Here are 7 quick things to do to make the outside of your home ready for summer. Whether you plan to have visitors over often, you just want to enjoy a moment to yourself in the fresh air, or you’re preparing to sell or rent the house these are things you can check off your To-Do list pretty quickly.
- Get BBQ ready! If you have outdoor furniture, run a hand-vac over it and then wipe it down with Clorox wipes or a wet rag. Scrape off your BBQ’s grill, give it a good cleaning, and if you have gas make sure the tank is full.
- Clean out your gutters. This year at least there wasn’t much snow to wash debris into the gutters, but it has been windy so give a good rinse. While you’re at it, check for any leaks. You can buy gutter repair tape at the hardware store or, if you’re handy you can do a full repair on them.
- Pick up any trash or dog poop that’s been frozen to the lawn for months. It’s getting warm out and that’s going to smell really unpleasant soon. Plus, your lawn is ready to start turning green!
- Wash your garage door. You can wash it the same way you’d wash your car. Just make sure it’s all the way closed first! Spray it with a power washer or hose, fill a bucket with soapy water, wipe down the door with a sponge or rag (or bristle brush if you’ve neglected it too long), then spray it down again.
While you have that power washer and soap out go get your trash bin. With warm weather that thing is going to be offensive even when empty. Pour some soap into the bottom of it and then lie it on it’s side. Spray some water in there with your power washer; the force of the spray will move the soap all around and get it clean. Make sure to pour out all the water before you stand it up again. Dry the lid and then apply some of these deodorizers or a similar product to keep it smelling fresh.
- Make your entry more appealing and welcoming. Wipe off any light fixtures and the doorbell, wipe the threshold with a wet rag, sweep the dirt away, and hang some nice flowers.
- Clean out your garage. Donate or sell any sports equipment that you don’t use or the kids have outgrown, take old tires to the dump, and pick up any items you’ve “temporarily” set in the garage until you had a free hand to put them away properly. Sweep the floor and wipe down counters and shelves. It’s not the most thorough way to clean your garage but it’s a good start.
And now you’re ready to go!