10 Outdoor Spring Cleaning Projects
Spring cleaning isn’t fun for most of us. But it is important. As the holidays and winter end and we begin looking forward to spring and warmer weather, something inside of us encourages 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 only for the interior of your home?
The exterior 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 drastically improve the appearance of your home in Akron, and, more importantly, will provide much-needed maintenance and upkeep that will save a lot of money over the years to come.
1. Gutter Cleaning
Spring is the optimal time of year to clean your gutters, because a lot of leaves and debris pile up in the fall and winter months. The pollen count is at its highest in spring, making a mess in your gutters if they aren’t cleaned.
Plus, pests and critters are scavenging for places to build homes in spring, so getting your gutters cleaned will help to stop an infestation in your home.
Gutter cleaning consists of cleaning the inside and outside of your gutters, removing mold, mildew, rust stains and restoring them to a nice appearance.
2. Window Cleaning
Residential window cleaning is necessary for spring cleaning. First floor windows won’t give you too much of a headache, but second and third floor windows are a bit tougher to reach.
Cleaning windows by hand is an exhausting 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 perfect solution 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 home. Which means you are going to want to pressure wash your home too!
Pressure washing is fast, effective and affordable. You can clean your home, outdoor furniture, concrete patios, porches and walkways with not too much effort. It will knock off dirt and mud so they won’t stain your home, and you can stop the spread of mold, mildew and allergens.
4. Driveway Cleaning
Clearing off your home’s driveway and giving it a good cleaning may seem strange because you will just be driving on it, but actually, a clean, well-maintained 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 think about adding a gravel border to your home’s driveway to really help it pop!
5. Patio Cleaning
Your home’s patio 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 can be in bad condition the first time you step onto it in spring.
Detergent and water – and a little hard work – 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 safely enjoy your patio all summer.
6. Roof Cleaning
Algae and moss are common roof issues in Akron. While you’re cleaning the exterior of your home, it is an excellent time to clean your home’s roof too, but you will have to use a different process than what you use for the rest of your home’s exterior.
If you see streaks on your home’s roof, algae is most likely the cause. Moss is fairly obvious, too. These particles can’t be wiped off of shingles, nor can you power wash the roof. Both of these methods will damage the shingles on your home’s roof.
The best method for roof cleaning is to spray the shingles with a half-bleach, half-water mixture and let it sit. This will kill all organisms on your home’s roof without lowering its lifespan.
7. Spruce up the Front
The front of your home is what most people passing by see, so make the best impression possible for visitors and for yourself! Returning home to a clean exterior will improve your day, and will probably encourage you to spend a lot more time outdoors.
Clean your front 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 really bright look! Clean unnoticed areas such as the porch ceiling, light fixtures and ceiling fans, too.
8. Organize Garden Tools
You’ll soon be spending much more time outdoors, so spring is an excellent chance to organize everything you will need for outdoor chores.
Yard tools and pool care equipment need to all have an exact area outside your home – somewhere that it is safe from 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 enjoy the exterior of your home much more throughout the time of year that you are going to spend the most time outdoors.
9. Lawn Care & Landscaping
Your lawn, trees and bushes make a huge impact on the look of your home.
Remove weeds near the exterior of your flower beds and walkways, till up areas where you will be planting later on and sweep off walkways. You can spray pre-emergent weed poison to make lawn maintenance easier on yourself throughout the summer. Trim all bushes too.
10. Clean the Grill
After being unused for months, your grill could need a good cleaning, too. Leftover grease and food from your grill are 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 basic detergent or degreaser.
You could probably complete these projects after a few weekends but it will be a lot of tough work. Instead, give us a call! Akron Pressure Washing provides professional residential exterior cleaning services for driveway cleaning, patio cleaning, pressure washing, roof cleaning and more!