How to Clean the Exterior of Your House Like a Pro

If you are new to cleaning your home, even if you know how to do the interior, the outside can seem like an overwhelming task. It’s not all about getting the award for “the prettiest house in the neighborhood.” Keep your windows, siding, roof and porch clean to prolong your home’s safety, stability and beauty for many years. This step-by-step manual will teach you how to Exterior House Wash in Auckland from top to bottom.

Why Clean the Exterior of your Home?

It is important to know how to clean your house’s exterior as well as the interior. A good cleaning not only makes your home more inviting, it is also important for its health and stability.

Consider the natural forces that your home is exposed to throughout the year. Rain, snow and leaves can build up on your roof and in gutters. Mold, mildew and moss can accumulate on your roof or siding. You should clean your home’s exterior on a regular schedule for a number of reasons.

• Mold and mildew can be removed
• Remove clogged gutters
• Remove pests from nests
• Repair areas by revealing them
• Keep your roofing, siding and gutters in good condition.
• Water and mold damage: How to avoid it

How to Clean the Exterior of your House

Knowing what parts of the house can be washed with a power washer will help you understand how to wash an exterior. Power washers are great for cleaning hard-to reach areas or stubborn mildew. Start by examining the roof, gutters and siding materials. Some materials cannot handle high pressure water or harsh cleaners. Do your research first before you jump in.

Roof Cleaning

You know the old rule when you are cleaning an interior room: Start at the top and work down. When working outdoors, the same rule applies. If you start at the top, debris that falls down can be removed later.

Before you start, we recommend that you hire a Roof Inspector. This is especially important if it hasn’t been inspected in more than a year. Roof inspections can cost between 75 and $800 depending on the size and condition of your roof.

On and under some shingles, algae, mold and fungus tend to accumulate. These unwanted guests can weaken your shingles over time.

We recommend that you hire a roof cleaner, if needed. They will select the best hose pressure, cleaning products and keep you safe on the ground.

Cleaning the Gutters

Next, you will need to clean your gutters. This is a very important task. Not only in the fall, but throughout the entire year, gutters can become clogged. Keep gutters free of debris to avoid leaks on your roof or flooding around your foundation.

What you will need is:

• Sturdy ladder
• Plastic buckets or garbage bags
• Work gloves
• Hose
• Straighten clothes hanger

Start by using your ladder to gain safe access to the gutters. Or, hire someone to do it for you. You should avoid leaning the ladder directly against the gutters, as this can cause damage. Use a gutter guard or ladder stabilizer if you have no other choice. Before climbing, make sure your ladder is the right size for the job. It should also be placed on level ground.

As you work, remove all the debris from your gutters. Place it in a light plastic bucket or a garbage bag. Check the flow of your gutters with a hose. Use a straightened clothes hanger to gently remove any debris if there is a blockage.

You’ll pay an average of 160 for a professional gutter clean .

Cleaning Your Siding

One of the most rewarding parts of exterior house cleaning is removing dirt, cobwebs and algae from the siding of your home. To keep your home looking new, consider cleaning the siding or hiring a professional to do so every 12 to 18 months.

Select Your Cleaning Solution

The type of siding and the level of dirt determine your cleaning method. You can usually remove the basic dirt and grime with warm water, mild soap and mild detergent. Low maintenance siding such as vinyl and fiber cement are more likely to tolerate harsh solutions than wood siding. Do you have to deal with mold and algae? You will need a mild cleaner based on bleach. You’ll find a solution in your hardware store for the siding of your home, whether it is vinyl, wood or stucco.

Should you pressure wash or not?

Not all materials are suitable for pressure washing. Pressure washers that are set too high can damage brick, wood and some vinyl. To be safe, use a low pressure setting.

Avoid cleaning solutions and water pressure near windows, eaves and soffits.

It’s been some time since you gave your siding a bubble bath. You can hire pressure washers for between 100 and $650.

Focus on Windows and Shutters

With a soft brush or sponge, clean the exterior of your windows using an extendable pole. You can use warm water with a few drops dish soap. Use a mixture of vinegar and water (one part to ten parts) or store-bought glass cleaner on the sponge back for tougher soot and dirt.

Spend some time cleaning the exterior shutters and window frames. Spider webs, other bugs and mold and algae love to hide in these areas.

You can expect to pay between 200 for window cleaning inside and outside.

Porch Beautification

When cleaning your exterior home, be sure to pay special attention to your outdoor living area. This is likely to be the first spot you will visit to admire your freshly cleaned home.

To begin cleaning your deck , remove all furniture, lawn tools, and dog toys to ensure that you can sweep and clear debris. Depending on the material of your porch, use a soft bristled brush with a cleaning product.

As an example, you can clean your home’s side with a solution of dish soap and water. Opt for oxygen-bleach to remove algae and mold.

Use a garden hose and rinse the deck to remove any soap or cleaning solution. For painted porches pressure washers can remove the paint.

Pavement Finishing

Don’t forget to clean the driveway, paths, and patios after you reach the ground floor of your home. Cleaning pavers requires a bit of extra care if there are any grease marks left over from your summer barbecue.

If you have a lot of grease on your pavers, use the long-handled mops from your porch. Let them soak for a few minutes before rinsing. If your pavers are particularly dirty, you can add a power-washer to your garden hose. Otherwise, a good scrub followed by a rinse will do.

Remove grease stains from your asphalt driveway with a degreaser of commercial grade before you pressure wash.

Power washing professionals charge between $185 to $385. It is therefore worth calling them in for a deep clean every year.