4 Outdoor Spring Cleaning Tasks to Add to Your Checklist 

Now that the weather is warming up, it’s time to retire the snow shovel and spring clean your home exterior. Follow these tips to simplify your spring cleaning checklist and make your home shine like new again this season: 

1. Wash Your Siding 

Start your spring cleaning with the most daunting task. Inspect your siding for signs of deterioration and damage from winter storms and repair if required. Hose down vinyl siding and soffit to remove dirt and debris, then clean your siding thoroughly with a soft cloth or long-handled soft-bristled brush to remove stubborn grime. Spot-clean mold and mildew with a common household cleaner or a cleaning solution of vinegar (30%) and water (70%). Rinse off the cleaning solution completely before it dries.  

2. Make Your Windows Shine

Wash the interiors and exteriors of all windows and window screens. Clean the interior surface of the window with a glass cleaner, paper towel, or microfiber cloth. Preservation frames and sashes are vinyl, so you should never have to repaint or caulk. Simply wipe them down with a damp cloth to keep them looking their best. Lay window screens on a flat surface and gently scrub with a soft brush, mild soap, and water.

3. Prepare Your Outdoor Entertaining Area 

Clean the surface of your deck, porch, or patio. Depending on the material, a light-pressure washer may help give your deck a refresh. If you have a wooden deck, consider re-staining it or using a sealant after cleaning. Give your outdoor furniture a good scrub before air-drying in the sun, then add some budget-friendly upgrades to liven the space.  

4. Tend to the Front Lawn & Garden 

Now that your home exterior is sparkling clean, give your garden some TLC. Remove any dead trees and branches, and give your lawn its first haircut of the season. Prune back spring-flowering plants, and mulch around flower beds, trees, and shrubs before applying a health-boosting fertilizer.