Spring Cleaning Tips for Exterior Chores and Home Maintenance

Every season brings with it cleaning chores and maintenance tasks that should be performed to keep your home looking its best. You already know how to spring clean the inside of your house, but be sure to tackle the outside, too.

With a few straightforward steps, you’ll be well on your way to a home that’s ready for warm-weather get-togethers. Keep reading for some easy spring cleaning tips and tricks to help simplify the process of cleaning the exterior of your house.

Clean and Repair the Deck

A deck surrounding your home or extending into the backyard is certainly a feature to take pride in.

Keep your deck looking its best with a few simple tasks in spring. Choose a day with good weather after any snowfall has fully melted from the deck’s surface, and complete the following tasks in order:

• Sweep off any twigs or fallen leaves.
• Power wash the surfaces to remove ground-in dirt and grime. Use a long-handled scrub brush on any stubborn spots.
• Rinse the deck and allow it to dry before inspecting it for any signs of damage.
• Apply your choice of sealer to protect the deck’s material from water and sun damage for another year.

Inspect the Roof for Surface Repairs

Winter weather can damage roofing materials, which can gradually lead to more extensive problems. You can do your own visual inspection of your home’s roof each spring from the relative safety of a ladder (as long as you have a friend or family member standing watch nearby), but do not leave the ladder to climb around on the roof.

From your vantage point on the ladder, look for these issues:

• Obvious shingle damage
• Problems with flashing around vent pipes and chimneys
• Any other sign of deterioration

If you see anything that concerns you, contact a roof professional he or she will be able to confirm your suspicions and offer solutions.

While you’re at eye level with the roof, take a look at the gutters to see if any repair or cleaning is required. Ice and snow can do a number on gutters, fascia, and soffits, so be sure to mention any potential problems to a gutter professional.

Cleaning the Garage Door

Few people give much attention to the appearance of their garage door, but any exterior spring cleaning routine is incomplete without giving this surface some attention.

A power washer is the most efficient cleaning tool for most types of siding as well as garage doors made of wood, fiberglass, steel, and other materials. If you do not have a power washer, a long-handled scrub brush will do.

Simply mix cleaning solution and water in a bucket, scrub the surface of the door, then rinse clean. You’ll be surprised at what a difference a simple cleaning can make.

Cleaning the Front Porch

Front porches can make or break the first impression that people have of your home. Knowing how to spring clean the front porch will give you a real edge on making your guests feel welcome. Here is a simple cleaning list to follow for your porch:

• Remove any plants and decorative objects from the porch.
• Gently wipe down flower pots, furniture, and decorations with a damp cloth.
• Sweep dirt and debris off the porch; concrete can be scrubbed with a long-handled brush or cleaned with a power washer.
• Scrub the walls surrounding the porch.
• Use a long-handled duster or a handheld vacuum to remove any cobwebs that might have gathered in the high corners of the porch area; be sure to run the duster gently over the porch light, too.
• Replace exterior lightbulbs—choose LED bulbs to save money on your power bill.

With a little work, your porch will be a welcoming spot any time of the day or night.

Your Home Is Ready for Spring

Seasonal chores give you a chance to get to know your home even better. Make a spring cleaning checklist of home, yard, and garage chores to get organized, and before you know it, your home will be ready for spring and all the fun that comes with sunshine and warm weather.