10 Outdoor Spring Cleaning Projects
Spring cleaning is not fun for many of us. But it is important. As the holidays and winter come to an end and we start looking forward to spring and warm weather, something inside of us pushes us to get our homes in order by cleaning, organizing and throwing away things we’ve collected over the winter.
But who says spring cleaning is only for the inside of your home?
The outside of your house could probably use some refreshing after a cold, dreary winter, too!
It’s Time For Home Exterior Cleaning
Here are home exterior cleaning projects that will drastically improve the appearance of your house in Hawthorne, and, even more important, will provide much-needed care and maintenance that will save 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. Pollen is at its highest during the spring, making a big mess in your gutters and downspouts if they are not properly cleaned.
Plus, pests and critters are searching for places to build homes during spring, so getting your gutters cleaned out will help to prevent an infestation in your home.
Gutter cleaning consists of cleaning the inside of your gutters, removing mold, mildew and rust stains and restoring them to a nice appearance.
2. Window Cleaning
Residential window cleaning is essential for spring cleaning. Ground floor windows shouldn’t give you much of a problem, but any second and third floor windows will be trickier to reach.
Cleaning windows by hand is a tough job, and it will need 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 best way to get the panes and the outer frame clean.
3. Pressure Washing
You aren’t going to 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 doesn’t cost too much. You can clean your home, outdoor furniture, concrete patios, wood and stone porches and walkways with very little effort. It will eliminate dirt and mud so they won’t permanently 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 may seem counter-productive since you will still be driving on it, but actually, a clean, well-cared for driveway can increase the curb appeal of your house.
A professional pressure washer can do wonders when it comes to driveway cleaning, whether it’s pavement, asphalt, stone or another material. Also consider adding a gravel border to your driveway to really make it stand out!
5. Patio Cleaning
Your patio gets the most use throughout the summer, so it is easy to forget about it during the winter since you are not doing any outdoor entertaining, leisure or grilling. Your patio can be in pretty rough shape the first time you step onto it in the spring.
Soap and water – and a little hard work – are sometimes be enough for patio cleaning, but if there are signs of mold or algae, you might need to consider a more aggressive option, like power washing, to ensure that friends and family can safely enjoy your patio all summer.
6. Roof Cleaning
Mold and moss are common home roof problems in Hawthorne. While you’re cleaning the outside of your house, it’s a great time to clean your roof too, but you will have to use a different process than the one you use for the rest of your home’s exterior.
If you start to notice streaks on your roof, algae is most likely the reason. Moss is fairly obvious, too. These contaminants cannot be wiped off shingles, nor can you pressure wash the roof. Both of these methods will ruin the shingles on your roof.
The best process for roof cleaning is to spray the shingles with a half-bleach, half-water mixture and then let it be. This will kill any organic organisms on your roof without lowering its lifespan.
7. Spruce up the Front
The front of your house is what most people passing by see, so make the best impression possible for visitors and for yourself! Returning home to a beautiful exterior will immediately improve your day, and it will inspire you to spend a lot more time outside.
You can clean your front porch with detergent and water or a good pressure wash. Wipe cobwebs and mud off of the front door, and consider painting it for a bright look! Clean unnoticed areas such as the porch ceiling, light fixtures and ceiling fans, too.
8. Organize Outdoor Tools
You’ll be spending a lot more time outdoors, so spring is an excellent time to organize whatever you will need for outdoor work.
Yard tools and pool care equipment need to all have an assigned place outside your house – a place that it is safe from weather and not in sight so it is not a constant eyesore. Taking the time to organize in the spring will allow you to appreciate the outside of your house so much more throughout the time of year that you spend the most time outside.
9. Lawn Care & Landscaping
Your yard, trees and bushes make a big impact on the overall look of your house.
Get rid of weeds around your flower beds and walkways and driveway, till up areas where you will be planting in the future and sweep off walkways. You can spray pre-emergent weed poison to make lawn maintenance easier on yourself throughout the summer. Trim all the bushes too.
10. Clean the Grill
After being 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 they can make you and your family ill.
Wet it down to remove leftover ash, then scrub the grates with a scrubber or grill brush (so you don’t leave behind particles that can sometimes get into food) and a basic dish soap or degreaser.
You can probably finish all of these projects over the course of a few weekends but it will be a lot of hard work. Instead, give us a call! Hawthorne Pressure Washing offers professional home exterior cleaning services for driveway cleaning, patio cleaning, pressure washing, roof cleaning and more!