Spring Cleaning: Spring and summer are just around the corner. It’s time to trade in your winter boots for sandals, parkas for shorts, and mittens for sunblock. It also means it’s time to get off the couch and clean up all the dirt and debris that “Old Man Winter” left outside your home.
After spending the past few months hibernating inside, working outdoors in the sun will give you the boost of energy you need to tackle some less-than-fun jobs. Winter storms can leave windows dingy, siding or shutters faded, gutters clogged, and a yard filled with sticks and leaves.
Below is a handy checklist to remind you what needs to be done to tidy up the landscaping and give your home the curb appeal it deserves. Get ready for the warm weather outdoor living!
Outdoor Spring Cleaning Checklist
Start with the yard:
- Pick up all the trash, sticks, branches, and debris in the yard.
- Rake leaves from garden beds, under bushes, and around trees and dispose of them properly.
- Trim trees, shrubs, and bushes.
- Plant flowers or hang baskets of flowers.
- Divide or transplant perennials.
- Pull weeds out of flower beds and around trees, etc.
- Add mulch around trees, flower beds, and along your house’s foundation.
- Apply fertilizer and/or weed killer to your lawn.
- Add grass seed to bare spots in the lawn.
- Check for loose boards and/or posts on fences. Repair or replace whenever necessary.
Then move on to the exterior of the house:
- Shake out the Welcome mat.
- Wipe away cobwebs under the eaves.
- Sweep off the deck and walkways.
- Wash all of the windows from the exterior.
- Wipe off light fixtures and replace burned out light bulbs.
- Replace any broken windows.
- Attach hoses to outdoor faucets and check for leaks.
- Clean and repair window screens before re-installing them for the warm weather.
For deep cleaning, follow these steps:
- Power wash the deck.
- Clean the grill. Check hoses and links.
- Power wash the siding.
- Clean and repair gutters.
- Power wash the garage door.
- Wipe down and repair outdoor furniture.
- Power wash outdoor trash cans.
- Clean out the garage by sweeping out debris, tossing broken tools, empty cans, etc.
Every couple of years, add these jobs to your list:
- Touch up paint on trim, doors, shutters, etc.
- Stain the deck.
- Replace any broken bricks, stone, or wood siding.
- Inspect roof shingles. Replace them if necessary.
- Check and repair lawn sprinklers.
- Fix cracks and seal coat the driveway.
While many of these outdoor jobs are relatively easy to do (albeit messy or time-consuming), it’s never a bad idea to call in a professional for assistance. Contact a landscape company to offer advice on trimming trees and planting flowers or to help with a landscape design. Call a roofer to check to be sure your shingles are in good shape, especially if there have been severe winter storms. Ask a contractor to help with repairing gutters, fences, or broken siding.
Your house – and your neighbors – will thank you.
