10 Outdoor Spring Cleaning Projects
Spring cleaning is not always fun for most of us. But it should be done. As the holidays and winter come to an end and we start looking forward to spring and warm weather, something within us pushes us to get our homes in order by cleaning, organizing and getting rid of things we’ve piled up throughout the winter months.
But who says spring cleaning is only for the inside of a home?
The outside of your home could use some refreshing after a cold, wet winter, too!
It’s Time For Home Exterior Cleaning
Here are home exterior cleaning projects that will drastically improve the curb appeal of your home in Seattle, and, more importantly, will provide much-needed maintenance and upkeep that will save you a lot of money in years to come.
1. Gutter Cleaning
Spring is the best time of year to clean out your gutters, because a lot of leaves and debris pile up in the fall and winter months. The pollen count is at its highest in spring, making a mess in your gutters if they are not cleaned.
Plus, pests 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 consists of cleaning the inside and outside of your gutters, removing mold, mildew, stains and restoring them to a nice appearance.
2. Window Cleaning
Home window cleaning is a must for spring cleaning. Ground floor windows won’t give you too much of a problem, but any second and third floor windows are a bit tougher to reach.
Cleaning windows by hand is a tough job, and it will need a lot of tools, not to mention climbing up and down a ladder! A soft wash or professional cleaning of your exterior windows is the best solution to get the panes and the outer frame nice and clean.
3. Pressure Washing
You don’t want clean gutters and windows on a dirty home. This means you will want to pressure wash your home too!
Pressure washing is quick, effective and affordable. You can pressure clean your home, patio furniture, concrete patios, porches and walkways with very little effort. It will eliminate dirt and mud so they won’t stain your home, and you can prevent the spread of mold, mildew and allergens.
4. Driveway Cleaning
Clearing off your driveway and giving it a good cleaning may seem counter-productive because you’ll still be driving on it, but actually, a clean, well-maintained driveway can increase the curb appeal of your home.
A professional pressure washing company can do wonders for driveway cleaning, whether it’s pavement, asphalt, brick or another material. Also think about adding a gravel or mulch border to your driveway to really make it stand out!
5. Patio Cleaning
Your patio probably gets the most use in the summer months, so it’s easy to forget about it in the winter when you are not doing any outdoor entertaining, leisure or grilling. Your patio can be in rough shape the first time you go onto it in spring.
Soap and water – and a little muscle – are sometimes be enough for patio cleaning, but if there are signs of mold or algae, you need to think about a more aggressive option, like professional power washing, to ensure that friends and family can enjoy your patio all summer.
6. Roof Cleaning
Algae and moss are common roof problems in Seattle. While you are cleaning the outside of your home, it’s a great time to pressure clean your roof too, but you’ll need to use a different method than the one you use for the rest of your home’s exterior cleaning.
If you see streaks on your roof, algae is most likely the cause. Moss is usually obvious, too. These particles can’t be scrubbed off shingles, nor can you pressure wash the roof. Both of these methods will ruin the shingles on your roof.
The ideal course of action for roof cleaning is to mist the shingles with a half-water, half-bleach mixture and let it sit. This will kill all organic organisms on your roof without lowering its lifespan.
7. Clean up the Front
The front of your home is likely what most people see, so try to make the best impression possible for visitors, neighbors and for yourself! Returning home to a well-maintained exterior will instantly improve your day, and it will probably motivate you to spend a lot more time outdoors.
You can clean your porch with soap and water or a good pressure wash. Wipe cobwebs and mud off of the front porch, and consider painting it for a really fresh look! Clean forgotten areas such as the porch ceiling, light fixtures and ceiling fans, too.
8. Organize Outdoor Tools
You will soon be spending more time outdoors, so spring is a wonderful time to organize whatever you’ll need for outdoor work.
Gardening tools as well as pool care equipment must all have a specific area outside your home – a place that it is safe from harsh weather and not in sight so it is not a constant eyesore to anyone. Taking the time to organize in the spring allows you to appreciate the outside of your home so much more during 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 home.
Kill weeds around your flower beds and walkways and driveway, till up areas where you’ll be planting in the future and sweep off walkways. You can spray pre-emergent weed killer to make lawn maintenance easier on yourself throughout the next few months. Trim all 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 particles from your grill are definitely unappetizing, but even worse they can make you and your family ill.
Wet it down to remove ash, then scrub the grates with a plastic scrubber (so you don’t leave behind particles that can get into food) and a detergent or degreaser.
You can probably complete these projects after a few weekends but it will be a lot of hard work. Instead, give us a call! Seattle Pressure Wash Plus offers professional home exterior cleaning services for driveway cleaning, patio cleaning, pressure washing, roof cleaning and more!