Spring Cleaning Tips for Your Home’s Exterior
While we might have cleaning inside down to a science, for many, tackling the entirety of the home's exterior may seem a little daunting. But the good news is most home exterior cleaning projects are simple and easy enough for just about anyone to do. It might take a little bit of elbow grease, but you can have your home looking as good as ever.
Let’s look at a few areas you can tackle cleaning and a little maintenance as the weather starts to warm up to have your yard, patios, and decks ready for outdoor activities.
1. Tidy Up
Winter winds blow all sorts of debris into and around homes. Take a bit of time to walk around your property and clean up limbs and leaves that have found their way into your yard or gardens. Gardening is a year-round hobby. Before planting, clear out dead annuals and hardy weeds.
As you clean up around buildings, also take the time to note any damage that may have occurred over the last few months. What you notice while clearing up will be the core of your spring maintenance. Pay attention to loose siding or shingles, garden equipment that hasn’t fared well, and fences.
2. Clear the Gutters
Spring in many areas means the coming of more significant rain. Getting your gutters cleared out ahead of time from the accumulation of dead leaves and debris that show up in winter can help keep them functioning longer.
Gutters and drainage pipes keep water away from areas it shouldn’t be, protecting siding, preventing flooding, and ensuring the ground around the foundation remains stable and dry.
Make sure to have a spotter if using a ladder, but just throw on some sturdy gloves and get to scraping out as much gunk as possible. Smaller particles can be washed out of the gutter afterward with a hose, but you don’t want to push any large objects that might get stuck down drainage spouts and cause a plug.
If you notice water pooling at the bottom of a spout, use rocks, a drainage pipe, or landscaping culverts to move it away.
3. Wash Away the Grime
Cool, damp conditions in winter and early spring are an environment where mold and mildew thrive. Taking a walk around the home, you can easily see where it accumulates on siding, windows and doors, decks, fences, and paved surfaces. In the case of mold and mildew, over time, they extend through the surface layers of pavement, wood, or sealing trims causing them to break down.
Clearing these areas of mildew and dust can help extend the longevity of those investments. Luckily for most surfaces, a light clean with soapy water will clear up the grime quickly with minimal effort. Just grab an eco-friendly soap, rag, and hose attachment and wait for a warm day.
We recommend temperatures at least be around sixty degrees and sunny so things can dry out and so you won’t freeze.
4. Fence Face Lift
After you have washed away the buildup of dirt or mildew from winter, you may find your fence still looking a little underwhelming. Spring is an excellent time to give it a little bit of repair and a facelift.
Start with fixing any warped, broken, or loose board on wooden fences or scraping off any rust on metal. Then consider applying an appropriate sealer or paint to the surface.
Getting an excellent protective layer onto a fence keeps the underlying structure in better shape for longer. It is much more cost-effective and work-efficient to give a fence a new paint job than to replace entire sections.
5. Inspect Entertainment Areas
Once you have everything on decks and patios cleaned up, make sure furniture and grills are still in good condition and work. If you live in an area that frequently sees freezing temperatures pay special attention to fuel hoses and make sure they remain connected and are not leaking.
Poorly maintained grills not only ruin meal plans but are a big fire and safety hazard.
6. Organize Your Tools
While it isn’t technically part of the home's exterior, getting your garage squared away and ready for spring and summer yard work and entertainment is always a good idea. Stowaway winter-specific tools and organize your gardening supplies. When switching over to the tools you will need, it is a good time to do a thorough clean of walls and surfaces or even repaint.
Just like you checked that the grill was in working order, give the lawnmower and weed whacker a thorough check if you maintain your own yard. You don’t want to find out they aren’t running properly just as the grass starts to get high.
Professional Exterior Cleaning
Sometimes, getting an exterior area cleaned and resealed is just too daunting or impossible. If you have a large area to wash, stains that just won’t come out, or a tall house with out-of-reach areas from your standard hose and are considering attempting to pressure wash yourself, reconsider.
Renting a machine might seem like a cost-saver, but you may end up causing significant damage if you don't have experience using it. Different surfaces require different methods of cleaning. A concrete slab is vastly different from a brick wall or wood fence.
Porous, delicate surfaces require soft washing instead of a high-intensity pressure wash. And the presence of pets and garden plants may limit the safe chemicals to use. Turn to a trusted professional to get the exterior of your home back to new.
Pressure Washing in Western North Carolina
If you require commercial or residential pressure and soft washing services in Buncombe, Henderson, and Haywood Counties, HydroClean is the professional service you can trust. We use biodegradable chemical solutions and the best equipment available to efficiently and safely get your home in top shape.
With over 21 years of experience, using our fully insured crews will give you peace of mind. No matter how large or small your project might be, call us at (828)273-5660 or contact us online to get started on your projects estimate.