Spring Spruce Up for your Home's Exterior

Now that spring has sprung, you can kick the winter blues by getting outside to refresh and renew your home’s exterior. Whether it’s your siding, deck, garage, lawn, or other outer areas, plenty will keep you busy. It can be overwhelming, but tackling each section of your home and property in manageable increments can get much done without stress and strain. It’s best to handle one area of your property at a time, starting with the most basic structures, such as your roof and shingles, to extensions of the house and then surrounding yard features. This helpful outdoor cleaning list of chores will help you organize yourself to make spring cleaning the outside of your home less of a hassle while you also enjoy the sunshine and fresh air.

The actual structure—It’s the easiest and most logical to start here because you will instantly improve your home’s immediate appearance. Attachments, such as windows, gutters, siding, roof, and front and garage doors, are the first that are noticed. Cleaning these first will give you a sense of accomplishment and motivate you on a different day to spruce up other parts of the house and yard. You should inspect all these areas for damage, and if repair is not needed, consider power washing the entire exterior to remove moss, algae, mold, and dirt stains. Use a commercial window cleaner or diluted vinegar to spray and wipe down grime from windows; ones on a higher floor can be power washed. Remove leaf debris from downspouts and flush out gutters.

Deck and patio—Turn desolate and neglected spots into fun, outdoor activity areas with a few repairs and some well-needed maintenance. Start by sweeping and brushing to remove superficial dirt and cobwebs from railings, ceilings, walls, and floors. Remove any bird, rodent, or insect nests from fixtures. Next, grills, furniture, and accessories such as rugs, cushions, drapery, and umbrellas must be scrubbed or laundered to remove grease, grime, and stains. Lighting fixtures may need to be replaced, and wood flooring should be inspected for decay and replaced or re-stained. Check concrete and asphalt on sidewalks, walls, and your driveway for chips and cracks that need repair.

The lawn and garden—Cleanliness is equally important in your yard. Begin by raking and weeding to gather up litter and dead vegetation. The next phase should be to aerate the ground by digging up compacted soil and fertilizing it for new growth. If you have a sprinkler system, check its pipes and valves and test for proper function. Also, inspect hoses for tears and leaks. Plant flowers and shrubs appropriate for the season and follow directions for proper placement and watering. Prune overgrown trees and shrubs. Recycle clippings to use as compost or refresh mulch.

The accumulation of winter grit and grime can take a toll on your home’s exterior. No matter how old, the size, or the condition of your house and property, exterior cleaning is necessary to improve its appearance and give it a clean, fresh look so that you and your guests can enjoy your time outdoors as it gets warmer. As you clean, it’s important to pace yourself by organizing your chores with the help of a handy to-do cleaning list to keep you on track for getting your home’s exterior spruced up for spring.