I know everyone has their Spring cleaning checklist for the inside of the house but what about the outside? This is so important as many of us are coming off a harsh winter and things are looking a little beat up. Here are the things I do:
#1 and My Most Important – WASH THE WINDOWS! Â
There is nothing better than getting the grim off the windows in the Spring. I would include the inside of the windows at the same time as well as the screens and window sills. I don’t clean my windows myself as most are too high so a professional window washer is so worth the money for me. I called mine yesterday and have him already scheduled!
#2 and Almost as Important as the Windows – SPARKLE UP THE OUTDOOR LIGHT FIXTURES!
You really don’t even notice how dirty the outdoor lights are until you clean them. Wow what a difference. It literally brings a brightness to the exterior of your home that is hard to beat. At the same time check that all light bulbs are in working order and that ALL light bulbs match. Don’t use warm light (yellow tint) and day light (blue tint) at the same time on the same side of the house. It just looks bad, sorry. It’s a little thing but it matters. I prefer warm or soft light versus the day light.
# 3 for A Big First Impression – SCRUB THE FRONT DOOR AND ENTRY CEILING!
To be honest the front door needs attention all year long as far as brushing off the cobwebs and such but in the Spring scrub inside and around the door sill, fix a punctured screen door and perhaps a new coat of paint or stain on that front door is needed. Look up, is there a covering over your front door that likewise needs to be scrubbed or painted?
#4 is So Important – CLEAN OUT THE GUTTERS!
This can be a tough job and again one that you may want to hire a professional. Although dirty and filled gutters are not always noticed, getting them cleaned may save you some bigger issues down the road like water leaks inside your home, foundation issues, rotted wood and even ice dams in the winter months.
Of course there are many other items on your list for your outdoor Spring cleaning such as your outdoor furniture and it may even be time to pressure wash your siding. But in general, take a walk around the outside of your house this Spring and have a critical eye. If it is dirty, clean it, If it is broken, fix it. HAPPY SPRING!