Even if you know how to clean the inside of your home, cleaning the outside can seem like a daunting task if you’re unfamiliar with the process.
However, this is more than just earning the “prettiest house on the block award.” Keeping your siding, windows, roof, and porch clean can help to ensure your home’s safety, stability, and, yes, beauty for many years.
This step-by-step guide will show you how to clean your house’s exterior from top to bottom.
Why Clean Your Home’s Exterior?
Learning how to clean your home‘s outside is just as vital as deep cleaning and organizing the interior.
Not only can a thorough cleaning make your property more appealing, but it also maintains its health and stability.
Consider the natural forces that affect your home throughout the year. Rain, snow, leaves, and fallen branches can collect on the roof and in the gutters.
Mold, mildew, moss, and even bugs accumulate on your roof and siding. Here are some of the reasons you should learn how to clean the outside of your home on a regular basis.
- Remove the mold and mildew.
- Clear clogged gutters.
- Remove pests and nests.
- Reveal places that require repairs.
- Increase the longevity of your siding, gutters, and roofing.
- Prevent potential water and mold damage.
Top 5 Ways to Clean the Exterior of Your House?
Understanding how to wash the exterior of a house usually entails knowing which areas of the house may be power washed. The power washer will come in handy for hard-to-reach spots and tenacious mildew.
We propose that you start by looking into the materials used for your roof, gutters, and siding. Not everyone can take high water pressure or strong cleaners, so do your research before getting started.
1. Clean the Roof: Essential for Exterior Home Maintenance
When cleaning an interior room, you know the age-old rule: begin at the top and work your way down. The same guideline applies when working outdoors. Starting with the top of your house allows any debris that falls below to be cleaned up later.
We recommend hiring a roof inspector before you begin, especially if you haven’t had it checked at in over a year. A roof inspection might cost anywhere from $75 to $800, depending on the size and condition.
Algae, mold, and fungus tend to accumulate on and beneath various shingles. Over time, these uninvited visitors can erode the strength of your shingles and eaves.
Because of the height and difficulty of this step in the procedure, we recommend hiring a roof cleaning if necessary. These professionals will select the appropriate hose pressure and cleaning materials—all while keeping you safe on the ground.
2. Clean the Gutters: A Key Aspect of Exterior Home Cleaning
The next stage in exterior house cleaning is to clean your gutters.
Gutters become clogged all year, not just in the fall. It is critical to keep your gutters clear to avoid roof leaks and overflowing around your foundation below.
Here’s everything you’ll need:
- A sturdy ladder
- Plastic buckets or rubbish bags
- Work gloves
- Hose
- Straightened clothing hanger
Begin by finding secure access to your gutters using your ladder—or hire a professional to do it for you. Avoid leaning your ladder against the gutters, as the pressure can cause harm.
If it’s your only option, utilize a ladder stabilizer or gutter guard to increase stability. Before attempting to ascend, be sure your ladder is large enough for the job and that it is on level ground.
Remove all debris from your gutters and deposit it in a light plastic pail or garbage bag as you go. For larger clean-up projects, you might want to rent a dumpster in Ashburn VA, to handle all the waste efficiently.
Next, use a hose to examine the flow of your downspouts. If there is a clog, use the straightened clothes hanger to gently remove the debris.
If you’re afraid of heights or are concerned about your safety, a professional gutter cleaning will cost you around $160 on average.
3. Clean Your Siding: Important for Exterior Home Care
Removing filth, cobwebs, and algae from your home’s siding is one of the most enjoyable aspects of the exterior house cleaning.
To keep your home appearing fresh, consider cleaning or hiring a professional to clean the siding every 12 to 18 months.
Choose Your Cleaning Solution
Your cleaning procedure is determined by the material of your siding and the level of grime on it. Warm water and a little soap are usually enough to remove basic grime and soot.
Low-maintenance sidings, such as vinyl or fiber cement, are less likely to require hard solutions than, say, wood siding. Dealing with algae and mold?
You will need a mild bleach-based cleanser. Your hardware store will most likely sell a specialized solution for your home’s siding, such as vinyl, wood, stucco, or brick.
Whether or not to pressure wash
Pressure washing isn’t suitable for every material. When turned up too high, pressure washers can cause damage to wood, brick, and even vinyl. To ensure safety, use a low-pressure setting when doing this yourself.
Stay away from windows, eaves, and soffits to avoid damaging them with the cleaning solution and pressurized water.
Is it been a few years since your siding received a good bubble bath? Hire pressure washing pros for between $100 and $650.
4.Focus on the Windows and Shutters
Using an extension pole, clean the outside of your windows with a gentle sponge or brush. Warm water and a few drops of dish soap should do the trick.
For tougher layers of soot and filth, use a solution of one part vinegar and ten parts water or a store-bought window cleaner on the back of your sponge.
Spend time inspecting the window frames and any decorative items surrounding them, such as outside shutters.
These are popular hiding areas for spider webs, various pests, fungi, and algae.
Expect to pay roughly $200 for expert window cleaning services, both inside and out.
5. Spruce Up the Porch
Give your outdoor living space some extra attention during the exterior home cleaning process, as this is likely to be the first spot you sit down to admire your newly cleaned home.
Begin cleaning your deck by removing all furniture, dog toys, and lawn tools so that debris may be properly swept away. Depending on the material of your porch, clean it with a soft-bristled brush and your preferred cleaning solution.
For simple cleaning, a dish-soap-and-water solution, similar to that used on the exterior of your home, would suffice. For algae and mold, use an oxygen-bleach cleaner.
Rinse the deck with a garden hose to remove any soap or cleaning solution. Pressure washers are not suitable for painted porches because they will remove the paint over time.
Tips for Cleaning Home Exterior
Tips for Cleaning HouseIt may seem intimidating to learn how to clean your home’s exterior without devoting a significant amount of time to the task.
Moving cautiously, one area at a time, making the process much easier to do yourself. Here are some safety guidelines to assist you clean the exterior of your property.My Exterior
Before you begin, select which chores you will complete yourself. If you find yourself in over your head after getting started, get a professional.
If it’s been a while since your last wash, employ a local roof and home inspector to assess the surfaces for damage before spraying them with a power washer.
Clean after the pollen season in the spring or when the leaves fall in the autumn.
To avoid upsetting nests, address pest problems before cleaning.
Double-check that your cleaners will not harm your home’s external finishes.
Recruit a friend or family member to help with ladders and heavy scrubbing.
DIY vs. Hire a Professional to Clean Your Home’s Exterior
Before you start the pressure washer or climb into your gutters, there’s something vital to remember. Some exterior house cleaning jobs are simple and inexpensive to complete on your own, while others are more difficult. When extreme heights, electricity, or structural concerns arise, it is better to call in the professionals.
In each of the categories listed above, we discussed the expense of doing each project yourself versus hiring a local pressure washing team or a home cleaner.
