Spring Cleaning Your Yard and Home’s Exterior

With the days getting longer and brighter, it's time to get inspired about bringing your outdoor space back to life! As the leading luxury home builder in the Chicago suburbs, Overstreet Builders understands how important outdoor maintenance can be for creating a beautiful and inviting home. That's why our team curated some of our top techniques for transforming a shabby exterior into a blooming paradise!

From freshening up those fading flower beds to giving tired siding a much-needed facelift, you can unlock new levels of beauty with just a little weekend touch up. Here are our top tips for spring cleaning your yard and home's exterior:

The first step in any good spring cleaning is to declutter. Take a look around your yard and home's exterior and get rid of any items that are broken, damaged, or simply no longer needed. This includes:

Then remove any of nature's "trash" like garden debris, dead plants, and fallen branches and leaves.

Once you've decluttered, it's time to get cleaning! You have several quick and easy options to give your home a facelift:

Each option can restore the look of fading siding, remove dirt build-up from walkways, and make any outdoor furniture look like new again!

The main difference between them is some techniques are harsher on your surfaces than others. Depending on which you choose, you’ll use more forceful water pressure, hotter temperatures, or harsher chemicals. 

Power and pressure washing are best for stonework and patios, while soft washing is perfect for cleaning vinyl or painted siding. And sweeping is, of course, the gentlest option of all, but it will take more time and energy and will have less effective results.

After months of Chicago weather, it's likely your windows are covered with dirt and grime. Bright, natural light can bring life to any room and help you start the day with a smile, so take a few minutes to get those windows squeaky clean!

Streak-free results are as easy as combining a few simple DIY ingredients. Mix one part white vinegar with two parts water into a spray bottle and use a lint-free cloth to wipe away the dirt. Voila! You've got crystal clear windows that are ready to let in the sunshine.

If you have hard-to-reach windows or a lot of grime, Windex makes an all-in-one window cleaning kit that comes complete with a pole and microfiber scrubber with cleaning solution built-in. All you need to do is spray the windows with water and scrub away the gunk.

Nothing says spring like vibrant flowers! Once you've deadheaded the old flowers and trimmed back any overgrown plants, it's time to add some life back into your yard.

Head to your local garden center or nursery and pick out some native Chicago species that will thrive in the area. And don't forget to grab other supplies like soil, fertilizer, compost, and mulch to ensure your new plants reach their full potential.

Increase your curb appeal by planting in the flower beds and along walkways. And consider setting up a few new planters or hanging baskets to add pops of color and texture around your porch.

If your landscaping has a lot to be desired, read our comprehensive guide on how to landscape your yard from scratch here.

With just a weekend of spring cleaning and yard work, you'll have a beautiful new outdoor space ready to enjoy the sunny weather!

Want to say "goodbye" to winter wear and "hello" to an eye-catching outdoor space — without lifting a finger? Start fresh with a brand new home in the Chicago suburbs! Explore Overstreet Builders' luxury homes in three Signature Neighborhoods here.