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Your front porch is your home’s opportunity to make an impression. It also lends a lot to your curb appeal. That’s why it’s so important for you to keep your porch looking fresh and tidy. Here are 10 tips for keeping yours attractive and inviting at any time of year.
1. Regular Maintenance
On a weekly basis, sweep your porch with a good outdoor broom. You’ll also need to dust around your door frames and windowsills. If you have an outdoor ceiling fan, do those, too. Every month, wipe down your light fixture covers. Even better, take them down and wash them…especially if dead insects tend to collect there.
2. Walls & Ceilings
When the seasons change, take down any cobwebs from corners, ceilings, and walls. Then wipe the walls down with an all-purpose cleaner.
3. Floors
Also seasonally (and after sweeping), mop the porch floor with a deck brush to remove any grime and dirt. Use hot water and an all-purpose or outdoor cleaner. If you see any mildew, use 1 part oxygen bleach to 2 parts water. Just remember to protect your eyes and hands.
If your porch floors are made of wood, it’s best to have them painted with a paint made for porches. These paints are usually oil-based and don’t need a coat of primer. They’re specially formulated to withstand the weather and hold up well on wood. However, every few years they’ll probably need re-painting. Just sand enough to rough them up, then sweep up any dirt or debris. Clean the floor and once dry, you can apply more paint.
4. Screens
If you have a screened porch, you’ll want to clean those every season as well. Use an all-purpose, non-ammonia cleaner and a scrubbing brush, but be gentle on the mesh. Then rinse with a garden hose and let them air dry. As an as-needed basis, you can vacuum the dust away from your screens with vacuum attachments.
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