HOA tells me I cannot clean the mailboxes

I have lived in this community for a couple of months. This is the first time I have lived in an HOA.

Our common grounds are a little run down. There are many complaints from residents about it. One of the areas that needs some attention are the mailboxes. They are all grouped together by the pool and are covered in dirt and algae looking pretty rough. Keep in mind, we are in Florida.

Evidently, the powers that be did not designate any money in the budget to have them professionally cleaned. They also told us they could not ask homeowners to pressure wash the boxes because of liability reasons. Trying to do whats best for the community and knowing they could not ask me to pressure wash, I tried finding an alternative. Yesterday, I took some soap and water and washed off an inconspicuous corner on the backside that no one would see, just to test it out. It looked WAY better!

I posted a before and after picture on our Facebook group (not run by our HOA). One of the board members messaged me a few hours later and on the verge of being downright rude, told me I was not allowed to clean the mailboxes. He said it's an HOA issue and they are the ones to handle it.

The problem is, they are not handling it. Our HOA fees are on the higher side compared to other neighborhoods and ours looks the worst. People complain that our money simply disappears. To add insult to injury, when we try to step up ourselves, we are told we are not allowed.

Any advice?

I agree.

Also keep in mind that the Post Office may have a say in the matter. They should be owned by the HOA granite. However, it is federal property. Damages intentional or not, may cause some serious issues for all involved. I would ask the mailman if it's okay or any recommendations. Remember mailboxes can not contain anything in them that does not have a stamp on it. So be careful about any notifications...

While pleading ignorance would be one path, my opinion not a good starting point.

Find out when the Board holds their monthly meetings. Offer to take on this project for the good of the community. Show them a certificate of insurance you carry or sign a waiver that the property would be held harmless should you suffer some injury during the course of your work or damage perhaps someone else or their mail.

While I applaud your willingness to clean up the community certainly you can understand the board needs to maintain control over what gets done and why when it comes to common areas. Don't want to have people doing what they deem necessary when in fact they have no authority to alter or repair common property.

There is a line between what you as an owner can do and what the board is responsible for. It is also beneficial to build a positive relationship with the board rather than rush in and do what you think needs to be done without first gathering information and details or perhaps permission.

It is better in the long run to be on friendly terms with the Board versus enemies.

He's washing mailboxes, not building a recreational facility or undertaking some other massive project.
Wash the mailboxes, receive compliments and thanks from grateful neighbors, tell the board "you're welcome".

Dave under most documents control of the common property lies with the elected board. The owners as individuals do not own the common property or have the authority to repair, maintain or alter it.

Now washing a bank of mailboxes sounds harmless enough but it sets a bad precedent in motion. And it just might end up being a liability issue if things go badly.

For example we had a resident who attempted to change the bulb in an outside light fixture. In his mind simple enough. Now he is in his 70's has one lung and congestive heart failure. Plus the buld is a 12 watt florescent variety which most people don't have. So here he was on the top step of his step stool trying to remove the plastic cover to get to the bulb. Now if he falls what then? If you gets shocked and falls what then? If he breaks the fixture removing the bulb what then? As it was he dropped two of the screws that hold the cover in the landscaping stones located under the light. So now we were down to screws. I asked him to refrain from doing so and to call the MC. To change a light bulb less than 5 minutes not a big problem or expense.

Now this short term new owner suggests he has received complaints. It was not his place to act on them. But he went ahead and cleaned an area and then decided best to post the photos of his handy work
on Facebook. Now that just might serve to annoy the board and the MC as it tends to show up their efforts. And if the OP finds the place lacking why move there in the first place. When in Rome do as the Romans do. Or read and understand the documents you agreed to abide by and understand the board manages the property not a single owner who now knows best.

You got away with it... for now!! I'm sure they've been lying in wait for you to slip up and mention your nefarious deed on the internet.

As good intentions as it is, you can get into a jurisdictional urinating match between your HOA and the USPS witch has Federal Authority over mailboxes.
Using an cleaner as innocent as Goofoff to remover graffiti can get you the same charges as the person that defaced the property initially.
The best course of action is to be a "friendly pest" if the unkept areas remain..
Our HOA is managed by same adjoining HOA that had graffiti on the wall, the graffiti remained for over an month and we placed several calls between our HOA and the graffiti task force run by the county, finally the graffiti was removed. I myself was about to buy some paint and fix it.

PERFECT