10 Outdoor Spring Cleaning Projects
Spring cleaning is not always exciting for a lot of us. But it should be done. As the holidays and winter come to an end and we start looking forward to spring, something within us encourages 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 only for the inside of your home?
The exterior of your home could likely use a little refreshing after a cold, dreary winter, too!
It’s Time For Home Exterior Cleaning
Here are home exterior cleaning projects that will improve the curb appeal of your home in Forest Hills, and, more importantly, will provide much-needed care and maintenance 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, since so many leaves and debris pile up in the fall and winter months. Pollen is at its highest in the spring, making a huge mess in your gutters if they aren’t properly cleaned.
Plus, pests and animals are scavenging for places to build homes in spring, so having your gutters cleaned out will help to stop an infestation in your home.
Gutter cleaning will consist of cleaning the inside of your gutters, removing mold, mildew, stains and restoring them to a like-new appearance.
2. Window Cleaning
Exterior window cleaning is a must for spring cleaning. Ground floor windows will not cause you too much of an issue, but any second and third floor windows are a bit trickier to reach.
Cleaning windows by hand is a hard chore, 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 clean.
3. Pressure Washing
You don’t want clean gutters and windows on a dirty home. Which means you are going to want to pressure wash your home too!
Pressure washing is fast, effective and doesn’t cost very much. You can pressure clean your home, patio furniture, patios, wood and stone porches and walkways with not too much effort. It will knock off dirt and mud so they won’t stain your home, 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, cared for driveway can increase the curb appeal of your home.
A professional pressure washer will 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 help it stand out!
5. Patio Cleaning
Your home’s patio probably gets the most use in the summer months, so it is easy to forget about it in the winter when you aren’t doing as much outdoor entertaining, leisure or grilling. Your patio can be in rough shape the first time you go onto it in the spring.
Detergent and water – and a little muscle – can sometimes be enough for patio cleaning, but if you see signs of mold or mildew, you need to think about a more serious option, like professional power washing, to ensure that friends and family can safely enjoy your patio all summer.
6. Roof Cleaning
Mold and moss are typical home roof problems in Forest Hills. While you are cleaning the exterior of your home, it is a great time to pressure clean your home’s roof too, but you’ll need to use a different method than what you use for most of your home’s exterior.
If you start to see streaks on your home’s roof, algae is most likely the cause. Moss is usually obvious, too. These contaminants can’t be wiped off of shingles, nor can you power wash the roof of your home. Both of these methods will damage the shingles on your home’s roof.
The ideal process for roof cleaning is to mist the shingles with a half-bleach, half-water solution and leave it be. This will eliminate any organisms on your home’s roof without reducing its lifespan.
7. Tidy up the Front
The front of your home is likely what most people passing by see, so try to make the best impression possible for visitors, neighbors and for yourself! Returning home to a beautiful exterior will instantly improve your day, and it will encourage you to spend a lot more time outdoors.
You can clean your porch with soap and water or a good power wash. Wipe cobwebs and mud off of the front porch, and consider painting it for a really bright look! Clean forgotten areas such as the porch ceiling, light fixtures and ceiling fans, too.
8. Organize Garden Tools
You’ll soon be spending much more time outdoors, so spring is a great opportunity to organize the things you’ll need for outdoor work.
Yard tools as well as pool care equipment need to all have an assigned place outside your home – somewhere 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 will allow you to appreciate the exterior of your home so much more during the time of year that you spend the most time outdoors.
9. Lawn Care & Landscaping
Your lawn, trees and bushes can make a huge impact on the overall look of your home.
Remove weeds near your flower beds and walkways, till up places where you’ll be planting in the future and brush off walkways. You can spray pre-emergent weed killer to make lawn care easier on yourself throughout the next few months. Trim all the bushes too.
10. Clean the Grill
After being unused for several months, your grill could use a good cleaning, too. Leftover grease and food from your grill are unappetizing, but they can make you and your family ill.
Wet it down to get rid of leftover ash, then scrub the grates with a scrubber (so you do not leave behind particles that can sometimes get into food) and a basic dish soap or degreaser.
You could probably complete all of these jobs over the course of a few weekends but it will be a lot of hard work. Instead, give us a call! Forest Hills Pressure Washing offers professional home exterior cleaning services for patio cleaning, roof cleaning, driveway cleaning, pressure washing and more!