10 Outdoor Spring Cleaning Projects
Spring cleaning is not always exciting for most of us. But it should be done. As the holidays and winter end and we begin looking forward to spring, something inside of us tells us to get our homes in order by cleaning, organizing and getting rid of things we’ve hoarded throughout the winter.
But who says spring cleaning is limited to the interior of a house?
The exterior of your house could probably 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 really improve the appearance of your house in Minneapolis, and, more importantly, will provide much-needed care and maintenance that will save a lot of money over the years to come.
1. Gutter Cleaning
Spring is the best time of year to clean out your gutters, since a lot of leaves and debris accumulated during the fall and winter. Pollen is at its highest during the spring, making a mess in your gutters if they are not cleaned.
Plus, bugs and animals are looking for places to build 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 and outside of your gutters, removing mold, mildew and stains and returning them to a like-new appearance.
2. Window Cleaning
Exterior window cleaning is necessary for spring cleaning. Ground floor windows shouldn’t cause you much of a problem, but any second and third floor windows can be a bit trickier to reach.
Cleaning windows by hand is a hard job, and it 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 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. That means you are going to want to pressure wash your house too!
Pressure washing is fast, effective and doesn’t cost too much. You can clean your house, patio furniture, patios, porches and walkways with not much effort. It will remove dirt and mud so they won’t stain your house, and you can prevent the spread of mold, mildew and allergens.
4. Driveway Cleaning
Clearing off your home’s driveway and giving it a good cleaning may seem silly since you will just be driving on it, but, a clean, maintained driveway can increase the curb appeal of your house.
A professional pressure washing service will do wonders for driveway cleaning, whether it’s pavement, asphalt, stone or some other material. Also consider adding a gravel or mulch border to your home’s driveway to really make it stand out!
5. Patio Cleaning
Your home’s patio gets the most use throughout the summer, so it’s easy to overlook it during the winter when you are not doing a lot of outdoor entertaining, leisure or grilling. Your patio could be in pretty rough shape the first time you walk onto it in the spring.
Soap and water – and a little muscle – can 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 ensure that friends and family can enjoy your patio all summer long.
6. Roof Cleaning
Algae and moss are typical home roof issues in Minneapolis. While you’re cleaning the exterior of your house, it’s an excellent time to clean your home’s roof too, but you will need to use a different method than what you use for most of your home’s exterior.
If you see streaks on your home’s roof, algae is probably the cause. Moss is pretty obvious, too. These particles can’t be wiped off of shingles, nor can you power wash the roof of your house. Both of these methods will ruin the shingles on your home’s roof.
The best method for roof cleaning is to mist the shingles with a half-water, half-bleach mixture and leave it sit. This solution will kill any organisms on your home’s roof without lowering its lifespan.
7. Clean up the Front
The front of your house is probably what most people passing by see, so try to make the best impression you can for visitors and for yourself! Coming home to a well-maintained exterior will improve your day, and it will even motivate you to spend more time outside.
Clean your porch with detergent and water or a good power wash. Clean cobwebs and mud off of the front door, and think about painting it for a bright look! Clean overlooked areas like the porch ceiling, light fixtures and ceiling fans, too.
8. Organize Outdoor Tools
You will probably be spending much more time outside, so spring is a wonderful time to organize everything you will need for outdoor chores.
Yard tools and pool care equipment must all have an exact area outside your house – a place that it is safe from harsh weather and not in sight so it is not a constant eyesore. Taking the time to organize in the spring allows you to enjoy the exterior of your house so much more throughout the time of year that you spend the most time outside.
9. Lawn Care & Landscaping
Your lawn, trees and garden bushes can make a major impact on the look of your house.
Kill weeds around your flower beds and walkways, till up areas where you will be planting in the future and brush off walkways. You can spray pre-emergent weed poison to make yard care easier on yourself throughout the next few months. Trim all the bushes too.
10. Clean the Grill
After sitting unused for several months, your gas or charcoal grill could need a good cleaning, too. Leftover grease and food from your grill are unappetizing, but even worse they can make you and your family ill.
Wipe it down to remove leftover ash, then scrub the grates with a plastic scrubber (so you do not leave behind particles that can sometimes get into food) and a detergent or degreaser.
You can probably complete these projects after a few weekends but it will be a lot of tough work. Instead, give us a call! Minneapolis Pressure Washing offers professional home exterior cleaning services for driveway cleaning, patio cleaning, pressure washing, roof cleaning and more!