10 Outdoor Spring Cleaning Projects
Spring cleaning is not always fun for most of us. But it needs to be done. As the winter near an end and we begin looking forward to spring, something inside of us tells us to get our homes in order by cleaning, organizing and throwing away things we’ve piled up over the winter.
But who says spring cleaning is only for the inside of a house?
The outside of your home could use some tidying up after a cold, wet winter, too!
It’s Time For Home Exterior Cleaning
Here are home exterior cleaning projects that will really improve the curb appeal of your home in Ontario, and, more importantly, will offer much-needed care and maintenance that will save money over the years ahead.
1. Gutter Cleaning
Spring is the best time of year to clean your gutters, since a lot of leaves and debris accumulate in the fall and winter. The pollen count is at its highest in the spring, making a mess in your gutters and downspouts if they aren’t properly cleaned.
Plus, pests and animals are searching for places to build their homes in spring, so getting your gutters cleaned 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 stains and restoring them to a nice appearance.
2. Window Cleaning
Home window cleaning is essential for spring cleaning. Ground floor windows shouldn’t give you too much of a headache, but any second and third floor windows will be trickier to reach.
Cleaning windows by hand is a tiring job, and will need a lot of supplies, not to mention going up and down a ladder! A soft wash or professional cleaning of your exterior windows is the recommended solution to get the panes and the outer frame clean.
3. Pressure Washing
You don’t want clean gutters and clean windows on a dirty house. That means you will want to pressure wash your home too!
Pressure washing is fast, effective and affordable. You can pressure clean your house, outdoor furniture, concrete patios, wood and stone porches and walkways with very little effort. It will remove dirt and mud so they will not 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 since you will just be driving on it, but actually, a clean, well-cared for driveway can increase the curb appeal of your home.
A professional pressure washer can do wonders when it comes to driveway cleaning, whether it is concrete, asphalt, stone or some other material. Also consider adding a gravel border to your home’s driveway to really help it stand out!
5. Patio Cleaning
Your home’s patio gets the most use during the summer, so it’s easy to forget about it in the winter since you aren’t doing a lot of outdoor entertaining, leisure or grilling. Your patio could be in pretty rough condition the first time you step onto it in the spring.
Detergent and water – and a little muscle – are sometimes be enough for patio cleaning, but if there are signs of mold or mildew, you need to consider a more serious 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 roof problems in Ontario. While you are cleaning the outside of your home, it is an excellent time to pressure clean your home’s roof too, but you will need to use a different method than the one you use for most of your home’s exterior.
If you notice streaks on your home’s roof, algae is most likely the reason. Moss is pretty obvious, too. These particles can’t be scrubbed off shingles, nor can you pressure wash the roof of your home. Both of these methods will damage the shingles on your home’s roof.
The ideal method for roof cleaning is to mist the shingles with a half-bleach, half-water mixture and let it sit. This mixture will eliminate all organisms on your home’s roof without reducing its lifespan.
7. Spruce up the Front
The front of your home is likely what most people see, so make the best impression you can for visitors and for yourself! Coming home to a clean exterior will instantly improve your day, and will encourage you to spend more time outdoors.
You can clean your porch with soap and water or a good pressure wash. Wipe cobwebs and dirt off of the front door, and consider painting it for a bright look! Clean overlooked areas such as the porch ceiling, light fixtures and ceiling fans, too.
8. Organize Garden Tools
You’ll probably be spending more time outdoors, so spring is an excellent chance to organize the things you will need for outdoor work.
Gardening tools as well as pool care equipment need to all have a specific area outside your home – somewhere that it is safe from harsh weather and out of sight so it is not a constant eyesore to anyone. Spending the time to organize in the spring allows you to enjoy the outside of your home so much more during the time of year that you are going to spend the most time outdoors.
9. Lawn Care & Landscaping
Your yard, trees and bushes make a huge impact on the look of your home.
Remove weeds around your flower beds and walkways and driveway, till up areas where you will be planting later on and sweep off walkways. You can spray pre-emergent weed killer 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 months, your gas or charcoal grill could need a good cleaning, too. Leftover grease and food particles from your grill are unappetizing, but they can make you and your family sick.
Wet it down to remove ash, then scrub the grates with a plastic scrubber (so you don’t leave behind metal particles that can get into food) and a basic detergent or degreaser.
You could probably complete all of these projects after a few weekends but it will be a lot of tough work. Instead, give us a call! Ontario Pressure Washing provides professional home exterior cleaning services for patio cleaning, roof cleaning, driveway cleaning, pressure washing and more!