Every spring we make a big fuss about spring cleaning the home, but what about backyard spring cleaning? If you’re like most families, you do a fair amount of entertaining during the summer so spring is a great time to get the backyard ready for all those cookouts. You may be planning a graduation party or a wedding party – either way, you’ll want the backyard to look just as great as the inside of your home. These tips will help you get your backyard into ship shape.
Back Yard Spring Cleaning
- Clean out the Cobwebs – Use a mop, broom – to clean the cobwebs from under eaves the house, under the patio table, under chairs and anything you left out all winter long. Use a soft brush to whisk them away or use a handheld vacuum to remove the cobwebs.
- Patio Furniture – Use a pressure washer to clean wooden, plastic or metal patio furniture. Use a brush and soapy water to clean rattan, wicker or more fragile outdoor furniture. For cushions use your handheld vacuum to get up dust and debris that has settled in over the winter. If the cushions are stained use a little of the warm dish soap water mixture to scrub out the stain and then let dry in the sun.
- Windows – You Windex or a solution of water and vinegar to clean your windows. Spray on windows and rub clean with paper towel or newspaper for a streak free finish.
- Screen Doors – Use the same dish soap water to scrub any smudges on your doors. Remove screens and spray with the garden hose to remove dust and dirt that’s collected over the last year.
- Garbage Can – If you’re like most people you don’t give much thought to your trash can. Odds are, it stinks. If your trash hauler doesn’t come clean the bin from time to time (and most don’t offer the service) you can take your garden hose and a little bit of dish soap to clean it up. A pressure washer would work well here, too, but the hose will do the job if you don’t have one. Once cleaned leave open in the sun to dry thoroughly.
- The Grill – Use a grill scraper to remove dried or burnt food from the grill. Turn the grill on high and scrape away. After the grill has cooled down you can wipe the sides down to remove excess grease from the sides of the grill. A seasoned grill is a good thing, but you want to remove excess grease that could start a fire. Check briquettes to see if they need replacing on gas grills. Don’t forget to remove any cobwebs from the hood of the grill.
- Patio – Spray down the patio using a pressure washer to remove any moss, stains or other spills that might mar the patio. If the surface is uneven you can reset tiles or bricks for a more uniform and level surface.
