10 Outdoor Spring Cleaning Projects
Spring cleaning isn’t always fun for many of us. But it needs to be done. As the holidays and winter end and we begin looking forward to spring, something inside of us tells us to get our homes in order by cleaning, organizing and getting rid of things we’ve hoarded throughout the winter.
But who says spring cleaning is only for the interior of a home?
The outside of your house could probably use some refreshing after a cold, dreary winter, too!
It’s Time For Home Exterior Cleaning
Here are home exterior cleaning projects that will drastically improve the curb appeal of your house in Kirkland, and, more importantly, will offer much-needed maintenance and upkeep that will save you a lot of money over the years to come.
1. Gutter Cleaning
Spring is the best time to clean your gutters, since so many leaves and debris pile up 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 properly cleaned.
Plus, pests and critters are looking for places to build their homes during spring, so getting your gutters cleaned will help to prevent an infestation in your home.
Gutter cleaning will consist of cleaning the inside and outside of your gutters, removing mold, mildew, rust stains and restoring them to a nice appearance.
2. Window Cleaning
Home window cleaning is a must for spring cleaning. Ground floor windows won’t cause you too much of an issue, but any second and third floor windows are a bit tougher to reach.
Cleaning windows by hand is a tiring chore, and will require a lot of tools, not to mention climbing up and down a ladder! A soft wash or professional cleaning of your exterior windows is the recommended way to get the panes and the outer frame clean.
3. Pressure Washing
You aren’t going to want clean gutters and windows on a dirty home. Which means you will want to pressure wash your house too!
Pressure washing is fast, effective and affordable. You can clean your home, patio furniture, patios, wood and stone porches and walkways with very little effort. It will knock off dirt and mud so they won’t permanently stain your house, and you can also prevent the spread of mold, mildew and allergens.
4. Driveway Cleaning
Clearing off your driveway and giving it a good cleaning might seem counter-productive since you will still be driving on it, but, a clean, well-maintained driveway can increase the curb appeal of your house.
A professional pressure washer will do wonders when it comes to driveway cleaning, whether it’s pavement, asphalt, stone or another material. Also consider adding a gravel or mulch border to your driveway to really help it stand out!
5. Patio Cleaning
Your patio probably gets the most use during the summer, so it is easy to forget about it during the winter since you are not doing any outdoor entertaining, leisure or grilling. Your patio can be in bad shape the first time you go onto it in spring.
Detergent 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 consider a more aggressive option, like professional power washing, to guarantee that friends and family can safely enjoy your patio all summer long.
6. Roof Cleaning
Algae and moss are common home roof issues in Kirkland. While you are cleaning the outside of your house, it’s an excellent time to clean your roof too, but you will have to use a different process than what you use for the rest of your home’s exterior cleaning.
If you notice streaks on your roof, algae is most likely the cause. Moss is typically obvious, too. These contaminants cannot be wiped off shingles, nor can you power wash the roof. Both of these methods will ruin the shingles on your roof.
The ideal method for roof cleaning is to spray the shingles with a half-bleach, half-water solution and let it be. This will eliminate all organisms on your roof without lowering its lifespan.
7. Clean up the Front
The front of your house is likely what most people see, so try to make the best impression you can for visitors, neighbors and for yourself! Returning home to a well-maintained exterior will improve your day, and will probably motivate you to spend more time outside.
You can clean your front porch with soap and water or a good power wash. Clean cobwebs and dirt off of the front porch, and consider painting it a new color for a really bright look! Clean overlooked areas including the porch ceiling, light fixtures and ceiling fans, too.
8. Organize Garden Tools
You will soon be spending much more time outdoors, so spring is a great time to organize the things you will need for outdoor chores.
Yard tools and pool care equipment need to all have an exact place outside your house – somewhere that it is safe from harsh weather and out of sight so it isn’t a constant eyesore to anyone. Taking the time to organize in the spring will allow you to enjoy the outside of your house much more throughout the time of year that you spend the most time outside.
9. Lawn Care & Landscaping
Your lawn, trees and garden bushes can make a major impact on the look of your house.
Remove weeds around your flower beds and walkways and driveway, till up places where you will be planting later on 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 sitting unused for several months, your gas or charcoal grill could use a good cleaning, too. Leftover grease and food particles from your grill are definitely unappetizing, but even worse they can also make you and your family ill.
Wipe 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 basic detergent or degreaser.
You can probably complete all of these jobs after a few weekends but it will be a lot of hard work. Instead, give us a call! Kirkland Pressure Washing offers professional home exterior cleaning services for driveway cleaning, patio cleaning, pressure washing, roof cleaning and more!