10 Outdoor Spring Cleaning Projects
Spring cleaning isn’t always fun for most of us. But it should be done. As the holidays and winter come to an end and we begin 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 collected throughout the winter.
But who says spring cleaning is only for the inside of a home?
The exterior of your home could probably use a little tidying up after a cold, wet winter, too!
It’s Time For Home Exterior Cleaning
Here are home exterior cleaning projects that will really improve the curb appeal of your home in Bellevue, and, even more important, will provide much-needed care and maintenance that will save you money over the years to come.
1. Gutter Cleaning
Spring is the optimal time of year to clean your gutters, because a lot of leaves and debris collected during the fall and winter. Pollen is at its highest during spring, making a big mess in your gutters if they are not cleaned.
Plus, bugs and animals are scavenging for places to build homes during spring, so getting your gutters cleaned will help prevent an infestation in your home.
Gutter cleaning will consist of cleaning the inside of your gutters, removing mold, mildew, rust stains and returning them to a nice appearance.
2. Window Cleaning
Residential window cleaning is essential for spring cleaning. First floor windows will not cause you too much of an issue, but second and third floor windows will be trickier to reach.
Cleaning windows by hand is a tough job, and it will require a lot of supplies, not to mention climbing up and down a ladder! A soft wash or professional cleaning of your exterior windows is the best solution to get the panes and the outer frame clean.
3. Pressure Washing
You do not want clean gutters and clean windows on a dirty home. That means you are going to want to pressure wash your home too!
Pressure washing is fast, effective and affordable. You can clean your home, patio furniture, patios, wood and stone porches and walkways with very little effort. It will eliminate dirt and mud so they will not permanently stain your home, and you can also prevent the spread of mold, mildew and allergens.
4. Driveway Cleaning
Clearing off your home’s driveway and giving it a good cleaning might seem counter-productive because you’ll still be driving on it, but, a clean, well-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, brick or another material. Also think about adding a gravel or mulch border to your home’s driveway to really help it pop!
5. Patio Cleaning
Your home’s patio gets the most use in the summer, so it can be easy to overlook it during the winter since you are not doing a lot of outdoor entertaining, relaxing or grilling. Your patio can be in pretty bad shape the first time you step 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 mildew, you need to think about a more aggressive 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 roof issues in Bellevue. While you’re cleaning the exterior of your home, it’s an excellent 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 most likely the cause. Moss is pretty obvious, too. These contaminants cannot be wiped off shingles, nor can you power wash the roof. Both of these methods will damage the shingles on your home’s roof.
The ideal process for roof cleaning is to spray the shingles with a half-water, half-bleach mixture and then leave it sit. This will eliminate all organic organisms on your home’s roof without lowering its lifespan.
7. Tidy up the Front
The front of your home is probably what most people see, so make the best impression you can for visitors, neighbors and for yourself! Coming home to a clean exterior will immediately improve your day, and it will motivate 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 dirt off of the front porch, and think about painting it a new color for a really bright look! Clean overlooked areas such as the porch ceiling, light fixtures and ceiling fans, too.
8. Organize Garden Tools
You’ll soon be spending a lot more time outdoors, so spring is a great time to organize the things you’ll 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 harsh weather and not in sight so it isn’t a constant eyesore. Spending the time to organize in the spring allows you to enjoy the exterior of your home so much more during the time of year when you are going to spend the most time outdoors.
9. Lawn Care & Landscaping
Your yard, trees and garden bushes make a huge impact on the look of your home.
Remove weeds near the exterior of your flower beds and walkways, till up areas where you’ll be planting in the future and sweep off walkways. You can also spray pre-emergent weed poison to make yard maintenance easier on yourself throughout the summer. Trim all 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 also make you and your family sick.
Wipe it down to get rid of ash, then scrub the grates with a plastic scrubber (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 jobs over the course of a few weekends but it is going to be a lot of hard work. Instead, give us a call! PNW Bellevue Pressure Washing provides professional residential exterior cleaning services for patio cleaning, roof cleaning, driveway cleaning, pressure washing and more!