10 Outdoor Spring Cleaning Projects
Spring cleaning is not fun for many of us. But it is important. As the holidays and winter come to an end and we begin looking forward to spring, something within us tells us to get our homes in order by cleaning, organizing and getting rid of things we’ve collected over the winter months.
But who says spring cleaning is limited to the interior of a home?
The outside of your house could probably use a little tidying up after a cold, wet winter, too!
It’s Time For Home Exterior Cleaning
Here are home exterior cleaning projects that will improve the appearance of your house in Scottsdale, and, even more important, will provide much-needed care and maintenance that will save you a lot of money in years to come.
1. Gutter Cleaning
Spring is the best time to clean your gutters because so many leaves and debris accumulated during the fall and winter months. Pollen is at its highest during the spring, making a mess in your gutters and downspouts if they are not cleaned.
Plus, bugs and animals are searching for places to build their homes during spring, so getting your gutters cleaned will help prevent an infestation in your home.
Gutter cleaning consists of cleaning the inside of your gutters, removing mold, mildew and rust stains and returning them to a nice appearance.
2. Window Cleaning
Exterior window cleaning is essential for spring cleaning. First floor windows will not cause you too much of a headache, but second and third floor windows will be tougher to reach.
Cleaning windows by hand is a tough job, 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 perfect way to get the panes and the outer frame clean.
3. Pressure Washing
You do not want clean gutters and windows on a dirty home. That means you are going to want to pressure wash your house too!
Pressure washing is quick, effective and affordable. You can pressure clean your home, outdoor furniture, concrete patios, wood and stone porches and walkways with not too much effort. It will eliminate dirt and mud so they will not permanently stain your house, and you can prevent the spread of mold, mildew and allergens.
4. Driveway Cleaning
Clearing off your driveway and giving it a good cleaning might seem silly because you’ll just be driving on it, but, a clean, 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 think about adding a gravel border to your driveway to really help it stand out!
5. Patio Cleaning
Your patio gets the most use during the summer months, so it is easy to forget about it during the winter when you are not doing a lot of outdoor entertaining, leisure or grilling. Your patio might be in bad shape the first time you go onto it in the spring.
Soap and water – and a little elbow grease – can sometimes be enough for patio cleaning, but if there are signs of mold or algae, you might need to think about a more serious option, like power washing, to ensure that friends and family can safely enjoy your patio all summer.
6. Roof Cleaning
Algae and moss are typical roof issues in Scottsdale. While you are cleaning the outside of your house, it’s a great time to pressure clean your roof too, but you’ll need to use a different process than the one you use for the rest of your home’s exterior cleaning.
If you see streaks on your roof, algae is most likely the reason. Moss is pretty obvious, too. These particles can’t be scrubbed off shingles, nor can you power wash the roof of your house. Both of these methods will ruin the shingles on your roof.
The ideal course of action for roof cleaning is to mist the shingles with a half-bleach, half-water mixture and leave it be. This solution will eliminate all organisms on your roof without reducing its lifespan.
7. Spruce up the Front
The front of your house is probably what most people see, so make the best impression possible for visitors and for yourself! Returning home to a beautiful exterior will immediately improve your day, and it will probably encourage you to spend more time outside.
Clean your front porch with soap and water or a good power wash. Wipe cobwebs and dirt 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 Garden Tools
You will probably be spending more time outside, so spring is a great opportunity to organize the things you’ll need for outdoor chores.
Gardening tools and pool care equipment should all have a specific area outside your house – a place that it is safe from harsh weather and out of sight so it is not a constant eyesore. Spending the time to organize in the spring allows you to enjoy the outside of your house so much more throughout the time of year that you spend the most time outside.
9. Lawn Care & Landscaping
Your lawn, trees and bushes can make a huge impact on the look of your house.
Kill weeds near your flower beds and walkways, till up areas where you will be planting in the future and brush off walkways. You can spray pre-emergent weed poison to make yard maintenance easier on yourself throughout the next few months. Trim all the bushes too.
10. Clean the Grill
After sitting unused for several months, your gas or charcoal grill could need a good cleaning, too. Leftover grease and food particles from your grill are definitely unappetizing, but even worse they can make you and your family sick.
Wipe it down to remove leftover 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 detergent or degreaser.
You could probably complete all of these jobs after a few weekends but it will be a lot of tough work. Instead, give us a call! Scottsdale Pressure Washing provides professional residential exterior cleaning services for patio cleaning, roof cleaning, driveway cleaning, pressure washing and more!