BOO Keepers Friend: Cleaning Your Porch for Trick-Or-Treaters

October 25, 2023

Cleaning your porch is a great way to create a welcoming and safe environment for Halloween visitors and trick-or-treaters. With Bar Keepers Friend, I mean BOO Keepers Friend, cleaning doesn’t have to be scary. Here are a few tips for cleaning your porch to help you prepare for the big night.

Cleaning Your Porch for Trick-Or-Treaters

Move That Old Chair

On my front porch, there’s a large black rocking chair, a round metal stool I use for a table, and a wooden four-leg table my brother made. The first thing I do to prep my porch is remove all of these.

It’s a small porch. Not only are these things in the way, they could also be a tripping hazard for kids in masks and costumes. There’s usually other stuff on my porch, like a brick or two, garden tools, and a mug I’d forgotten. Make sure there are no tripping dangers like loose bricks, rocks, or toys on your porch.

Make it a Clean Sweep 

Once you’ve cleared your porch of any odds and ends, give it a good sweep to remove leaves and dirt. Here in Speedway, IN, my porch gets a layer of leaves by Halloween. Once you’ve made a clean sweep, closely examine the floor. My porch is concrete, and there’s usually a stain or two. If you want to make it shine like a full moon on Halloween, go one step further and clean up those messy, eerie stains.

A couple of years ago, my back patio was a mess; There were “expired” bugs, bird droppings, food stains, and more. So, I googled, “Can I clean my concrete slab with Bar Keepers Friend?” Turns out people have cleaned concrete with Bar Keepers Friend with great success. 

“Sprinkle Bar Keepers Bar keepers Friend on the dampened area, scrub with a good brush, rinse, and repeat. Ooh! I love Bar Keeper’s Friend! Great suggestion!” — The best way to remove oil stains from the driveway?

Important Note: It is worth mentioning that BKF isn’t technically formulated to work on non-porous surfaces like concrete. If you plan on using Bar Keepers Friend to clean any concrete surface, we implore you to test BKF on an inconspicuous spot. See if the results are to your liking. Bar Keepers Friend Granite & Stone Cleaner is also a great option for folks wanting to do a light cleanup of their concrete surfaces.  

For my own patio, I wet down the slab and then sprinkled BKF Powder. Next, I used a brush on the stains and swept the slab with a broom. After that, I rinsed the surface with the hose. A couple of the stains took a little more work, so I made a paste with the powder (and water), smeared it on the stain, and scrubbed it off after one (1) minute. 

Are Your Lights Dark and Frightening? 

You want to be sure your porch is well-lit for safety. Replace any burnt-out bulbs and consider adding extra lighting. You can use string lights, lanterns, or LED candles to create a festive atmosphere. If your decorative lights are like mine and have been stored in the attic for a year, they might need some cleaning. Here’s how to make cleaning your string lights quick and easy: Cleaning Outdoor String Lights with Bar Keepers Friend.

Ghostly Siding

All those bright lights are like a spotlight for showcasing how dirty your siding is. My front porch is a small, enclosed area. Both sides of the entryway have gray vinyl siding. It gets dirty!

I use BKF MORE Spray + Foam, a nylon scrubber brush, and a sponge in a bucket of water to wash it off. It only takes a few minutes and stands up to the frighteningly bright lights.

Stormy Door Glass 

So, maybe you want your storm door glass to look like an opaque witch’s crystal ball. I’d rather be able to see the trick-or-treaters. Did you know you can clean glass with BOO Keepers Friend?

“Yes, you can clean windows with Bar Keepers Friend. I’ve been using BKF for more than 50 years but didn’t know I could clean my windows with BKF powder until last year. Here’s my story.” — Wait What? You Can Clean Windows with Bar Keepers Friend!?

Mysterious Decorations

Next, you can add some Halloween decorations to set the mood. Consider carving pumpkins, hanging spooky banners, or placing decorative items like skeletons, witches, or ghosts. I have a blow-up dragon near my driveway and a heavy plastic ghost on the porch. BKF recommends MORE Spray + Foam for cleaning plastic materials like my ghost.

Pro Tip: Be sure you secure all decorations, especially those hanging, to avoid accidents.

Make a Clear Path to the Door 

The path leading to your porch should be clear and well-lit. Remove any obstacles that might obstruct trick-or-treaters’ access, including decorations that could be in the way. This not only prevents accidents but also makes your home more welcoming.

If you have steps, check handrails and steps for stability. You may want to consider anti-slip step pads to make your porch slip-resistant, especially if it will be a wet All Hallows Eve.

Keep Fido Inside and Away from the Door

We have cats. I’m not worried about them attacking a costumed kiddo, but I don’t want my black cat sneaking out to join the fun. My cats can see and be seen on Halloween but can’t get out.

If you have dogs, it might be best to confine them during trick-or-treating hours. Some pets may become anxious or overly excited with the constant flow of Barbie’s, Wednesday Addams, and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.

Remember, a clean and well-prepared porch adds to the Halloween spirit and makes the night more enjoyable and safer for everyone involved. Have a spooktacular time welcoming trick-or-treaters!

What About Cleaning Your Porch and More After Halloween? 

So, what about cleaning up after Halloween? Don’t be scared, BOO Keepers Friend has got you covered, Don’t Get Spooked about Post Halloween Clean-Up.

About the Author

Randy Clark is a speaker, coach, and author. He publishes a weekly blog at Randy Clark Leadership.com. Randy is passionate about social media, leadership development, and flower gardening. He’s a beer geek, and on weekends (after COVID-19), he can be found fronting the Rock & Roll band Under the Radar. He’s the proud father of two daughters; he has four amazing grandchildren and a wife who dedicates her time to helping others. Randy is the author of the Amazon bestseller The New Manager’s Workbook: A crash course in effective management.