10 Outdoor Spring Cleaning Projects
Spring cleaning is not always fun for many of us. But it needs to be done. As the winter end and we begin looking forward to spring, something inside of us pushes us to get our homes in order by cleaning, organizing and getting rid of things we’ve collected over the winter.
But who says spring cleaning is only for the inside of a home?
The outside of your house could likely 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 really improve the appearance of your house in Asheville, and, more importantly, will offer much-needed maintenance and care that will save money over the years ahead.
1. Gutter Cleaning
Spring is the optimal time of year to clean out your gutters, because a lot of leaves and debris collect in the fall and winter. Pollen is at its highest in spring, making a big mess in your gutters if they are not properly cleaned.
Plus, pests and animals are scavenging for places to build homes in spring, so getting your gutters cleaned out will help prevent an infestation in your home.
Gutter cleaning consists of cleaning the inside of your gutters, removing mold, mildew and stains and restoring them to a like-new appearance.
2. Window Cleaning
Exterior window cleaning is necessary for spring cleaning. First floor windows will not give you much of a problem, but any second and third floor windows will be trickier to reach.
Cleaning windows by hand is an exhausting job, and will require a lot of supplies, 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 nice and clean.
3. Pressure Washing
You aren’t going to want clean gutters and windows on a dirty home. That means you will want to pressure wash your house too!
Pressure washing is quick, effective and doesn’t cost very much. You can pressure clean your home, patio furniture, patios, wood and stone porches and walkways with very little effort. It will remove dirt and mud so they won’t stain your house, and you can also prevent the spread of mold, mildew and allergens.
4. Driveway Cleaning
Clearing off your driveway and giving it a deep cleaning might seem counter-productive because you’ll still be driving on it, but actually, a clean, cared for driveway can increase the curb appeal of your house.
A professional pressure washer can do wonders when it comes to driveway cleaning, whether it’s concrete, asphalt, brick or some other material. Also consider 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, so it can be easy to overlook it in the winter when you are not doing any outdoor entertaining, relaxing or grilling. Your patio can be in rough condition the first time you go onto it in spring.
Soap and water – and a little muscle – are sometimes be enough for patio cleaning, but if you see signs of mold or mildew, you may need to consider a more aggressive option, like professional power washing, to ensure that friends and family can enjoy your patio all summer long.
6. Roof Cleaning
Mold and moss are common home roof issues in Asheville. While you are cleaning the outside of your house, it’s a great time to pressure clean your roof as well, but you’ll 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 scrubbed off of shingles, nor can you power wash the roof. Both of these methods will ruin the shingles on your roof.
The ideal process for roof cleaning is to mist the shingles with a half-water, half-bleach solution and then leave it sit. This mixture will eliminate all organisms on your roof without lowering its lifespan.
7. Clean up the Front
The front of your house is likely what most people passing by see, so try to make the best impression you can for visitors, neighbors and for yourself! Returning home to a well-maintained exterior will improve your day, and will encourage you to spend a lot more time outdoors.
You can clean your porch with soap and water or a good power wash. Clean cobwebs and mud off of the front door, and think about painting it for a really bright look! Clean unnoticed areas including the porch ceiling, light fixtures and ceiling fans, too.
8. Organize Garden Tools
You’ll probably be spending a lot more time outdoors, so spring is a wonderful opportunity to organize the things you’ll need for outdoor work.
Yard tools and pool care equipment need to all have an exact place outside your house – somewhere that it is safe from weather and not in sight so it is not a constant eyesore to anyone. Taking the time to organize in the spring allows you to appreciate the outside of your house so much more throughout the time of year that you are going to spend the most time outdoors.
9. Lawn Care & Landscaping
Your lawn, trees and bushes can make a big impact on the overall look of your house.
Remove weeds around the exterior of your flower beds and walkways and driveway, till up places where you’ll be planting later on and brush off walkways. You can also spray pre-emergent weed killer to make lawn care easier on yourself throughout the next few months. Trim all bushes too.
10. Clean the Grill
After being unused for 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 sick.
Wipe it down to get rid of leftover ash, then scrub the grates with a plastic scrubber or grill brush (so you don’t leave behind particles that can get into food) and a basic dish soap or degreaser.
You can probably finish all of these jobs over the course of a few weekends but it is going to be a lot of hard work. Instead, give us a call! Asheville Pressure Washing offers professional residential exterior cleaning services for driveway cleaning, patio cleaning, pressure washing, roof cleaning and more!