Patrick Pflegler, Category Manager Garden at Einhell Germany AG, reveals seven tips for a more effective garden spring-clean – and what tools will make that work a little easier.
The golden rule of “cleaning from top to bottom” also applies in the garden
As the snow starts melting and the frost begins to recede, the first warm rays of sunshine will encourage home owners to get their own garden back into shape so that they can really enjoy it the whole year long. The Einhell garden expert gives seven tips for a well-organized spring-clean:
First: “Even outside, the most important rule is: Tidy up first, then clean from top to bottom. That’s why you should make yourself a plan for the spring-clean, particularly if the whole family is involved, because then the individual tasks can be allocated accordingly so you don’t get in each other’s way,” advises Pflegler.
Second: Many keen gardeners leave little piles of brushwood lying around as cover for hedgehogs, amphibians, reptiles, and insects. After hibernation, and before birds start breeding, is the perfect time to chop up this brushwood so that it can continue to be used in the garden. “You need to turn the piles over thoroughly, firstly to ensure that there are no animals still using them for cover, and secondly so that small branches can dry out properly,” the Einhell expert recommends. The subsequent chopping can be done with two different types of tools: the electric shredder and the silent shredder, also known as a roller shredder. Pflegler: “The fast-rotating blades of an electric shredder will cut garden waste such as twigs and branches and even other plant remains into small, manageable pieces that are ideal for mulching. The silent shredder works with a roller that chops and crushes the cuttings, breaking up the fibers, which is what makes this chopped-up material great for composting.”
Third: “Whether a garden shed, the fence or the privacy screen, if you’ve opted for the wooden variant you may find it necessary to put on a fresh coat of paint for protection against weathering or pests, for instance,” the garden expert says, adding: “Einhell offers a range of sanding tools that run on battery power, so they are flexible to use and will remove the old paint in a matter of moments. That gives you a clean substrate for applying a new primer or coat of paint. Not only will this improve the appearance of the whole property, it will also have a positive impact on the life of the wood.”
Fourth: Whether it's made of wood, metal or plastic, garden furniture needs a thorough clean after the winter. “Einhell’s HYPRESSO 18/24 pressure washer is perfect for this job. As a cordless tool with a five meter-long hose, it offers great flexibility and delivers a pressure of up to 24 bar, making it ideal for rapidly cleaning lightly soiled surfaces,” Patrick Pflegler says.
Fifth: Following the old cleaning adage of always doing the dirtiest jobs first, the outside fireplace, brazier, pizza oven or grill should be cleaned before seeing to the patio, the Einhell expert advises. “The ideal tool here is an ash vac with an integrated pleated filter that effectively prevents the ash from escaping. What's more, an ash vac is fireproof, unlike a conventional vacuum cleaner, because it has a metal housing, metal-reinforced suction hose and non-combustible filter material, which is a particular advantage in the barbecue season.”
Sixth: Many home and garden owners despair of the verdigris that seems to proliferate everywhere, particularly on shaded sides, due to algae, moss, and lichen. Chemicals or old household cleaners such as vinegar and soda are not only environmentally harmful, but can also attack the patio paving, Patrick Pfleger warns: “The simplest and most environmentally-friendly solution is pure water. In the PICOBELLA 18/215 cordless surface brush, Einhell has developed a multipurpose tool for cleaning and sprucing up stone surfaces, wood and synthetic turf. The integrated garden hose connection makes it possible to remove verdigris and moss with a thorough wet clean in just a single operation. The cordless paving scraper then comes into play. This enables the various surfaces to be made ready for the spring again in a matter of moments.”
Seventh: Finally, all that is left is to ensure an unobstructed view of the well-maintained garden from inside the house. For the last job, cleaning the windows, the tip is to wipe one side of the pane horizontally and the other vertically so that you can see at a glance where there are still smudges. “An even simpler solution is to use the BRILLIANTO cordless window cleaner. Thanks to the perfect interplay between the nozzle and the one-piece silicone wiper, the Einhell tool ensures streak-free results – whether you wipe horizontally or vertically. What’s more, the telescopic rod set available separately allows even high windows, conservatories and glass balconies to be cleaned. A separate nozzle set can also be obtained for very small glass panels, such as those in lattice windows, or for large, wide windows,” Pflegler explains.
Einhell expert Patrick Pflegler concludes: “As studies have demonstrated, the garden is increasingly becoming our second living room. That’s why a spring-clean is the perfect way to start the garden season.
About Einhell Germany AG
Einhell is a leading manufacturer of state-of-the-art tools and equipment for the house and garden. From its headquarters in Landau/Isar (Bavaria), the internationally successful company has continuously expanded its innovative rechargeable battery platform Power X-Change and is now the market leader in the area of cordless tools and garden equipment. For many years Einhell has set new standards in terms of endurance, performance, and safety. Einhell customers appreciate the freedom of cordless operation for all their DIY projects, as well as the excellent value for money that Einhell products represent and the first-class customer service offered by the company.