8 Outdoor Spring Cleaning Tasks You Can Do in a Weekend

Every change of season brings with it a new set of chores to cross off your to-do list for Canadians. We've put together a list of eight tasks that you can complete in a weekend or two to help you get your home ready for summer. If you complete the entire list, you'll be ready to welcome summer with a clean and tidy outdoor space ready to enjoy the warmer days ahead!

1. Clean out your shed
Any outdoor storage space, whether neatly packed or overflowing, will benefit from a spring cleaning. To begin, choose a sunny day and move everything onto your lawn. After that, sweep out the dust and knock down the cobwebs. Ask your local hardware store for the right cleaning product if you notice mould or mildew. Warm water and dish soap, on the other hand, will help remove grime and dirt. Finally, before reloading, get rid of anything you don't need.

2. Refresh your deck, patio or walkways
Clean up wear and tear like salt and leaf stains to improve your home's curb appeal. On most hard surfaces, a power washer will work (test a small area first), but you don't need one to get good results. Dish soap, water, and a scrub brush work well and won't harm your deck, patio, or concrete. With a little elbow grease, you'll get results that are well worth the effort.

3. Wash your vinyl siding
After the winter, vinyl siding is bound to look worse for wear. Mix three parts water to one part vinegar to make an all-purpose siding cleaning solution. Mix one cup of oxygen bleach with four litres of water for tougher stains (oxygen bleach won't harm nearby landscaping or plants). Scrub with a soft bristle brush from bottom to top with either solution before rinsing thoroughly with a hose.

4. Get your BBQ ready
Before using a wire BBQ brush, start by firing up your grill to burn off any remaining grime. After that, turn off the gas or propane and let the grills cool before removing them and soaking them in hot water and dish soap in a bucket or other plastic container. Replace the grease tray while it soaks, and wipe down the knobs, interior, and exterior surfaces with soapy water. Finally, clean the grills and let them air dry before reinstalling them. Please note that this only applies to gas or propane grills. Different cleaning methods will be used for different types.

5. Clean your window tracks
While cleaning the curtains, windows, and screens is a must for spring cleaning, don't overlook the interior and exterior window tracks. To begin, suck up dirt and grime with a vacuum with a brush attachment. After that, soak the area in a household degreaser (such as Mr. Clean) before scrubbing with a brush (an old toothbrush also works). Finally, use a sponge or paper towel to soak up any remaining dirt, restoring the appearance of your windows.

6. Start lawn care early
To encourage healthy growth in your lawn this summer, start by raking up any leftover leaves, dead grass, or debris. The following steps, aeration and seeding, can be completed by you or a lawn care company. Aeration is the process of removing small holes in the soil to allow nutrients to enter. For smaller lawns, use a hand tool or rent an aerator from a hardware store. Finally, get a seed mix designed for spring seeding and follow the instructions to jumpstart this year's healthy, green growth.

7. Freshen up your patio furniture
Whether your patio furniture has been exposed to the elements or has been stored indoors, it will need to be cleaned before the start of the patio season. If your set is made of plastic or metal, clean it with a soft bristled brush and warm water with dish soap before rinsing it clean. Use an oil soap (like Murphy Oil Soap) to gently wash away grime and give you a fresh start for spring on other materials like teak, wicker, or wood.

8. Clean your outdoor garbage bins
Cleaning your outdoor bins is guaranteed to be the most smelly but rewarding task on this list. Wait until your bins are empty on garbage or recycling day, then start rinsing them out with the hose. In a large bucket of water, combine four cups of vinegar and half a cup of dish soap. Before rinsing clean, wash the inside and outside with an old broom, mop head, or scrub brush.Whether you tackle this list in one weekend or several, your outdoor space will be ready for summer in no time.