OUTDOOR SPRING CLEANING | FREE PRINTABLE CHECKLIST

Spring has almost sprung. Here in the Portland area, we are reeling from a particularly harsh winter. It’s time for some serious elbow grease and a jump-start on the outdoor spring cleaning. 

Outdoor spring cleaning

Outdoor spring cleaning can be a huge chore but with a little planning the right tools and a good checklist you can be sure to make quick work of it.

This year I decided to tackle my outdoor spring cleaning before the inside spring cleaning. My house took a beating from the east winds we have here near the Columbia river gorge. I have provided a free Outdoor Spring Cleaning Checklist for you to download to keep track of your progress.

This post may contain affiliate links. I do not recommend products of services that I do not use myself. All opinions expressed are 100% my own.

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FRONT PORCH, BALCONY, BACK PATIO OR DECK: My front porch took a particular beating this winter and is in need of some minor repairs and reconditioning.

Wash or hose down doors and re-paint if needed

Replace any cracked or broken hardware

Clean light fixtures and replace bulbs

Sweep porch ceilings, walls, and floors to clear away dead critters and cobwebs

Wash all outdoor furniture and clean grill

Refill propane tanks

Treat any mold or mildew spots with a solution of safe shield, moldEx, vinegar or bleach and wash down with hose or power washer

Repair any cracks or splintered wood in porch, patio or balcony flooring.

Caulk any cracks or gaps in balcony area

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EXTERIOR WALLS, GARAGE DOOR AND WINDOWS: I guess we are lucky in the fact that the front of our house is aluminum siding; giving us some protection from those nasty winds. The rest of the house is cedar shingles siding so it’s susceptible to pealing and cracking.

Wash windows

Caulk around windows if needed

Wash screens and check for tears that need repair

Wash garage door with hose or power washer and repair weather-stripping and  re-paint if needed

Inspect siding for cracks, mold/moss, chips or flaking paint and repair if needed

Inspect foundation for cracks and repair with hydraulic cement or call a professional

Apply bug spray around the foundation

Remove, clean and store away storm windows

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ROOF AND GUTTERS: Living here in the Pacific North West is magical until you see how much moss we have. My roof has a ton of moss every year the need’s to be treated on a biannual basis.

Inspect, clean and repair gutters if needed. Hire a professional if you’re a chicken like me!

Replace light bulbs for all high-mounted motion lights

Inspect flashing around the base of your chimney

Inspect roof for any damage like loose shingles and repair if you can.

Blow off roof with leaf blower or sweep with hard bristle broom to knock the moss down and apply moss killer.

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DRIVEWAY, WALKWAY, STAIRS and GARDEN: My least favorite thing about being a home owner is taking care of the yard. I hate bugs and guess where they live…outside. Duh! I try my best to maintain all of the areas whiteout making more work for myself.

Inspect all areas for cracks or damage

If you have brick surfaces check for loose brick and mold or moss. Fix any loose bricks and clean with a cleaning solution like safe shield, moldEx, bleach or vinegar. Be sure to use a hard plastic bristle brush and not a metal bristle brush.

Remove any dead beaches or trees

Take frost covers off of plants (only if you’re sure to not have any freezing temps)

Spread moss killer, fertilizer and bug killer in lawn

Weed the garden

Check down spouts and drainage areas for clogs and unclog in necessary

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WHEN IN DOUBT, HIRE OUT!

All I can say is climbing on top of anything scares me to death. Hiring a professional to come out and clean my gutters and roof is something that is a no-brainer for me. In years past my sweet dad came out and took care of the roof for me. I look at all sorts of boards to find qualified contractors to do all sorts of jobs both inside and outside the house. I finally found the home services on Amazon and said “HALLELUJAH!” All of the contractors have already had background checks and are licensed and bonded. Check it out.

Download my free outdoor spring cleaning checklist below.

Happy cleaning. Outdoor Spring Cleaning Checklist