Spring will be here before we know it! And it can’t come too soon if you ask me. I’m ready to play outside with my kids and start running again (I’m totally a fair weather runner).
Before you gear up for spring activities, now is a good time to start knocking out your spring cleaning. We have already covered 7 interior spring cleaning chores to remember, which includes important spring cleaning chores we often forget to include on our annual cleaning list.
Now I want to help you get the exterior of your home spiffed up.Ā None of these tips include a major overhaul, although some of them are more involved than others in terms of time and effort.
The point of this list is to help you maintain your property while simultaneously adding some serious spring curb appeal.
To get the interior and exterior lists together, I made a printable list you can get HERE.
8 Exterior Spring Cleaning Tips
1. Paint the shutters and/or the front door
Freshening up the paint on the shutters and/or the front door has two purposes:
- It increases curb appeal like crazy.
- It protects the material your shutters and doors are made of.
There are tons of how-to videos on YouTube that explain how to best go about this project, but I would encourage you that whatever paint you use – whether it’s oil-based, enamel, or stain – make sure it is for exterior use. You do not want to waste time and money on the wrong product.
The tools needed for this small project will vary depending on what your shutters and doors are made from. I’m not interested in making any DIY project harder than necessary, so I typically look for the quickest way to get the look I want.
Plastic shutters can typically be painted without much prep work. Just make sure your paint is suitable for plastic surfaces.
Wooden shutters and doors may require some sanding in order to smooth out all surfaces for a clean finish.
Fiberglass doors do not require much prep work, if any. I used enamel paint on ours and painted right over the faded stain without a hitch.
Tools needed:
- Paint brush
- finishing sand paper
- exterior paint/stain
- paint tape
2. Spruce up the flower beds
When you’re sure the last winter frost is behind you, clear your flower beds of any debris or dead plants. This includes any cracked planters and ruined yard art.
Spring is a great time to plant new flowers, bushes, and shrubs because they will have time to acclimate to their new home before the heat of the summer sets in.
In addition to that, adding new mulch will not only help your plants stay warm on the remaining cool nights of spring, it will also add curb appeal to the front of your house.
3. Clean out the gutters
Pine needles and leaves can really do a number on the flow of your gutters. This is a great time to clean them out, especially if you get a lot of rain in the spring.
Tools needed:
- ladder
- work gloves
- spade for
- trash bags to collect debris
4. Clean up the yard
Maybe a particularly stubborn grass variety wandered into your flower beds before the first freeze, or your mulch washed out onto the sidewalk during the most recent rainstorm. Perhaps you have abandoned toys in the yard or scraps from past DIY projects leaning up against the house or stacked in the side yard.
Or maybe these things only exist in my yard.
Either way, pick up the lawn (and that includes sidewalks) and eliminate anything that might be an eyesore, like huge pieces of plastic pipe and wooden fence boards your son used to make a life size marble run (we seriously belong on a farm instead of in a neighborhood).
Tools needed:
- work gloves
- Trash bags
- shovel
5. Clear the porches
If you have any stacked wood next to the house, move it to avoid attracting pests like termites and spiders to your porch area. Sweep and pressure wash the porch. Toss any toys that are damaged or ruined into a trash bag. Clean the grill. Remove any weathered decor that has seen its better day. Fix broken light fixtures, if possible.
Tools needed:
- pressure washer
- broom
- trash bags
- all purpose cleaner
6. Prepare flower pots for new plants
Planting new flowers is one of my favorite spring activities. My son and I have a tradition of planting new flowers together at the beginning (and end) of every spring. It’s such a special time to see what his eyes are drawn to at the plant nursery and I truly enjoy his company as we work together to revamp our flower beds.
To prepare your flower pots, remove dead annuals and literally stir the pot. This loosens the potting soil and makes finding and removing old roots much easier. If you are ready to plant new flowers, this is the time! Remember to grab extra potting soil at the plant nursery to replace what has been lost.
Tools needed:
- potting soil
- spade
- gardening gloves
- new plants (yay)
7. Wash the windows
Do you even realize how dirty your windows are right now? I never do until they are clean. What a difference it makes both from the view looking in and the view looking outside!
Don’t get me wrong, I totally see that random mud smear and the mysteriously high hand print at the top of a 7ft window (who did that, and how?! And WHY?!). What goes unnoticed is dust and pollen that cling to the glass and make out view out cloudy. Once the windows are clean you will see what I’m talking about. This chore is a must do!
The tools needed for this chore can be quite simple.Ā It doesn’t even take a water hose or any special equipment – you can make your windows shine with plain old paper towels (albeit a ton of them) and window cleaner.
I’m not gonna lie, it’s an upper body work out to wipe that much, but when it’s done you will love how clear and shiny your windows are!
If you have window screens, make sure you take them off properly before you begin. Spray them with a water hose and set out them out to dry while you clean the windows. Once the windows are clean you can pop the screens back on.
8. Put a fresh, spring wreath on the front door
This is possibly my favorite part about spring cleaning. A wreath on the front door is the cherry on top that says we are done cleaning, so come on spring! And if you are looking for some inspiration in this department, let me show you three wreaths you cannot live without this year! I mean, boxwood wreaths and cotton stem wreaths are still pretty, but they need to make room for these fresh ideas.
This list is by no means exhaustive – there are probably endless chores we can do to maintain and improve our properties. But this list includes chores that will increase your home’s visual appeal, and help you maintain it without costing you too much time or money.
And you don’t have to worry about remembering everything, because I have both lists (interior and exterior) ready to print right Ā HERE!
What exterior spring cleaning chores do you enjoy, and which ones do you dread each year? Tell me in the comments below!
