10 Outdoor Spring Cleaning Projects
Spring cleaning is not fun for many of us. But it needs to be done. As the winter near an end and we begin looking forward to spring and warm weather, something within us pushes us to get our homes in order by cleaning, organizing and throwing away things we’ve hoarded over the winter.
But who says spring cleaning is only for the inside of your house?
The exterior of your home 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 drastically improve the appearance of your home in San Leandro, and, even more important, will provide much-needed care and maintenance that will save you money in years to come.
1. Gutter Cleaning
Spring is the ideal time to clean your gutters, because a lot of leaves and debris accumulated during the fall and winter. Pollen is at its highest during spring, making a big mess in your gutters if they are not properly cleaned.
Plus, bugs and animals are scavenging for places to build their homes during spring, so getting your gutters cleaned will help 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 returning them to a nice appearance.
2. Window Cleaning
Residential window cleaning is necessary for spring cleaning. Ground floor windows shouldn’t give you too much of a problem, but any second and third floor windows will be tougher to reach.
Cleaning windows by hand is an exhausting job, and will require a lot of tools, 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 clean.
3. Pressure Washing
You do not want clean gutters and clean windows on a dirty house. That means you are going to want to pressure wash your home too!
Pressure washing is fast, effective and affordable. You can pressure clean your house, outdoor furniture, patios, wood and stone porches and walkways with very little effort. It will remove dirt and mud so they won’t permanently stain your home, and you can stop the spread of mold, mildew and allergens.
4. Driveway Cleaning
Clearing off your driveway and giving it a good cleaning may seem counter-productive because you will still be driving on it, but, a clean, cared for driveway can increase the curb appeal of your home.
A professional pressure washer will do wonders when it comes to driveway cleaning, whether it is concrete, asphalt, stone or some other 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 throughout the summer, so it can be easy to overlook it during the winter when you are not doing a lot of outdoor entertaining, leisure or grilling. Your patio might be in rough shape the first time you walk onto it in spring.
Detergent and water – and a little elbow grease – are sometimes be enough for patio cleaning, but if there are signs of mold or mildew, you may 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 home roof problems in San Leandro. While you are cleaning the exterior of your home, it is an excellent time to pressure clean your roof too, but you will need to use a different method than the one you use for most of your home’s exterior cleaning.
If you see streaks on your roof, algae is probably the cause. Moss is fairly obvious, too. These particles cannot be wiped off of shingles, nor can you pressure wash the roof. Both of these methods will destroy the shingles on your roof.
The ideal process for roof cleaning is to spray the shingles with a half-bleach, half-water mixture and leave it be. This solution will kill any organisms on your roof without lowering its lifespan.
7. Spruce up the Front
The front of your home is likely what most people see, so try to make the best impression you can for visitors and for yourself! Coming home to a well-maintained exterior will instantly improve your day, and will even motivate you to spend a lot more time outside.
Clean your porch with soap and water or a good pressure wash. Clean cobwebs and dirt off of the front porch, and think about painting it for a fresh look! Clean forgotten areas like the porch ceiling, light fixtures and ceiling fans, too.
8. Organize Garden Tools
You’ll soon be spending more time outside, so spring is an excellent time to organize the things you will need for outdoor work.
Yard tools as well as pool care equipment should all have an assigned place outside your home – a place that it is safe from weather and out of sight so it is not a constant eyesore. Spending the time to organize in the spring will allow you to enjoy the exterior of your home much more throughout the time of year when you are going to spend the most time outside.
9. Lawn Care & Landscaping
Your yard, trees and garden bushes can make a major impact on the overall look of your home.
Kill weeds around the exterior of your flower beds and walkways, till up places where you’ll be planting in the future and brush off walkways. You can spray pre-emergent weed killer to make lawn care easier on yourself throughout the summer. Trim all bushes too.
10. Clean the Grill
After being unused for several months, your grill could need a good cleaning, too. Leftover grease and food from your grill are unappetizing, but 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 do not leave behind particles that can sometimes get into food) and a basic dish soap or degreaser.
You can probably complete all of these jobs after a few weekends but it will be a lot of tough work. Instead, give us a call! San Leandro Pressure Washing offers professional home exterior cleaning services for patio cleaning, roof cleaning, driveway cleaning, pressure washing and more!