10 Outdoor Spring Cleaning Projects
Spring cleaning is not always exciting for many of us. But it should be done. As the holidays and winter come to an end and we begin looking forward to spring and warmer weather, something inside of us tells us to get our homes in order by cleaning, organizing and getting rid of things we’ve collected throughout the winter months.
But who says spring cleaning is only for the interior of your home?
The outside of your home could likely use some refreshing 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 home in Norfolk, and, more importantly, will provide much-needed maintenance and care that will save you money over the years to come.
1. Gutter Cleaning
Spring is the best time to clean out your gutters, because so many of leaves and debris collect in the fall and winter months. The pollen count is at its highest in spring, making a huge mess in your gutters and downspouts if they are not properly cleaned.
Plus, bugs and critters are scavenging for places to build their homes in spring, so having your gutters cleaned out will help to stop an infestation in your home.
Gutter cleaning will consist of cleaning the inside of your gutters, removing mold, mildew, rust stains and restoring them to a like-new appearance.
2. Window Cleaning
Residential window cleaning is a must for spring cleaning. First floor windows will not give you too much of an issue, but second and third floor windows are trickier to reach.
Cleaning windows by hand is a tiring job, and it will require a lot of supplies, not to mention going 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 nice and clean.
3. Pressure Washing
You do not want clean gutters and windows on a dirty home. That means you will want to pressure wash your home too!
Pressure washing is quick, effective and affordable. You can clean your home, patio furniture, concrete patios, wood and stone porches and walkways with not too much effort. It will remove dirt and mud so they will not stain your home, and you can also stop the spread of mold, mildew and allergens.
4. Driveway Cleaning
Clearing off your home’s driveway and giving it a deep cleaning might seem strange because you’ll still be driving on it, but actually, a clean, maintained driveway can increase the curb appeal of your home.
A professional pressure washer will do wonders when it comes to driveway cleaning, whether it’s pavement, asphalt, stone or some other material. Also think about adding a gravel or mulch border to your home’s driveway to really make it pop!
5. Patio Cleaning
Your home’s patio probably gets the most use in the summer months, so it can be easy to overlook it in the winter since you are not doing a lot of outdoor entertaining, relaxing or grilling. Your patio might be in bad shape the first time you walk onto it in spring.
Soap and water – and a little hard work – are sometimes be enough for patio cleaning, but if there are signs of mold or algae, you 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 typical home roof problems in Norfolk. While you’re cleaning the outside of your home, it’s a great time to clean your home’s roof as well, but you’ll have to use a different process than what you use for the rest of your home’s exterior cleaning.
If you start to see streaks on your home’s roof, algae is probably the cause. Moss is pretty obvious, too. These contaminants can’t be scrubbed off of shingles, nor can you pressure wash the roof of your home. Both of these methods will destroy the shingles on your home’s roof.
The best process for roof cleaning is to spray the shingles with a half-bleach, half-water solution and let it be. This solution will eliminate all organic organisms on your home’s roof without reducing its lifespan.
7. Clean up the Front
The front of your home is probably what most people see, so make the best impression you can for visitors and for yourself! Coming home to a clean exterior will improve your day, and it will probably inspire you to spend a lot more time outside.
Clean your porch with detergent and water or a good pressure wash. Clean cobwebs and mud off of the front porch, and think about painting it a new color for a really fresh look! Clean forgotten areas like the porch ceiling, light fixtures and ceiling fans, too.
8. Organize Outdoor Tools
You’ll probably be spending more time outside, so spring is an excellent opportunity to organize the things you’ll need for outdoor work.
Gardening tools as well as pool care equipment must all have an assigned area outside your home – somewhere that it is safe from weather and out of sight so it is not a constant eyesore to anyone. Taking the time to organize in the spring will allow you to appreciate the outside of your home much more during the time of year that you spend the most time outside.
9. Lawn Care & Landscaping
Your lawn, trees and bushes make a big impact on the overall look of your home.
Eliminate weeds around your flower beds and walkways and driveway, till up areas where you’ll be planting in the future and brush off walkways. You can also spray pre-emergent weed poison to make yard care easier on yourself throughout the summer. Trim all bushes too.
10. Clean the Grill
After being unused for several months, your grill could use a good cleaning, too. Leftover grease and food from your grill are unappetizing, but even worse they can also make you and your family ill.
Wet it down to remove leftover ash, then scrub the grates with a scrubber (so you do not leave behind metal particles that can sometimes get into food) and a basic detergent or degreaser.
You could probably finish all of these jobs over the course of a few weekends but it will be a lot of tough work. Instead, give us a call! Norfolk Pressure Washing offers professional residential exterior cleaning services for driveway cleaning, patio cleaning, pressure washing, roof cleaning and more!