10 Outdoor Spring Cleaning Projects
Spring cleaning isn’t fun for most of us. But it is important. As the holidays and winter near an end and we begin looking forward to spring and warmer weather, something within us tells us to get our homes in order by cleaning, organizing and getting rid of things we’ve hoarded throughout the winter months.
But who says spring cleaning is only for the inside of your house?
The exterior of your house 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 really improve the appearance of your house in Baltimore, and, even more important, will provide much-needed maintenance and care that will save a lot ofmoney over the years to come.
1. Gutter Cleaning
Spring is the optimal time of year to clean out your gutters, because so many of leaves and debris accumulate in the fall and winter months. The pollen count is at its highest in the spring, making a mess in your gutters if they are not cleaned.
Plus, bugs and animals are scavenging for places to build their homes in 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 returning them to a nice appearance.
2. Window Cleaning
Home window cleaning is essential for spring cleaning. Ground floor windows will not cause you much of a problem, but any second and third floor windows are tougher to reach.
Cleaning windows by hand is a tough 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 way to get the panes and the outer frame clean.
3. Pressure Washing
You aren’t going to want clean gutters and windows on a dirty house. This means you will want to pressure wash your house too!
Pressure washing is quick, effective, and affordable. You can clean your house, patio furniture, concrete patios, 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 home’s driveway and giving it a deep cleaning may seem strange because you’ll just be driving on it, but, a clean, maintained driveway can increase the curb appeal of your house.
A professional pressure washing service will do wonders when it comes to driveway cleaning, whether it is concrete, asphalt, stone or some other material. Also consider adding a gravel border to your home’s driveway to really make it pop!
5. Patio Cleaning
Your home’s patio gets the most use during the summer months, 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 could be in bad shape the first time you go onto it in the spring.
Soap and water – and a little muscle – can sometimes be enough for patio cleaning, but if you see signs of mold or algae, you might need to consider a more serious option, like power washing, to guarantee that friends and family can safely enjoy your patio all summer long.
6. Roof Cleaning
Algae and moss are typical home roof issues in Baltimore. While you are cleaning the exterior of your house, it is a great time to clean your home’s roof as well, but you’ll have to use a different method than the one 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 reason. Moss is pretty obvious, too. These contaminants cannot be wiped off shingles, nor can you power wash the roof. Both of these methods will damage the shingles on your home’s roof.
The best method for roof cleaning is to spray the shingles with a half-bleach, half-water solution and then leave it sit. This solution will eliminate any organisms on your home’s roof without reducing its lifespan.
7. Clean up the Front
The front of your house is going to be what most people passing by see, so try to make the best impression you can for visitors, neighbors and for yourself! Coming home to a well-maintained exterior will instantly improve your day, and it will probably encourage you to spend more time outside.
You can clean your porch with soap and water or a good power wash. Clean cobwebs and dirt off of the front door, and consider painting it for a really fresh look! Clean overlooked 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 an excellent opportunity to organize the things you’ll need for outdoor work.
Yard tools as well as pool care equipment should all have a specific place outside your house – a place that it is safe from weather and not in sight so it isn’t a constant eyesore to anyone. Spending the time to organize in the spring will allow you to enjoy the exterior of your house much more during the time of year that you spend the most time outside.
9. Lawn Care & Landscaping
Your lawn, trees and bushes make a major impact on the overall look of your house.
Eliminate weeds near the exterior of your flower beds and walkways and driveway, till up places where you’ll be planting later on and sweep off walkways. You can spray pre-emergent weed poison to make yard maintenance easier on yourself throughout the summer. Trim all the bushes too.
10. Clean the Grill
After sitting 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 sick.
Wet it down to get rid of leftover ash, then scrub the grates with a scrubber (so you don’t leave behind particles that can sometimes get into food) and a detergent or degreaser.
You can probably finish these jobs after a few weekends but it will be a lot of hard work. Instead, give us a call! PRO Baltimore Power Wash offers professional home exterior cleaning services for driveway cleaning, patio cleaning, pressure washing, roof cleaning and more!