10 Outdoor Spring Cleaning Projects
Spring cleaning is not always exciting for many of us. But it is important. As the winter near an end and we begin looking forward to spring and warm weather, something within us pushes us to get our homes in order by cleaning, organizing and purging things we’ve collected over the winter months.
But who says spring cleaning is only for the interior of your house?
The outside of your house could 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 Portland, and, more importantly, will provide much-needed maintenance and upkeep that will save a lot ofmoney in years to come.
1. Gutter Cleaning
Spring is the ideal time to clean your gutters, since a lot of leaves and debris pile up in the fall and winter months. Pollen is at its highest in the spring, making a big mess in your gutters if they aren’t cleaned.
Plus, bugs and critters are searching for places to build their homes in spring, so getting 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, stains and restoring them to a nice appearance.
2. Window Cleaning
Exterior window cleaning is necessary for spring cleaning. First floor windows won’t cause you much of an issue, but second and third floor windows are a bit trickier to reach.
Cleaning windows by hand is a tiring job, and it will require a lot of tools, not to mention going 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 nice and clean.
3. Pressure Washing
You aren’t going to want clean gutters and windows on a dirty house. Which means you are going to want to pressure wash your house too!
Pressure washing is quick, effective and affordable. You can pressure clean your house, patio furniture, concrete patios, wood and stone porches and walkways with very little effort. It will remove 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 may seem strange since you’ll just be driving on it, but actually, a clean, maintained driveway can increase the curb appeal of your house.
A professional pressure washer will do wonders for driveway cleaning, whether it is pavement, asphalt, brick or some other material. Also think about adding a gravel or mulch 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’s easy to forget about it in the winter since you aren’t doing any outdoor entertaining, leisure or grilling. Your patio could be in bad condition the first time you walk onto it in the spring.
Soap and water – and a little elbow grease – can sometimes be enough for patio cleaning, but if you notice signs of mold or mildew, you may need to think about a more aggressive option, like power washing, to ensure that friends and family can enjoy your patio all summer.
6. Roof Cleaning
Mold and moss are typical roof issues in Portland. While you’re cleaning the outside of your house, it is an excellent time to pressure clean your home’s roof as well, but you’ll need to use a different method than the one you use for the rest of your home’s exterior cleaning.
If you notice streaks on your home’s roof, algae is most likely the cause. Moss is fairly obvious, too. These particles cannot be wiped off of shingles, nor can you pressure wash the roof. Both of these methods will ruin the shingles on your home’s roof.
The best process for roof cleaning is to mist the shingles with a half-water, half-bleach solution and then leave it sit. This will kill all organisms on your home’s roof without reducing its lifespan.
7. Spruce up the Front
The front of your house is likely what most people passing by see, so make the best impression you can for visitors, neighbors and for yourself! Returning home to a beautiful exterior will immediately improve your day, and it will motivate you to spend more time outdoors.
You can clean your porch with soap and water or a good pressure wash. Wipe cobwebs and mud off of the front porch, and think about painting it a new color for a really bright look! Clean forgotten areas including the porch ceiling, light fixtures and ceiling fans, too.
8. Organize Outdoor Tools
You’ll be spending much more time outside, so spring is a great opportunity to organize the things you’ll need for outdoor chores.
Gardening tools as well as pool care equipment need to all have an assigned place outside your house – somewhere that it is safe from weather and not in sight so it is not a constant eyesore. Spending the time to organize in the spring allows you to appreciate the outside of your house 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 big impact on the look of your house.
Remove weeds near the exterior of 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 killer 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 definitely 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 particles that can sometimes get into food) and a basic detergent or degreaser.
You could probably finish all of these projects after a few weekends but it is going to be a lot of hard work. Instead, give us a call! PRO Portland Pressure Washing offers professional home exterior cleaning services for patio cleaning, roof cleaning, driveway cleaning, pressure washing and more!