Before anyone walks through the door of your home, they’ll see the exterior. So, you need to keep your house clean outside, too. Don’t feel intimidated! We have some tips and tools to help you improve your curb appeal and enjoy your patio.

Driveway and Walkways

Not only will a tidy driveway and walking path look attractive but it will be safer for your family and your guests.

Regularly sweep with an outdoor broom that has sturdy bristles to push wet and dry dirt and debris. Adding this task to your weekly list won’t take too much time but it will save you a bigger headache later. Plus, you’ll feel good about your front yard’s appearance.

Plan to deep clean your driveway annually. You can rent a pressure washer to handle this task or use your own equipment. Hot soapy water and a garden hose with a handheld sprayer may do the trick, especially if your driveway isn’t terribly dirty.

A nozzle sprayer with multiple patterns can water your plants and clean hard surfaces like concrete driveways and stepping stones.

Oil spills require more attention and effort. Soak up the oil with paper towels and then cover the area with sawdust or kitty litter for more absorption. Brush off the sawdust or litter before pouring an environmentally friendly product like cola or baking soda on the stain. Leave it for five minutes. Wipe it off and scour the spot with a grease-fighting dish detergent. Lastly, douse the area with boiling water, being careful not to spill it on yourself.

With these tips, you’ll have a driveway to make you proud, and perhaps your neighbors envious.

Yard

Keeping your yard clear can be a hassle and maybe even hard on your body. If you have a lot of trees on your property, you may find yourself picking up leaves throughout the year.

Take advantage of yard tools that allow you to work smarter, not harder.

Make it easier on yourself with the right yard tools.

A stand-up weeder means no more bending over to pull dandelions and other unwanted plants from ground. The long-handle leaf collection tool also lets you remain upright while collecting lawn clippings, leaves and other debris. Invest in a wheelbarrow so that you can remove everything you gather up without breaking your back.

Less time spent cleaning up your yard means more time enjoying it. And that’s the ultimate goal.

Patio or Deck

These days, your patio or deck probably acts like an outdoor living room, so it has to be presentable for guests and your own use.

Similar to the driveway, you’ll want to sweep it often with an outdoor broom. Deeper cleaning can take place once a year. How you clean the surface depends on what kind of material your deck or patio is made of. For instance, you can wash flagstone pavers with warm water and dish soap. Wet a scrub brush with the mixture to rub off baked-on dirt. For wood decks, a commercially available deck-cleaning solution may work best. Start by wetting the entire deck with water and then apply the solution. Scrub with a stiff-bristled brush and rinse the deck with a hose or pressure washer.

Hide your hose in plain sight with a decorative hose cabinet that matches your patio furniture.

Besides removing debris and dirt from the patio or deck, you can also keep the area tidy-looking by cleverly stashing necessary equipment in hose cabinets. Or, you could incorporate a decorative hose reel into your decor.

Once you’ve completed your outdoor chores, leave time to kick back and relax in your yard or on your patio. Share your favorite ways to live in your backyard by tagging #MyClosetMaid in your posts.