10 Outdoor Spring Cleaning Projects
Spring cleaning isn’t fun for a lot of us. But it is important. As the winter end and we begin looking forward to spring and warmer weather, something inside of us tells us to get our homes in order by cleaning, organizing and getting rid of things we’ve collected throughout the winter months.
But who says spring cleaning is only for the inside of a home?
The outside of your house could probably use some refreshing after a cold, wet winter, too!
It’s Time For Home Exterior Cleaning
Here are home exterior cleaning projects that will improve the curb appeal of your house in Kansas City, and, even more important, will offer much-needed care and maintenance that will save you money over the years to come.
1. Gutter Cleaning
Spring is the ideal time of year to clean out your gutters, since a lot of leaves and debris pile up in the fall and winter months. The pollen count is at its highest in spring, making a big mess in your gutters if they aren’t cleaned.
Plus, pests and animals are scavenging for places to build their homes in spring, so having your gutters cleaned out will help stop an infestation in your home.
Gutter cleaning consists of cleaning the inside of your gutters, removing mold, mildew, and rust stains and returning them to a like-new appearance.
2. Window Cleaning
Residential window cleaning is a must for spring cleaning. Ground floor windows shouldn’t cause you much of an issue, but any second and third floor windows can be trickier to reach.
Cleaning windows by hand is a tiring job, and it will require a lot of tools, 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 don’t want clean gutters and clean windows on a dirty home. This means you will want to pressure wash your house too!
Pressure washing is fast, effective and affordable. You can clean your home, patio furniture, patios, wood and stone porches and walkways with not much effort. It will knock off dirt and mud so they won’t stain your house, and you can stop the spread of mold, mildew and allergens.
4. Driveway Cleaning
Clearing off your driveway and giving it a deep cleaning may seem counter-productive since you will just be driving on it, but, a clean, well-cared for driveway can increase the curb appeal of your house.
A professional pressure washing service can do wonders for driveway cleaning, whether it’s pavement, asphalt, stone or another material. Also consider adding a gravel or mulch border to your driveway to really make it pop!
5. Patio Cleaning
Your patio probably gets the most use in the summer months, so it is easy to overlook it in the winter when you aren’t doing as much outdoor entertaining, leisure or grilling. Your patio could be in pretty rough shape the first time you go 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 might need to consider a more aggressive option, like power washing, to guarantee that friends and family can safely enjoy your patio all summer long.
6. Roof Cleaning
Mold and moss are common roof problems in Kansas City. While you are cleaning the outside of your house, it’s an excellent time to clean your roof too, but you will need to use a different process than the one you use for most of your home’s exterior.
If you notice streaks on your roof, algae is probably the cause. Moss is pretty obvious, too. These contaminants can’t 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 mixture and let it be. This will eliminate any organic organisms on your roof without reducing its lifespan.
7. Tidy up the Front
The front of your house is what most people passing by see, so make the best impression possible for visitors, neighbors and for yourself! Returning home to a clean exterior will improve your day, and it will inspire you to spend more time outside.
You can clean your front porch with soap and water or a good power wash. Wipe cobwebs and mud off of the front door, and consider painting it 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 much more time outside, so spring is a wonderful opportunity to organize everything you will need for outdoor work.
Yard tools and pool care equipment should all have a specific place outside your house – somewhere that it is safe from harsh weather and not in sight so it isn’t a constant eyesore to anyone. Spending the time to organize in the spring will allow 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 outside.
9. Lawn Care & Landscaping
Your yard, trees and bushes can make a big impact on the overall look of your house.
Eliminate weeds near the exterior of your flower beds and walkways and driveway, till up places where you will be planting later on and brush off walkways. You can spray pre-emergent weed killer to make yard care 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 definitely unappetizing, but even worse they can make you and your family ill.
Wet it down to get rid of ash, then scrub the grates with a scrubber (so you do not leave behind particles that can sometimes get into food) and a basic dish soap or degreaser.
You can probably complete all of these projects over the course of a few weekends but it is going to be a lot of tough work. Instead, give us a call! KC Pressure Wash Co. offers professional residential exterior cleaning services for driveway cleaning, patio cleaning, pressure washing, roof cleaning and more!