10 Outdoor Spring Cleaning Projects
Spring cleaning isn’t always exciting for many of us. But it should be done. As the winter end and we start looking forward to spring and warmer weather, something within us tells us to get our homes in order by cleaning, organizing and throwing away things we’ve collected throughout the winter months.
But who says spring cleaning is limited to the inside of a house?
The exterior of your house could likely use a little tidying up after a cold, wet winter, too!
It’s Time For Home Exterior Cleaning
Here are home exterior cleaning projects that will really improve the curb appeal of your house in Columbus, and, even more important, will provide much-needed care and maintenance that will save you money in years to come.
1. Gutter Cleaning
Spring is the optimal time to clean out your gutters, since so many of leaves and debris accumulated during the fall and winter months. The pollen count is at its highest during the spring, making a big mess in your gutters if they aren’t properly cleaned.
Plus, pests and animals are searching for places to build their homes during spring, so having your gutters cleaned out will help to stop an infestation in your home.
Gutter cleaning consists of cleaning the inside of your gutters, removing mold, mildew, stains and returning them to a like-new appearance.
2. Window Cleaning
Exterior window cleaning is essential for spring cleaning. Ground floor windows shouldn’t give you too much of a headache, but second and third floor windows are tougher to reach.
Cleaning windows by hand is an exhausting chore, and it will require a lot of tools, not to mention climbing up and down a ladder! A soft wash or professional cleaning of your home’s windows is the recommended way to get the panes and the outer frame nice and clean.
3. Pressure Washing
You don’t want clean gutters and clean windows on a dirty house. That means you will want to pressure wash your house too!
Pressure washing is quick, effective and affordable. You can clean your house, patio furniture, patios, porches and walkways with very little effort. It will eliminate dirt and mud so they won’t stain your house, and you can stop the spread of mold, mildew and allergens.
4. Driveway Cleaning
Clearing off your home’s driveway and giving it a good cleaning might seem counter-productive since you’ll be driving on it, but actually, a clean, well-maintained driveway can increase the curb appeal of your house.
A professional pressure washer can do wonders for driveway cleaning, whether it is concrete, asphalt, brick or some other material. Also think about adding a gravel or mulch border to your home’s driveway to really make it pop!
5. Patio Cleaning
Your home’s patio gets the most use throughout the summer months, so it’s easy to overlook it during the winter since you aren’t doing any outdoor entertaining, relaxing or grilling. Your patio might be in pretty bad shape the first time you walk onto it in the spring.
Soap and water – and a little hard work – can sometimes be enough for patio cleaning, but if there are signs of mold or algae, you might need to think about a more serious option, like power washing, to ensure that friends and family can safely enjoy your patio all summer long.
6. Roof Cleaning
Algae and moss are common home roof problems in Columbus. While you are cleaning the exterior of your house, it is an excellent time to clean your home’s roof as well, but you’ll need to use a different process than what you use for the rest of your home’s exterior cleaning.
If you notice streaks on your home’s roof, algae is most likely the reason. Moss is usually obvious, too. These contaminants cannot be wiped off of shingles, nor can you power wash the roof. Both of these methods will damage the shingles on your home’s roof.
The ideal course of action for roof cleaning is to mist the shingles with a half-bleach, half-water mixture and leave it be. This will eliminate any organic organisms on your home’s roof without lowering its lifespan.
7. Spruce up the Front
The front of your house is likely what most people see, so try to make the best impression you can for visitors and for yourself! Returning home to a well-maintained exterior will immediately improve your day, and it will motivate you to spend a lot more time outdoors.
Clean your porch with soap and water or a good power wash. Wipe cobwebs and dirt off of the front porch, and think about painting it a new color for a really bright look! Clean forgotten areas such as the porch ceiling, light fixtures and ceiling fans, too.
8. Organize Outdoor Tools
You will soon be spending a lot more time outdoors, so spring is an excellent time to organize whatever you’ll need for outdoor work.
Yard tools and pool care equipment must all have a specific area outside your house – somewhere that it is safe from weather and out of sight so it isn’t a constant eyesore. Spending the time to organize in the spring allows you to appreciate the exterior of your house so much more throughout the time of year that you spend the most time outdoors.
9. Lawn Care & Landscaping
Your yard, trees and garden bushes make a major impact on the look of your house.
Kill weeds around the exterior of your flower beds and walkways and driveway, till up places where you will be planting later on and brush off walkways. You can spray pre-emergent weed killer to make lawn maintenance easier on yourself throughout the next few months. Trim all the bushes too.
10. Clean the Grill
After sitting unused for several months, your gas or charcoal grill could need a good cleaning, too. Leftover grease and food from your grill are unappetizing, but even worse they can make you and your family ill.
Wipe it down to get rid of leftover ash, then scrub the grates with a scrubber (so you don’t leave behind particles that can get into food) and a detergent or degreaser.
You can probably complete these projects over the course of a few weekends but it is going to be a lot of tough work. Instead, give us a call! Columbus Pressure Washing provides professional home exterior cleaning services for driveway cleaning, patio cleaning, pressure washing, roof cleaning and more!