Spring cleaning has become a ritual in homes across America.

But as families focus on “decluttering” closets and revitalizing their indoor spaces, many overlook simple, inexpensive outdoor projects that can give a home a real “facelift” and make it look and feel like new.

Clean the exterior. It’s amazing how much better — and how much newer — a home can look after a good cleaning.

And with the availability of cleaners that can be applied with pump sprayers and hose-mount applicators, it’s never been easier to give a house a “facelift” without power washing or costly repainting.

If your house is wearing a coat of mold, mildew, dirt and grime, try a house cleaner and mildew killer that removes the most stubborn stains without scrubbing and is safe to use near plants, grass and shrubs.

Refresh the driveway. Thanks to the evolution of new water-based technologies, restoring a driveway to its “like new” appearance is easy for even inexperienced do-it-yourselfers.

New blacktop coatings with their advanced acrylic formula can bring asphalt back to its original jet-black color and make it look brand new again. One brand with a low-odor formula rolls on like paint and lasts longer than traditional asphalt-based sealers to enhance the first and last impression your home gives visitors.

Spruce up your deck.

Both wood and composite decks need to be cleaned regularly to prevent deterioration and look their best. Biodegradable deck cleaners excel at removing ground-in dirt and mildew stains without whitening or damaging the surface like chlorine bleach can — and they’re easy to use.

At least one company has a full line of transparent, semi-transparent and opaque stains and finishes in a wide array of colors, so you can achieve any look you desire.

“Upcycle” your outdoor furniture. You’d be surprised how easy and inexpensive it is to make an old, tired patio set better with just a few cans of spray paint.

Today’s spray paints come in a full palette of colors so you can personalize your outdoor space while saving your old furniture from the landfill.

Try “dressing” your patio furniture in a classic color.