10 Outdoor Spring Cleaning Projects
Spring cleaning isn’t always fun for a lot of us. But it is important. As the winter end and we start looking forward to spring, something within us tells us to get our homes in order by cleaning, organizing and purging things we’ve piled up throughout the winter months.
But who says spring cleaning is only for the interior of a house?
The outside of your house 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 house in Columbia, and, even more important, will offer much-needed care and maintenance that will save money in years ahead.
1. Gutter Cleaning
Spring is the optimal time to clean out your gutters, since 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 huge mess in your gutters if they aren’t cleaned.
Plus, bugs and critters are scavenging for places to build their homes in spring, so having your gutters cleaned out will help stop an infestation in your home.
Gutter cleaning will consist of cleaning the inside of your gutters, removing mold, mildew, rust stains and restoring them to a nice appearance.
2. Window Cleaning
Home window cleaning is essential for spring cleaning. First floor windows won’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 tiring job, and it will need 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 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 house. Which means you will want to pressure wash your house too!
Pressure washing is quick, effective and affordable. You can pressure clean your house, outdoor furniture, patios, wood and stone porches and walkways with not much effort. It will eliminate dirt and mud so they won’t stain your house, 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 may seem counter-productive since you will still be driving on it, but actually, a clean, well-maintained driveway can increase the curb appeal of your house.
A professional pressure washing company will do wonders for driveway cleaning, whether it is pavement, asphalt, brick or another material. Also consider adding a gravel border to your home’s driveway to really help it stand out!
5. Patio Cleaning
Your home’s patio gets the most use throughout the summer months, so it can be easy to overlook it in the winter when you aren’t doing any outdoor entertaining, leisure or grilling. Your patio can be in rough condition the first time you step onto it in the spring.
Detergent and water – and a little hard work – can sometimes be enough for patio cleaning, but if there are signs of mold or algae, you might need to consider a more serious option, like professional power washing, to ensure that friends and family can safely enjoy your patio all summer long.
6. Roof Cleaning
Algae and moss are common home roof problems in Columbia. While you are cleaning the outside of your house, it is an excellent time to pressure clean your home’s 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 notice streaks on your home’s roof, algae is most likely the cause. Moss is pretty obvious, too. These particles cannot be scrubbed off shingles, nor can you power wash the roof of your house. Both of these methods will destroy the shingles on your home’s roof.
The ideal course of action for roof cleaning is to spray the shingles with a half-water, half-bleach mixture and leave it sit. This solution will kill all organisms on your home’s roof without lowering its lifespan.
7. Tidy up the Front
The front of your house is what most people passing by see, so try to make the best impression possible for visitors and for yourself! Coming home to a well-maintained exterior will immediately improve your day, and it will inspire you to spend a lot more time outside.
Clean your porch with soap and water or a good power wash. Wipe cobwebs and mud off of the front door, and think about painting it for a fresh look! Clean forgotten areas such as the porch ceiling, light fixtures and ceiling fans, too.
8. Organize Garden Tools
You’ll probably be spending a lot more time outside, so spring is an excellent time to organize the things you will need for outdoor work.
Yard tools as well as pool care equipment must all have a specific area outside your house – a place that it is safe from weather and out of sight so it isn’t a constant eyesore. Taking the time to organize in the spring will allow you to enjoy the outside of your house much more during the time of year that you spend the most time outside.
9. Lawn Care & Landscaping
Your yard, trees and garden bushes can make a huge impact on the overall look of your house.
Eliminate weeds around your flower beds and walkways, till up places where you will be planting later on and sweep 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 months, your grill could need a good cleaning, too. Leftover grease and food from your grill are definitely unappetizing, but even worse they can make you and your family ill.
Wipe it down to remove ash, then scrub the grates with a scrubber (so you don’t leave behind particles that can sometimes get into food) and a basic detergent or degreaser.
You could probably complete these jobs over the course of a few weekends but it is going to be a lot of hard work. Instead, give us a call! Columbia Pressure Washing provides professional home exterior cleaning services for driveway cleaning, patio cleaning, pressure washing, roof cleaning and more!