10 Outdoor Spring Cleaning Projects
Spring cleaning isn’t always exciting for a lot of us. But it is important. As the holidays and winter come to an end and we start looking forward to spring and warm weather, something inside of us pushes us to get our homes in order by cleaning, organizing and getting rid of things we’ve hoarded over the winter months.
But who says spring cleaning is limited to the inside of a house?
The outside of your home could probably use a little refreshing 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 Federal Way, and, more importantly, will provide much-needed care and maintenance that will save money over the years ahead.
1. Gutter Cleaning
Spring is the ideal time of year to clean your gutters, because a lot of leaves and debris collected during the fall and winter months. The pollen count is at its highest during spring, making a huge mess in your gutters and downspouts if they aren’t cleaned.
Plus, pests and animals are looking for places to build homes during spring, so having your gutters cleaned will help prevent an infestation in your home.
Gutter cleaning consists of cleaning the inside of your gutters, removing mold, mildew, stains and restoring them to a like-new appearance.
2. Window Cleaning
Exterior window cleaning is necessary for spring cleaning. Ground floor windows won’t cause you much of an issue, but second and third floor windows will be a bit tougher to reach.
Cleaning windows by hand is a hard chore, and it will require a lot of tools, not to mention going 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 aren’t going to want clean gutters and clean windows on a dirty house. Which means you will want to pressure wash your home too!
Pressure washing is quick, effective and doesn’t cost too much. You can pressure clean your house, outdoor furniture, patios, porches and walkways with very little effort. It will eliminate dirt and mud so they won’t permanently stain your home, and you can also prevent the spread of mold, mildew and allergens.
4. Driveway Cleaning
Clearing off your driveway and giving it a good cleaning might seem strange because you’ll just be driving on it, but actually, a clean, well-maintained driveway can increase the curb appeal of your home.
A professional pressure washing service can do wonders for driveway cleaning, whether it is concrete, asphalt, stone or another material. Also consider adding a gravel or mulch border to your driveway to really help it stand out!
5. Patio Cleaning
Your patio probably gets the most use in the summer months, so it’s easy to overlook it during the winter since you aren’t doing as much outdoor entertaining, leisure or grilling. Your patio might be in rough condition the first time you walk onto it in spring.
Detergent and water – and a little hard work – can sometimes be enough for patio cleaning, but if there are signs of mold or algae, you may need to consider a more serious option, like power washing, to guarantee that friends and family can safely enjoy your patio all summer.
6. Roof Cleaning
Mold and moss are typical home roof issues in Federal Way. While you’re cleaning the outside of your home, it is a great time to pressure clean your roof as well, 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 start to notice streaks on your roof, algae is most likely the cause. Moss is usually obvious, too. These particles cannot be wiped off shingles, nor can you power wash the roof. Both of these methods will damage the shingles on your roof.
The best course of action for roof cleaning is to mist the shingles with a half-bleach, half-water solution and let it be. This mixture will eliminate all organisms on your roof without reducing its lifespan.
7. Clean up the Front
The front of your home is what most people see, so try to make the best impression you can for visitors, neighbors and for yourself! Returning home to a beautiful exterior will improve your day, and it will probably inspire you to spend more time outside.
Clean your front porch with detergent and water or a good power wash. Wipe cobwebs and mud off of the front porch, and think about painting it a new color for a bright look! Clean overlooked areas including the porch ceiling, light fixtures and ceiling fans, too.
8. Organize Outdoor Tools
You will soon be spending more time outdoors, so spring is a great opportunity to organize whatever you’ll need for outdoor chores.
Yard tools and pool care equipment need to all have an exact place outside your home – somewhere that it is safe from harsh weather and out of sight so it isn’t a constant eyesore. Taking the time to organize in the spring will allow you to enjoy the outside of your home so much more throughout the time of year that you are going to spend the most time outside.
9. Lawn Care & Landscaping
Your lawn, trees and bushes can make a major impact on the overall look of your home.
Kill weeds near the exterior of your flower beds and walkways, till up areas where you might be planting later on and sweep off walkways. You can also spray pre-emergent weed poison to make lawn care easier on yourself throughout the next few months. Trim all bushes too.
10. Clean the Grill
After sitting unused for months, your grill could use a good cleaning, too. Leftover grease and food particles from your grill are unappetizing, but they can also make you and your family ill.
Wet it down to get rid of ash, then scrub the grates with a plastic scrubber or grill brush (so you do not leave behind particles that can get into food) and a basic dish soap or degreaser.
You can probably finish all of these jobs after a few weekends but it is going to be a lot of tough work. Instead, give us a call! Federal Way Pressure Washing offers professional home exterior cleaning services for patio cleaning, roof cleaning, driveway cleaning, pressure washing and more!