10 Outdoor Spring Cleaning Projects
Spring cleaning is not always exciting for many of us. But it is important. As the winter come to an end and we begin looking forward to spring and warm weather, something within us tells 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 house?
The outside of your home could likely use some tidying up 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 St. Louis, and, even more important, will provide much-needed maintenance and care that will save you a lot of money over the years ahead.
1. Gutter Cleaning
Spring is the ideal time of year to clean out your gutters, since a lot of leaves and debris accumulated during the fall and winter months. Pollen is at its highest during spring, making a mess in your gutters and downspouts if they are not cleaned.
Plus, pests and animals are looking for places to build their homes during spring, so having your gutters cleaned out will help to stop an infestation in your home.
Gutter cleaning will consist of cleaning the inside and outside of your gutters, removing mold, mildew and rust stains and returning them to a like-new appearance.
2. Window Cleaning
Exterior window cleaning is a must for spring cleaning. Ground floor windows shouldn’t cause you much of an issue, but any second and third floor windows will be 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 home’s windows is the best way to get the panes and the outer frame clean.
3. Pressure Washing
You do not want clean gutters and clean windows on a dirty house. That means you are going to want to pressure wash your home too!
Pressure washing is fast, effective and affordable. You can clean your house, patio furniture, patios, porches and walkways with not much effort. It will remove dirt and mud so they will not permanently stain your home, and you can stop the spread of mold, mildew and allergens.
4. Driveway Cleaning
Clearing off your driveway and giving it a deep cleaning might seem counter-productive since you’ll still be driving on it, but, a clean, well-maintained driveway can increase the curb appeal of your home.
A professional pressure washer will do wonders when it comes to driveway cleaning, whether it is concrete, asphalt, stone or another material. Also think about adding a gravel or mulch border to your driveway to really make it pop!
5. Patio Cleaning
Your patio probably gets the most use in the summer months, so it can be easy to forget about it during the winter since you are not doing any outdoor entertaining, leisure or grilling. Your patio could be in pretty rough shape the first time you walk onto it in spring.
Detergent and water – and a little elbow grease – are sometimes be enough for patio cleaning, but if you notice signs of mold or algae, you might need to think about a more aggressive option, like power washing, to guarantee that friends and family can safely enjoy your patio all summer.
6. Roof Cleaning
Algae and moss are typical roof issues in St. Louis. While you are cleaning the outside of your home, it is an excellent time to clean your roof as well, but you’ll have to use a different process than the one you use for most of your home’s exterior cleaning.
If you notice streaks on your roof, algae is probably the cause. Moss is usually obvious, too. These contaminants can’t be wiped off shingles, nor can you power wash the roof of your home. Both of these methods will ruin the shingles on your roof.
The best process for roof cleaning is to mist the shingles with a half-bleach, half-water solution and leave it be. This solution will kill all organisms on your roof without lowering its lifespan.
7. Spruce up the Front
The front of your home is probably what most people passing by see, so try to make the best impression possible for visitors, neighbors and for yourself! Coming home to a well-maintained exterior will instantly improve your day, and it will probably inspire you to spend more time outdoors.
You can clean your porch with soap and water or a good power wash. Clean cobwebs and mud off of the front porch, and think about painting it for a really bright look! Clean overlooked areas including the porch ceiling, light fixtures and ceiling fans, too.
8. Organize Outdoor Tools
You’ll be spending a lot more time outside, so spring is a great chance to organize whatever you’ll need for outdoor chores.
Yard tools as well as pool care equipment should all have an exact place outside your home – a place that it is safe from harsh weather and out of sight so it is not a constant eyesore. Spending the time to organize in the spring will allow you to appreciate the outside of your home so much more during the time of year when you are going to spend the most time outdoors.
9. Lawn Care & Landscaping
Your lawn, trees and garden bushes make a major impact on the overall look of your home.
Remove weeds around the exterior of your flower beds and walkways and driveway, till up places where you might be planting in the future and sweep off walkways. You can spray pre-emergent weed poison to make yard maintenance easier on yourself throughout the summer. Trim all bushes too.
10. Clean the Grill
After being 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 ill.
Wet it down to remove ash, then scrub the grates with a scrubber or grill brush (so you don’t leave behind metal particles that can get into food) and a basic detergent or degreaser.
You can probably finish these jobs after a few weekends but it is going to be a lot of tough work. Instead, give us a call! STL Pressure Wash Co. offers professional home exterior cleaning services for patio cleaning, roof cleaning, driveway cleaning, pressure washing and more!