10 Outdoor Spring Cleaning Projects
Spring cleaning is not fun for many of us. But it is important. As the winter end and we start looking forward to spring and warmer weather, something within us pushes us to get our homes in order by cleaning, organizing and purging things we’ve piled up throughout the winter months.
But who says spring cleaning is limited to the interior of your house?
The exterior of your home could likely use a little 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 El Monte, and, even more important, will provide much-needed maintenance and upkeep that will save you a lot of money over the years to come.
1. Gutter Cleaning
Spring is the best time to clean out your gutters, because a lot of leaves and debris accumulated during the fall and winter months. The pollen count is at its highest during the spring, making a big mess in your gutters and downspouts if they aren’t cleaned.
Plus, bugs and animals are scavenging for places to build their homes during spring, so getting your gutters cleaned out will help to prevent an infestation in your home.
Gutter cleaning consists of cleaning the inside of your gutters, removing mold, mildew and rust stains and restoring them to a like-new appearance.
2. Window Cleaning
Residential window cleaning is necessary for spring cleaning. First floor windows shouldn’t cause you too much of an issue, but any second and third floor windows will be a bit tougher to reach.
Cleaning windows by hand is an exhausting chore, 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 exterior windows is the recommended way 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 house. That means you are going to want to pressure wash your home too!
Pressure washing is quick, effective and doesn’t cost very much. You can clean your house, outdoor furniture, concrete patios, porches and walkways with not too much effort. It will remove dirt and mud so they will not stain your home, and you can prevent the spread of mold, mildew and allergens.
4. Driveway Cleaning
Clearing off your driveway and giving it a deep cleaning might seem silly because you will be driving on it, but, a clean, maintained driveway can increase the curb appeal of your home.
A professional pressure washing service will do wonders when it comes to driveway cleaning, whether it’s concrete, asphalt, brick or another material. Also think about adding a gravel or mulch border to your driveway to really make it pop!
5. Patio Cleaning
Your patio gets the most use throughout the summer months, so it is easy to overlook it during the winter when you aren’t doing as much outdoor entertaining, relaxing or grilling. Your patio can be in pretty bad condition the first time you step onto it in the spring.
Detergent and water – and a little hard work – are sometimes be enough for patio cleaning, but if you see signs of mold or mildew, you need to think about a more aggressive option, like professional power washing, to guarantee that friends and family can enjoy your patio all summer.
6. Roof Cleaning
Mold and moss are common home roof issues in El Monte. While you are cleaning the exterior of your home, it’s an excellent time to 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 usually obvious, too. These contaminants cannot be scrubbed off of shingles, nor can you power wash the roof. Both of these methods will destroy the shingles on your roof.
The ideal process for roof cleaning is to mist the shingles with a half-water, half-bleach mixture and then let it be. This will kill all organic organisms on your roof without lowering its lifespan.
7. Tidy up the Front
The front of your home is likely what most people passing by see, so make the best impression you can for visitors and for yourself! Coming home to a clean exterior will immediately improve your day, and it will even encourage you to spend a lot more time outdoors.
You can clean your porch with detergent and water or a good power wash. Clean cobwebs and mud off of the front porch, and consider painting it 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 be spending more time outside, so spring is an excellent chance to organize the things you will need for outdoor work.
Yard tools and pool care equipment must all have an assigned place outside your home – somewhere 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 that you spend the most time outdoors.
9. Lawn Care & Landscaping
Your yard, trees and garden bushes make a big impact on the overall look of your home.
Eliminate weeds near your flower beds and walkways, till up places where you will be planting later on and brush off walkways. You can spray pre-emergent weed poison to make lawn care easier on yourself throughout the summer. Trim all the bushes too.
10. Clean the Grill
After being unused for several months, your gas or charcoal grill could need a good cleaning, too. Leftover grease and food particles from your grill are unappetizing, but even worse they can make you and your family ill.
Wipe it down to get rid of 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 dish soap or degreaser.
You can probably finish these projects over the course of a few weekends but it will be a lot of tough work. Instead, give us a call! El Monte Pressure Washing offers professional residential exterior cleaning services for driveway cleaning, patio cleaning, pressure washing, roof cleaning and more!