10 Outdoor Spring Cleaning Projects
Spring cleaning is not always exciting for a lot of us. But it has to be done. As the winter end and we start looking forward to spring and warmer weather, something inside of us pushes us to get our homes in order by cleaning, organizing and getting rid of things we’ve hoarded over the winter.
But who says spring cleaning is limited to the inside of your house?
The outside of your home could likely use a little refreshing after a cold, dreary winter, too!
It’s Time For Home Exterior Cleaning
Here are home exterior cleaning projects that will improve the curb appeal of your home in San Mateo, and, even more important, will provide much-needed maintenance and upkeep that will save money over the years to come.
1. Gutter Cleaning
Spring is the ideal time to clean your gutters, because a lot of leaves and debris accumulate in the fall and winter. Pollen is at its highest in the spring, making a big mess in your gutters if they aren’t properly cleaned.
Plus, pests and critters are scavenging for places to build homes in spring, so getting your gutters cleaned 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 rust stains and returning them to a like-new appearance.
2. Window Cleaning
Home window cleaning is essential for spring cleaning. Ground floor windows will not cause you too much of a headache, but any second and third floor windows can be trickier to reach.
Cleaning windows by hand is a tiring job, and will require 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 perfect solution to get the panes and the outer frame nice and clean.
3. Pressure Washing
You do not want clean gutters and windows on a dirty house. That means you are going to want to pressure wash your home too!
Pressure washing is fast, effective and doesn’t cost too much. You can pressure clean your house, patio furniture, concrete patios, porches and walkways with very little effort. It will eliminate dirt and mud so they won’t stain your home, 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 just 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, stone or some other material. Also consider adding a gravel border to your driveway to really help it stand out!
5. Patio Cleaning
Your patio probably gets the most use during the summer, so it is easy to forget about it in the winter when you aren’t doing any outdoor entertaining, leisure or grilling. Your patio might be in pretty bad condition the first time you go onto it in the spring.
Detergent and water – and a little elbow grease – are sometimes be enough for patio cleaning, but if there are signs of mold or algae, you might need to consider a more serious option, like professional power washing, to guarantee that friends and family can enjoy your patio all summer.
6. Roof Cleaning
Mold and moss are typical home roof problems in San Mateo. While you are cleaning the outside of your home, it’s an excellent time to pressure clean your roof too, but you’ll need to use a different process than the one you use for the rest of your home’s exterior cleaning.
If you start to notice streaks on your roof, algae is most likely the cause. Moss is fairly obvious, too. These particles cannot be wiped 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-bleach, half-water solution and then let it be. This mixture will kill any organisms on your roof without lowering its lifespan.
7. Spruce up the Front
The front of your home is likely what most people see, so try to make the best impression you can for visitors and for yourself! Coming home to a beautiful exterior will improve your day, and will probably inspire you to spend more time outdoors.
You can clean your porch with soap and water or a good power wash. Wipe cobwebs and mud off of the front door, and think about painting it for a really bright look! Clean unnoticed areas like the porch ceiling, light fixtures and ceiling fans, too.
8. Organize Outdoor Tools
You’ll be spending a lot more time outside, so spring is a great chance to organize the things you’ll need for outdoor chores.
Yard tools and pool care equipment should all have a specific place outside your home – a place that it is safe from weather and not in sight so it is not a constant eyesore to anyone. Spending the time to organize in the spring will allow you to enjoy the outside of your home much more during the time of year when you spend the most time outdoors.
9. Lawn Care & Landscaping
Your lawn, trees and bushes make a major impact on the overall look of your home.
Remove weeds around the exterior of your flower beds and walkways, till up areas where you will be planting later on and brush off walkways. You can also spray pre-emergent weed killer to make lawn maintenance 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 particles from your grill are definitely unappetizing, but even worse they can also make you and your family sick.
Wet it down to remove ash, then scrub the grates with a plastic scrubber (so you don’t leave behind particles that can get into food) and a dish soap or degreaser.
You could probably finish all of these jobs over the course of a few weekends but it is going to be a lot of tough work. Instead, give us a call! San Mateo Pressure Washing provides professional residential exterior cleaning services for patio cleaning, roof cleaning, driveway cleaning, pressure washing and more!