10 Outdoor Spring Cleaning Projects
Spring cleaning is not exciting for most of us. But it has to be done. As the winter comes to an end and we start looking forward to spring, something inside of us pushes us to get our homes in order by cleaning, organizing and throwing away things we’ve hoarded throughout the winter.
But who says spring cleaning is only for the inside of your home?
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 appearance of your home in Lakeland, and, more importantly, will provide much-needed maintenance and upkeep that will save money in 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 accumulated during the fall and winter. The pollen count is at its highest during spring, making a big mess in your gutters and downspouts if they are not cleaned.
Plus, pests and critters are looking for places to build 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 restoring them to a nice appearance.
2. Window Cleaning
Home window cleaning is essential for spring cleaning. First floor windows will not give you too much of an issue, but second and third floor windows will be a bit trickier to reach.
Cleaning windows by hand is a tiring chore, and it will require a lot of supplies, not to mention climbing up and down a ladder! A soft wash or professional cleaning of your home’s windows is the recommended solution to get the panes and the outer frame nice and clean.
3. Pressure Washing
You do not want clean gutters and windows on a dirty home. This means you will want to pressure wash your home too!
Pressure washing is fast, effective and affordable. You can pressure clean your home, outdoor furniture, patios, porches and walkways with very little effort. It will eliminate dirt and mud so they will not permanently stain your home, 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 good cleaning might seem silly because you’ll still be driving on it, but actually, a clean, cared for driveway can increase the curb appeal of your home.
A professional pressure washing company will do wonders for driveway cleaning, whether it is concrete, asphalt, stone or another material. Also consider adding a gravel border to your home’s driveway to really make it stand out!
5. Patio Cleaning
Your home’s patio gets the most use during the summer, so it’s easy to overlook it during the winter when you are not doing as much outdoor entertaining, leisure or grilling. Your patio might be in pretty bad shape the first time you walk onto it in spring.
Soap and water – and a little hard work – can sometimes be enough for patio cleaning, but if you see signs of mold or mildew, you might need to consider a more serious option, like professional power washing, to guarantee that friends and family can enjoy your patio all summer long.
6. Roof Cleaning
Algae and moss are common roof problems in Lakeland. While you are cleaning the outside of your home, it is a great time to pressure clean your home’s roof as well, but you’ll have to use a different process than what you use for most of your home’s exterior.
If you start to see streaks on your home’s roof, algae is probably the reason. Moss is usually obvious, too. These contaminants cannot be scrubbed off of shingles, nor can you power wash the roof. 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-bleach, half-water mixture and leave it sit. This solution will kill any organisms on your home’s roof without reducing its lifespan.
7. Spruce up the Front
The front of your home is what most people see, so make the best impression possible for visitors, neighbors and for yourself! Coming home to a well-maintained exterior will immediately improve your day, and it will encourage you to spend a lot more time outdoors.
Clean your porch with soap and water or a good power wash. Clean cobwebs and mud off of the front porch, and consider painting it a new color for a fresh look! Clean forgotten areas such as the porch ceiling, light fixtures and ceiling fans, too.
8. Organize Outdoor Tools
You’ll be spending more time outside, so spring is an excellent opportunity to organize the things you’ll need for outdoor work.
Gardening tools as well as pool care equipment should all have a specific place outside your home – somewhere that it is safe from harsh weather and not in sight so it is not a constant eyesore. Taking the time to organize in the spring will allow you to enjoy the outside of your home much more during the time of year that you spend the most time outdoors.
9. Lawn Care & Landscaping
Your lawn, trees and bushes make a major impact on the look of your home.
Remove weeds around 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 also spray pre-emergent weed killer to make lawn maintenance easier on yourself throughout the next few months. Trim all bushes too.
10. Clean the Grill
After sitting unused for months, your grill could use a good cleaning, too. Leftover grease and food from your grill are unappetizing, but even worse they can also make you and your family sick.
Wet it down to remove ash, then scrub the grates with a plastic scrubber or grill brush (so you do not leave behind metal particles that can get into food) and a detergent or degreaser.
You could probably complete all of these projects after a few weekends but it will be a lot of hard work. Instead, give us a call! Lakeland Pressure Washing provides professional home exterior cleaning services for patio cleaning, roof cleaning, driveway cleaning, pressure washing and more!