10 Outdoor Spring Cleaning Projects
Spring cleaning is not exciting for a lot of us. But it has to be done. As the winter near an end and we begin looking forward to spring and warmer weather, something inside of us encourages us to get our homes in order by cleaning, organizing and purging things we’ve piled up over the winter.
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 improve the curb appeal of your house in Gresham, and, more importantly, will provide much-needed maintenance and upkeep that will save you a lot of money over the years to come.
1. Gutter Cleaning
Spring is the optimal time to clean out your gutters, since so many leaves and debris accumulate in the fall and winter. Pollen is at its highest in the spring, making a huge mess in your gutters and downspouts if they are not properly cleaned.
Plus, bugs and critters are searching for places to build their homes in spring, so having your gutters cleaned out will help prevent an infestation in your home.
Gutter cleaning will consist of cleaning the inside of your gutters, removing mold, mildew, rust stains and restoring them to a nice appearance.
2. Window Cleaning
Home window cleaning is necessary for spring cleaning. First floor windows won’t cause you too much of an issue, but second and third floor windows will be a bit trickier to reach.
Cleaning windows by hand is a tiring job, and will require a lot of supplies, not to mention climbing up and down a ladder! A soft wash or professional cleaning of your exterior windows is the recommended solution to get the panes and the outer frame nice and clean.
3. Pressure Washing
You aren’t going to 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, outdoor furniture, patios, porches and walkways with not too much effort. It will knock off dirt and mud so they will not stain your house, and you can prevent the spread of mold, mildew and allergens.
4. Driveway Cleaning
Clearing off your driveway and giving it a deep cleaning might seem strange since you will still be driving on it, but, a clean, maintained driveway can increase the curb appeal of your house.
A professional pressure washer can do wonders for driveway cleaning, whether it’s concrete, asphalt, stone or some other material. Also consider adding a gravel or mulch border to your driveway to really make it pop!
5. Patio Cleaning
Your patio gets the most use during the summer, so it’s easy to forget about it in the winter since you are not doing as much outdoor entertaining, leisure or grilling. Your patio might be in rough shape the first time you walk onto it in the spring.
Detergent and water – and a little elbow grease – can sometimes be enough for patio cleaning, but if there are signs of mold or algae, you need to consider a more aggressive option, like professional power washing, to ensure that friends and family can enjoy your patio all summer long.
6. Roof Cleaning
Algae and moss are common roof issues in Gresham. While you’re cleaning the exterior of your house, it’s an excellent time to clean your roof as well, but you will have to use a different method than the one you use for the rest of your home’s exterior cleaning.
If you start to notice streaks on your roof, algae is probably the reason. Moss is usually obvious, too. These particles can’t be scrubbed off of shingles, nor can you pressure wash the roof. Both of these methods will damage the shingles on your roof.
The best process for roof cleaning is to mist the shingles with a half-water, half-bleach mixture and then let it be. This will eliminate all organisms on your roof without reducing its lifespan.
7. Clean up the Front
The front of your house is going to be what most people see, so make the best impression you can for visitors, neighbors and for yourself! Coming home to a clean exterior will immediately improve your day, and will even motivate you to spend more time outdoors.
You can clean your porch with soap and water or a good pressure wash. Wipe cobwebs and dirt off of the front door, and think about painting it a new color for a bright look! Clean unnoticed 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 outside, so spring is an excellent opportunity to organize the things you will need for outdoor chores.
Yard tools and pool care equipment should all have a specific area outside your house – a place that it is safe from harsh weather and not in sight so it is not a constant eyesore to anyone. Spending the time to organize in the spring allows you to appreciate the exterior of your house much more throughout the time of year that you are going to spend the most time outdoors.
9. Lawn Care & Landscaping
Your lawn, trees and garden bushes can make a big impact on the overall look of your house.
Eliminate weeds around the exterior of your flower beds and walkways, till up areas where you will be planting later on and brush off walkways. You can spray pre-emergent weed killer to make yard care easier on yourself throughout the next few months. Trim all the bushes too.
10. Clean the Grill
After sitting unused for months, your gas or charcoal grill could use a good cleaning, too. Leftover grease and food particles from your grill are definitely 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 or grill brush (so you don’t leave behind particles that can get into food) and a dish soap or degreaser.
You could probably finish these jobs after a few weekends but it is going to be a lot of tough work. Instead, give us a call! Gresham Pressure Washing offers professional home exterior cleaning services for patio cleaning, roof cleaning, driveway cleaning, pressure washing and more!