Article: A dental tool, flathead screw driver, or strong pick is used to pick off barnacles. Wedge the pick or tool under the barnacle and gently pry it off. This should be fairly easy, as the bleach should have loosened the barnacles. If barnacles are being stubborn, chisel them off using a hammer and screwdriver. Angle the screwdriver under the barnacle and gently tap on the end with the hammer. This should dislodge the barnacle. After removing barnacles, take a scrub brush and wipe down your conches. Use light, scrubbing motions to remove any remaining dirt and debris form the shell. If some dirt or stains are not coming off, use your thumbnail to gently scratch them out of the shell. It's important that your conch shells air dry. Set them in a dry place where they will not be disturbed, such as a cupboard or cabinet. Do not attempt to polish your shells until they are completely dry to the touch. It can sometimes take conch shells awhile to completely dry, especially if you live in a cooler region. It is not unusual for shells to take a couple of days to dry completely. Once your shells are dry, they may look a little dull from the cleaning process. To brighten them up, dab some mineral oil onto a cotton pad or cotton ball. Rub the cotton on the shell and cover it completely with oil. If the shells is not as shiny as you want after one layer, add another. If you do multiple coats, let the shell dry for 12 hours between each coat.
Question: What is a summary of what this article is about?
Pick off any barnacles. Scrub down your shell. Let the shells air dry. Cover your shell in oil.
Article: Start by spraying the brick surface with a hosewater is typically effective at removing most dirt and dust from bricks. For tougher dirt and salt deposits, use a stiff-bristled brush dipped in a soap water mixture. If this isn't doing the trick, mix 12 cup (120mL) of trisodium phosphate into 1 gallon (3.8L) of water to create a cleaning solution and dip your brush into it before scrubbing the brick. Apply a solution of 1 part bleach and 3 parts water to mildew and let it sit for 30 minutes. Afterward, scrub the surface with a wire brush. Consider renting a 1500 PSI pressure washer from a home improvement store for larger areas of brick. Never clean brick with acid cleaning solutions or you might ruin the paint job. Place unfolded pieces of newspaper over your doors and windows and tape them to the perimeter with painters tape. For larger areas, use multiple pieces of newspaper. Be sure to cover their entire surface and fasten the newspaper firmly with painter's tape. Protect any other areas that you do not want to paintsuch as gas meterswith painter's tape or newspaper fastened with painter's tape. using acrylic caulk. Insert a scraper into the cracks and lever them to open them wider. After, brush out the dust with a straw cleaning brush. Cut your caulking tube at a 45-degree angle, taking care to keep the hole size small no further down than 14 inch (0.64cm). Insert the tube into your caulking gun, hold the release trigger, and pull the steel rod back as far as you can. Now, press the trigger and move the tip steadily through the crack until it's filled. Allow the caulk to dry for about 5 hours. Press the caulk flat into the cracks with a putty knife to even it with the wall. Be sure to move the gun in steady motions. If you move too fast, the caulk will be thin and uneven, but if you move too slow it will be clumpy and difficult to work with. Dip a paint roller into the primer 2 to 3 times. Start around 1 foot (0.30m) from the bottom of the wall and about 6 inches (15cm) from the corner. Aim your roll upwards at a small angle while applying light pressure. Once you reach 2 to 3 inches (5.1 to 7.6cm) from the top of the wall, roll up and down while moving back to the corner. Continue moving from the floor to the top and always move the width of the roller so each stroke overlaps. Continue rolling until all of the bricks are covered. Put a few extra coats of primer on the areas that were affected by efflorescence. Wait for the primer to drythe recommended drying time should be listed on the packagebefore moving on to the next step.
Question: What is a summary of what this article is about?
Clean the bricks thoroughly with a cleaning mixture. Cover the windows and doors with newspaper. Repair wall cracks Apply latex primer to the surface of the bricks.