10 Outdoor Spring Cleaning Projects
Spring cleaning isn’t fun for a lot of us. But it needs to be done. As the winter near an end and we start looking forward to spring and warm weather, something within us encourages us to get our homes in order by cleaning, organizing and throwing away things we’ve hoarded over the winter.
But who says spring cleaning is limited to the inside of your home?
The outside of your house could likely use a little refreshing 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 Tempe, and, more importantly, will provide much-needed care and maintenance that will save you money in years ahead.
1. Gutter Cleaning
Spring is the ideal time to clean your gutters, since a lot of leaves and debris pile up during the fall and winter. Pollen is at its highest during spring, making a mess in your gutters if they aren’t cleaned.
Plus, bugs and critters are scavenging for places to build their homes during spring, so having your gutters cleaned will help prevent an infestation in your home.
Gutter cleaning will consist of cleaning the inside and outside of your gutters, removing mold, mildew and stains and returning them to a nice appearance.
2. Window Cleaning
Residential window cleaning is a must for spring cleaning. Ground floor windows shouldn’t cause you much of an issue, but second and third floor windows will be trickier to reach.
Cleaning windows by hand is an exhausting job, and will require a lot of tools, not to mention going 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 do not want clean gutters and clean windows on a dirty home. That means you are going to want to pressure wash your house too!
Pressure washing is fast, effective and affordable. You can clean your home, patio furniture, concrete patios, porches and walkways with not much effort. It will knock off dirt and mud so they won’t stain your house, and you can prevent the spread of mold, mildew and allergens.
4. Driveway Cleaning
Clearing off your home’s driveway and giving it a deep cleaning might seem strange since you will just be driving on it, but, a clean, maintained driveway can increase the curb appeal of your house.
A professional pressure washer will do wonders for driveway cleaning, whether it’s pavement, asphalt, stone or another material. Also consider adding a gravel border to your home’s driveway to really help it pop!
5. Patio Cleaning
Your home’s patio gets the most use during the summer, so it is easy to forget about it during the winter since you aren’t doing as much outdoor entertaining, leisure or grilling. Your patio can be in a pretty rough condition the first time you step onto it in spring.
Soap and water – and a little elbow grease – can sometimes be enough for patio cleaning, but if there are signs of mold or mildew, you may need to consider a more aggressive option, like professional power washing, to guarantee that friends and family can safely enjoy your patio all summer.
6. Roof Cleaning
Algae and moss are common roof issues in Tempe. While you’re cleaning the outside of your house, it’s an excellent time to clean your home’s roof as well, but you will have to use a different process than the one you use for most of your home’s exterior.
If you start to notice streaks on your home’s roof, algae is most likely the cause. Moss is typically obvious, too. These particles cannot be scrubbed off shingles, nor can you pressure wash the roof of your house. Both of these methods will destroy the shingles on your home’s roof.
The ideal method for roof cleaning is to spray the shingles with a half-water, half-bleach solution and let it sit. This solution will eliminate all organic organisms on your home’s roof without reducing its lifespan.
7. Spruce up the Front
The front of your house is probably what most people see, so make the best impression possible for visitors, neighbors and for yourself! Returning home to a clean exterior will instantly improve your day, and will even motivate you to spend more time outdoors.
Clean your front porch with soap and water or a good pressure wash. Clean cobwebs and dirt off of the front porch, and think about painting it a new color for a really bright look! Clean unnoticed areas like the porch ceiling, light fixtures and ceiling fans, too.
8. Organize Outdoor Tools
You’ll soon be spending more time outdoors, so spring is an excellent opportunity to organize everything you will need for outdoor work.
Yard tools as well as pool care equipment should all have an exact place outside your house – a place that it is safe from harsh weather and out of sight so it isn’t a constant eyesore to anyone. Spending the time to organize in the spring allows you to enjoy the outside of your house 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 major impact on the overall look of your house.
Kill weeds near the exterior of your flower beds and walkways and driveway, till up areas where you might be planting in the future and sweep off walkways. You can spray pre-emergent weed poison to make lawn care easier on yourself throughout the summer. Trim all bushes too.
10. Clean the Grill
After sitting unused for months, your grill could use a good cleaning, too. Leftover grease and food particles from your grill are unappetizing, but they can make you and your family sick.
Wet it down to get rid of ash, then scrub the grates with a scrubber or grill brush (so you do not leave behind particles that can sometimes get into food) and a dish soap or degreaser.
You can probably complete all of these projects after a few weekends but it is going to be a lot of tough work. Instead, give us a call! Tempe Power Washing offers professional residential exterior cleaning services for driveway cleaning, patio cleaning, pressure washing, roof cleaning and more!