10 Outdoor Spring Cleaning Projects
Spring cleaning isn’t always exciting for a lot of us. But it is important. As the holidays and winter 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 hoarded over the winter months.
But who says spring cleaning is limited to the interior of your house?
The outside 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 drastically improve the appearance of your house in Grand Rapids, and, more importantly, will provide much-needed maintenance and care that will save a lot of money over the years ahead.
1. Gutter Cleaning
Spring is the ideal time of year to clean out your gutters, since so many of leaves and debris collect in the fall and winter months. Pollen is at its highest in spring, making a mess in your gutters and downspouts if they aren’t properly cleaned.
Plus, bugs and animals are scavenging for places to build their homes in spring, so getting your gutters cleaned out will help to stop an infestation in your home.
Gutter cleaning consists of cleaning the inside and outside of your gutters, removing mold, mildew, and rust stains and restoring them to a like-new appearance.
2. Window Cleaning
Residential window cleaning is a must for spring cleaning. First floor windows shouldn’t cause you much of a headache, 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 supplies, not to mention climbing up and down a ladder! A soft wash or professional cleaning of your exterior windows is the perfect way to get the panes and the outer frame nice and clean.
3. Pressure Washing
You do not want clean gutters and clean windows on a dirty house. Which means you will want to pressure wash your house too!
Pressure washing is quick, effective and doesn’t cost very much. You can pressure clean your house, outdoor furniture, patios, wood and stone porches and walkways with not much effort. It will knock off dirt and mud so they will not permanently stain your house, and you can also stop the spread of mold, mildew and allergens.
4. Driveway Cleaning
Clearing off your home’s driveway and giving it a deep cleaning may seem silly since you will just be driving on it, but, a clean, well-maintained driveway can increase the curb appeal of your house.
A professional pressure washing service can do wonders when it comes to driveway cleaning, whether it’s concrete, asphalt, stone or another material. Also think about adding a gravel border to your home’s driveway to really make it pop!
5. Patio Cleaning
Your home’s patio probably gets the most use in the summer months, so it is easy to overlook it in the winter when you aren’t doing a lot of outdoor entertaining, relaxing or grilling. Your patio might be in pretty rough condition the first time you step onto it in spring.
Soap and water – and a little muscle – are sometimes be enough for patio cleaning, but if there are signs of mold or mildew, you might need to think about a more aggressive option, like professional power washing, to guarantee that friends and family can enjoy your patio all summer.
6. Roof Cleaning
Mold and moss are common home roof problems in Grand Rapids. While you’re cleaning the outside of your house, it’s an excellent time to pressure clean your home’s roof as well, but you will need to use a different process than what you use for the rest of your home’s exterior cleaning.
If you start to see streaks on your home’s roof, algae is probably the reason. Moss is typically obvious, too. These contaminants can’t be scrubbed off shingles, nor can you power wash the roof of your house. Both of these methods will damage the shingles on your home’s roof.
The best method for roof cleaning is to mist the shingles with a half-water, half-bleach mixture and let it be. This will eliminate all organisms on your home’s roof without reducing its lifespan.
7. Spruce up the Front
The front of your house is what most people see, so make the best impression you can for visitors, neighbors and for yourself! Returning home to a well-maintained exterior will improve your day, and it will probably inspire you to spend a lot more time outside.
You can clean your porch with detergent and water or a good power wash. Wipe cobwebs and dirt off of the front door, and think about painting it a new color for a bright look! Clean overlooked areas including the porch ceiling, light fixtures and ceiling fans, too.
8. Organize Outdoor Tools
You’ll soon be spending much more time outside, so spring is a wonderful chance to organize the things you will need for outdoor work.
Gardening tools as well as pool care equipment must all have an exact place outside your house – a place that it is safe from harsh weather and not in sight so it isn’t a constant eyesore to anyone. Spending the time to organize in the spring allows you to appreciate the outside of your house much more throughout the time of year that you are going to spend the most time outside.
9. Lawn Care & Landscaping
Your lawn, trees and garden bushes can make a big impact on the overall look of your house.
Eliminate weeds near your flower beds and walkways, till up areas where you might be planting in the future and brush off walkways. You can also spray pre-emergent weed killer to make yard care easier on yourself throughout the next few months. Trim all bushes too.
10. Clean the Grill
After being unused for months, your gas or charcoal grill could need a good cleaning, too. Leftover grease and food from your grill are unappetizing, but they can also make you and your family sick.
Wipe it down to remove leftover ash, then scrub the grates with a scrubber (so you do not leave behind particles that can sometimes get into food) and a basic detergent or degreaser.
You could probably complete all of 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! CWC Grand Rapids Pressure Wash provides professional residential exterior cleaning services for driveway cleaning, patio cleaning, pressure washing, roof cleaning and more!