10 Outdoor Spring Cleaning Projects
Spring cleaning is not always exciting for most of us. But it is important. As the winter come to an end and we begin looking forward to spring and warmer weather, something within us encourages 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 house?
The exterior of your house could likely use some 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 curb appeal of your house in Fort Lauderdale, and, even more important, will offer much-needed maintenance and upkeep that will save a lot of money in years to come.
1. Gutter Cleaning
Spring is the ideal time of year to clean your gutters, because so many of leaves and debris pile up during the fall and winter. Pollen is at its highest during the spring, making a huge mess in your gutters and downspouts if they aren’t cleaned.
Plus, bugs and animals are looking for places to build homes during spring, so getting your gutters cleaned will help stop an infestation in your home.
Gutter cleaning will consist of cleaning the inside and outside of your gutters, removing mold, mildew and rust stains and returning them to a like-new appearance.
2. Window Cleaning
Home window cleaning is necessary for spring cleaning. Ground floor windows shouldn’t give you too much of a problem, but second and third floor windows are 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 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 clean windows on a dirty house. That means you are going to want to pressure wash your house too!
Pressure washing is quick, effective and affordable. You can pressure clean your house, patio furniture, patios, porches and walkways with not too much effort. It will remove dirt and mud so they will not 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 good cleaning may seem counter-productive because you will still be driving on it, but, a clean, well-maintained driveway can increase the curb appeal of your house.
A professional pressure washer 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 driveway to really help it pop!
5. Patio Cleaning
Your patio gets the most use during the summer, so it can be easy to overlook it during the winter since you aren’t doing as much outdoor entertaining, relaxing or grilling. Your patio might be in rough condition the first time you go onto it in the spring.
Detergent and water – and a little muscle – are sometimes be enough for patio cleaning, but if there are signs of mold or mildew, you may need to consider a more aggressive option, like power washing, to ensure that friends and family can enjoy your patio all summer.
6. Roof Cleaning
Algae and moss are common roof problems in Fort Lauderdale. While you are cleaning the exterior of your house, it’s an excellent time to pressure clean your roof too, but you will have to use a different method than the one you use for most of your home’s exterior.
If you notice streaks on your roof, algae is most likely the cause. Moss is fairly obvious, too. These contaminants cannot be scrubbed off shingles, nor can you power wash the roof of your house. Both of these methods will damage the shingles on your roof.
The ideal process for roof cleaning is to spray the shingles with a half-water, half-bleach mixture and let it be. This solution will kill any organisms on your roof without reducing its lifespan.
7. Tidy up the Front
The front of your house is going to be what most people see, so make the best impression possible for visitors, neighbors and for yourself! Coming home to a beautiful exterior will immediately improve your day, and it will motivate you to spend more time outside.
Clean your front porch with detergent and water or a good power wash. Wipe cobwebs and mud off of the front porch, and consider painting it for a bright look! Clean unnoticed areas like the porch ceiling, light fixtures and ceiling fans, too.
8. Organize Garden Tools
You will be spending much 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 should all have an exact place outside your house – a place 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 allows you to enjoy the exterior of your house much more throughout the time of year that you spend the most time outside.
9. Lawn Care & Landscaping
Your lawn, trees and bushes make a big impact on the look of your house.
Eliminate weeds around your flower beds and walkways and driveway, till up areas where you will be planting later on and sweep off walkways. You can spray pre-emergent weed poison to make lawn maintenance easier on yourself throughout the summer. Trim all the bushes too.
10. Clean the Grill
After being unused for 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 sick.
Wet it down to remove leftover 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 detergent or degreaser.
You can probably complete all of these projects after a few weekends but it will be a lot of tough work. Instead, give us a call! Fort Lauderdale Pressure Washing offers professional residential exterior cleaning services for patio cleaning, roof cleaning, driveway cleaning, pressure washing and more!