Spring is upon us, and it is time to start the biggest one-off cleaning of the year. However, people often forget that aside from the inside of their homes, they have to take care of the outside as well. That is why we have decided to show you how fast and easy it is to deal with your yard as part of your Spring cleaning routine.
Step 1: Clean Out Your Gutters
Let’s start with the messiest task – cleaning your gutters. It rains a lot during the Spring, and you need to remove the debris accumulated on your roof during the cold months. Water can cause serious damage to your home’s foundation and walls, so gutter cleaning is an essential task. Here is what you need to do:
- Grab some gloves, trash bags and a ladder.
- Climb on top of the roof and collect the fallen leaves, twigs and debris.
- Once you fill one trash bag, carefully lower it to the ground.
- Next, use your garden hose to flush out and clean the gutters.
And you are done. Depending on how large your home is, this task can take from 30 minutes to a couple of hours. It is important to start your yard cleaning with this step, as you can easily drop leaves and debris onto your porch or garden.
Step 2: Clean Your Outdoor Furniture
Next, it’s time to take care of your garden furniture. You have two options depending on the material your tables and chairs are made from.
- Use a mixture of hot water and dishwashing liquid to wash plastic surfaces and remove any unwanted stains.
- Get yourself a handheld vacuum and clean the rattan furniture, removing the small particles and debris. Then, wipe each piece using a damp microfibre cloth. Dab it into the abovementioned mixture if needed.
- Pillows and mattresses go straight into the laundry machine.
- Leave everything to dry out under the warm Spring sun rays.
Step 3: Prep the Pool Area
Time to prepare your pool for the upcoming season of fun. However, we advise you to call a professional pool maintenance company when it comes to your actual pool. There are a lot of things that need to be done, like checking water filters, measuring pH levels, etc. We will focus on the area surrounding your pool.
- Use your hose to clean the plastic chaise lounges.
- Get a broom and swipe the fallen leaves and branches away. Collect them in trash bags or add them to your compost pile.
- If you have a pressure cleaner, you can use it to remove the dirt and debris from the stone or tile patio. If not – your trusted hose will do the job.
Since a lot of water is involved in the process, choose a warm sunny day for these tasks.
Step 4: Clean Your Home’s Exterior
We are talking about your garage door, windows, front and back door, window screens, etc. Having a pressure washer can significantly speed up the process. Regardless, take your time to examine your home’s exterior for any cracks and damages. If you find anything concerning, call a handyman.
When you wash your windows follow these rules:
- Pick a cloudy day, so you can clearly see if there are any smudges on the glass.
- Before applying the window cleaner, rinse your windows with water and remove the larger pieces of dirt and debris.
- Start from the top and make your way down. It will decrease the drips and avoid spreading dirt onto the already cleaned surfaces.
- Use a squeegee to remove the leftover water from the glass.
Step 5: Clean Up Your Yard and Take Care of Your Plants
It’s time for the actual garden cleaning. You may end up spending the whole day finishing the following tasks, but it will be worth it
- Grab your rake and start by collecting the fallen leaves and debris. Place everything into trash bags to be thrown away or made into compost.
- Collect any scattered belongings like toys or garden tools.
- Prune our trees and bushes to help them bloom.
- Cut the dead branches and those that have grown too close to your powerlines and pose a safety issue.
- Get rid of the weeds in your garden.
- Time to fertilize, clean and prep your flower beds.
Remember to wear protective gloves when you clean and garden your yard. Safety glasses are essential if you want to prune or cut your tree branches.
Step 6: Prepare Your Patio
Look at your yard, it looks amazing! Now it’s time to deal with your patio. Be extremely diligent with this step, as fixing a damaged or badly kept house deck can cost a lot of money. Here is what you need to do:
- Slowly check your porch for wear and damage. If you something alarming, fix it right away.
- Once you are certain the deck is in good condition, get your broom and sweep the floors.
- Use your pressure washer or the garden hose to wash your deck. If this is not possible, get a mop and a bucket. Fill the latter with water and a multipurpose cleaner. Then give your porch a well-deserved bath.
- Spray some deck cleaner between the boards to remove any mildew or mould that could potentially be growing there.
- Let your deck dry under the sunlight for a couple of hours.
Now you can bring out your patio furniture and set everything up. Make yourself a cup of tea and relax – only one step left.
Step 7: Clean Your Grill
Outdoor grills are a nightmare to clean. The grime sticks are like glue, and the whole process requires a lot of brushing and scrubbing. However, our professional house cleaners have created a successful routine that can save you some time:
Bring out your grill handset it up.- Wipe it with a microfibre cloth to remove the accumulated dust.
- Rip open some trash bags and lay them on the ground and under the grill.
- Disassemble the grates and scrub them with a wire brush to remove burnt-on particles. The trash bags will collect the falling particles, so it will be easier to sweep the ground later.
- Use a spray-on grill cleaner for the most stubborn stains.
- Carefully remove the trash bags and throw them away. Use a broom the sweep the area around the grill.
- Mix hot water and soap and clean the inside and outside of the grill.
- Finally, rinse with cold water and let it dry off.
Notice how we advise you to sweep the ground of any fallen particles before you start to apply the water and sope? This step is important as it helps you avoid mixing the dirt with the liquids and creating a black mess in the middle of your garden.
What Tools Do You Need To Clean Your Outdoor Areas
Altho these seven steps may seem simple, there are many things you have to prep in advance if you want to finish the tasks faster. Here is a list of everything you will need:
- Ladder
- Gloves
- Trash bags
- Garden hose
- Rake
- Pruners
- Handsaw
- Safety glasses
- Pressure washer
- Window glass cleaner
- Dishwashing liquid
- Bucket
- Mop
- Broom
- Microfibre cloths
- Deck cleaner
- Wire brush
- Spray-on grill cleaner
Make sure to prepare all of the tools and supplies beforehand. It would be very annoying if you had to stop what you were doing to run to the store because you were out of trash bags.
Now, you are ready to enjoy the warm weather in the comfort of your own garden. What do you think, did we miss something? Leave us a comment below, as our London cleaners love to get your feedback.
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