Spring Cleaning Checklist for Your Home's Exterior

Where to Start Home Exterior Inspection After Winter

Begin your spring home check by inspecting your house in an organized sequence from the foundation upward to the roof.

Start at the bottom with the foundation and surrounding area, checking for damage from snowmelt, such as cracks or water accumulation. Then move to the roof and gutters. From ground level, look for missing, damaged, or displaced shingles and check for debris clogging the gutters.

As you check, take a close look at spots that stay damp the longest—like lower walls, corners, and window frames. These areas are often where you'll first spot wood beginning to rot or paint peeling.

Follow this simple step-by-step spring checklist for home exterior

Found something concerning? Don’t skip the professional help!

If your visual inspection reveals deep cracks, rot, or roof damage, there's no sense waiting for it to get worse. At this point, it would be smart to hire a professional to do the repairs.

MyHomeQuote makes hiring the right contractor as easy as it can be. Rather than spend hours hunting down a contractor on your own, you'll have access to qualified contractors in your area within minutes.

Just enter your ZIP code on our site, and we’ll connect you with experts ready to help you keep your home in perfect shape.

The Core Spring Maintenance Tasks

Clean Windows and Window Screens Outside

It doesn't take long once the warm sunshine returns to reveal just how much dirt and grime the cold winter months left on your windows. While cleaning the interior of your windows will certainly help, the best way to let the sunshine in is to clean the exterior as well.

To keep this process organized and ensure that no area is overlooked, follow these steps in order:

• Remove the window screens. Although they were probably cleaned and stored in the garage for the winter months, they have likely accumulated dust. Clean them with a soap mixture, then rinse off any remaining residue with a gentle spray from a hose.
• Clean both sides of the glass. Next, prepare an inexpensive alternative to commercial cleaners by diluting white vinegar in water. Apply the solution to the glass using a standard cloth. Then, use a microfiber cloth or a squeegee to dry and polish the glass. Finally, try to avoid washing your windows on a clear, sunny day, as the glass will heat up rapidly, causing the cleaner to dry too quickly and leave unsightly streaks.
• Clean the track areas. Like everything else around your house, window tracks also tend to become dirty during the winter months. Use a vacuum with a small nozzle attachment to remove dirt and debris. Use a damp cloth to clean the window sills and frame.

Power Washing House Siding

Clean the siding from all the winter dirt and algae. Cleaning your home's siding will be one of the easiest things you will do. What you will need is a garden hose, but preferably a low-pressure washer. Clean the siding from the bottom up, then wash it from the top down to prevent dirty streaks from forming on clean surfaces.

When using a low-pressure washer, use a wide spray tip to prevent damage to the siding. When washing the siding, also try to avoid getting the water under the siding panels. 

If there are tough stains on the siding, use a soft-bristle brush and a mild cleaning solution to remove them without damaging the siding.

While washing, check for cracks in the siding or peeling paint, which let moisture in.

Deck and Patio Cleaning

Spring cleaning matters. It improves your outdoor living area and, more importantly, makes it safer. Slippery buildup and mold increase the risk of slips and falls.

First, sweep off as much of the debris as possible. Then use a pressure washer or a stiff-bristle brush with soap to thoroughly clean the area.

Inspect wooden decks for rot and tighten loose fasteners. For concrete patios, immediately seal any new cracks to prevent expansion.

For moss growing between tile grout lines, simply boil water (if you’re brave) or apply a vinegar solution. Both methods are eco-friendly and inexpensive ways to remove the growth without using harsh chemicals.

Driveway Cleaning

Beginning with winter's end, many driveways made of concrete or asphalt experience damage from oily and road-salt stains, as well as an algal layer that creates slickness.

First, remove debris and weeds from cracks. Second, power wash the driveway.

Use a flat-surface cleaning attachment instead of a regular nozzle, as it provides even cleaning without streaks.

Once the concrete has completely dried (about 24 hours), inspect the surface to see if another protective sealant coating is needed.

Outdoor Furniture Cleaning

Don't forget about your outdoor furniture! After a season in storage, dust, pollen, and allergens may have settled on it. Give your pieces a gentle freshen-up with mild soap and warm (not boiling) water—boiling water can warp wood or damage woven materials, and we don't want that!

Next, pay particular attention to the metal parts when cleaning. If you see rust, use a wire brush or sandpaper to remove it. Start with coarse sandpaper and work up to fine sandpaper. Once all the rust is removed, apply a rust inhibitor to the exposed metal. This will lube the moving parts and protect the metal from summer rains.

Finally, turn your attention to the cushions and fabric covers. First, use a dry brush to remove mold spores. Next, wash the cushions and fabric covers in cool water. Washing in cold water will help prevent mold growth within the fabric fibers.

Fence Cleaning

Winter weather brings moisture to fences, which can cause mold on wood or rust on metal. So, it's good to know there are ways to clean your fences in the spring using either a pressure washer or a stiff brush.

In addition to cleaning your fence, take a closer look at the posts to make sure none are loose or damaged. If you catch small issues early, you can fix them before they become bigger problems.

After you've cleaned your wood fence, if it appears dull and dingy, consider using a wood brightener. The brightener will open the wood's pores, allowing the natural color to be restored. In addition, the wood surface will be prepared for a new coat of paint or sealant.

Outdoor Lighting Fixtures Cleaning

Clean decorative lanterns and glass covers from dirt, cobwebs, and dead bugs. Also, check your lights for proper function, especially any motion sensors or pathway lighting.

After cleaning, to achieve a streak-free shine on your outdoor light fixtures, use a mixture of water and a little bit of white vinegar. The acid in vinegar will help remove spots caused by hard water and rain.

If you have older incandescent bulbs and have replaced none of them, then replace those with new energy-efficient LED bulbs, "outdoor-rated." They use much less electricity and will last 10-20 times longer.

Cleaning and Inspecting Gutters

Start by manually clearing debris from the system. Then, use a garden hose to wash the system. Rinsing will help you check whether all the seams are sealed correctly. 

Inspect each section to ensure water is flowing off the walls and identify any sagging areas. If standing water remains in the roof area, there is a potential for mold and mildew development that will further compromise the structural integrity of the exterior panels.

If your gutters drain very slowly when you rinse them, even after cleaning the gutters, inspect the downspout elbow. Typically, this clog can be removed by pushing a plumbing snake through it or by shooting a powerful stream of water through it.

It’s also a good idea to call professionals for a detailed gutter inspection, especially if your system is several years old or hasn’t been checked annually.

Finding a gutter company in your area is easy with MyHomeQuote. With just one request, you can receive quotes from verified specialists who can make sure your gutter system works properly.

Refreshing Your Landscape

Cleaning up the spring garden is all about removing everything left over from last fall's leaves and winter debris. Removing this debris allows air to return to the soil and prevents mold from forming on your plants.

You should also be thinking about pruning. Remove dead wood damaged by winter weather. Pruning will give your tree a chance to produce new shoots and keep it healthy.

Once beds are clean, add fresh mulch. Mulch gives the garden a tidy look. It insulates the soil and keeps it moist longer. Mulch also prevents weeds from germinating until later in the season.

The final step is to inspect the irrigation system. If there are any clogs in the nozzles or leaks in the pipes that you don't catch now, you may have a very expensive water bill when you turn on the irrigation system this season.