My backyard is a dismal excuse for an oasis.  It has been an eyesore for more years than I would like to count. I have lived in my home for almost 9 years and I remember the very first year I moved in, I was 8 months pregnant with my soon to be 9-year-old.  It was Halloween when we started moving things over but it truly wasn’t completed until the middle of November.  Our backyard then was all done really nicely with tiny stones.  There was no grass, just patio stores and this lovely river rock and a maple tree.  A very immature maple tree but a maple tree nonetheless.  Now in any other backyard that tree would probably have been lovely just not in mine.  My backyard is very small as I live in a townhouse complex so having a maple tree, which would have grown very large, was not the best thing not to mention, it killed the grass, although I didn’t know that until after our first summer in the house.  That first summer I remember spending 500 dollars redoing all of the sod in both the front and back yard.  It was gorgeous that year.  Winter came and the following summer, the grass never came back.  The grass never came back again.  I gave up on the yard and it has become a mud pit with weeds.  This year though, it is getting a makeover.  I want a space that we an all enjoy and hang out in.  This year we will have the best yard on the block.  I will be posting about it later as I can’t wait to share with you what is happening to it.

In the meantime, I am sure that you have noticed that at your local home and garden store in the last few weeks, the seasonal aisle is stocked full of BBQs, patio furniture, and oh-so-fabulous backyard lounge chairs. Tempting as it is to toss out the old stuff that’s been sitting in your garage all winter – or worse, taking a beating outdoors for the past few months – a few simple, budget-friendly tips and tricks will help to make everything old look new again.

1. Make old, new again. There’s nothing worse than removing your patio furniture cushions from storage and realizing they’re all stained. Before you think about tossing them, give them a clean. Mix OxiClean Versatile Stain Remover with water and let the cushion covers soak for 1 to 6 hours, depending on the severity of the stain. Wash as normal and your cushions should come out stain-free and looking brand new.
2. Win the weeding war. Did you know that watering your weeds makes it easier to pull them out? If it hasn’t rained in a few days, water your weeds before yanking them. Fun fact: If the soil is moist, you are also less likely to disturb any plants nearby.
3. Save with a little scrubbing. There’s a simple solution for removing dirt, grime, and stains from patio furniture and even your deck. Mix OxiClean Versatile Stain Remover with water (following the instructions on the package) and apply the solution to almost anywhere. Let stand for a few minutes and scrub as needed. It will leave everything looking neat and clean again.
4. Wheel your way to wonderful. Re-arranging rather than replacing is also a good way to give new life to your backyard. Consider moving planters and patio furniture to different spots within your space to give it a wonderful new look and feel. Remember, you’re not alone when moving heavy items like lounge chairs… there are wheels to help! Wheeling your furniture around doesn’t eliminate all the hard work but will put less strain on your back.

Be prepared that after a weekend of weeding and wheeling, your back, arms, legs – yes, your whole body – may be aching with pain. Make sure you leave yourself enough time on Sunday evening for a warm bath and a few hours curled up with a good book or movie. Before going to bed, rub and soothe your sore muscles (all of them!) with Rub A535 Extra Strength Heating Cream. The best things about this product is that it works fast and is non-greasy so you can put it on right before going to bed and it won’t stain your sheets.

Have you started prepping your backyard for the summer months? Share your favourite budget-friendly tips for getting your outdoor space, garden party ready.

Tags : A535, backyard oasis, church & Dwight, oxi clean, tips