- Cleaning your home’s exterior helps create a welcoming atmosphere and eliminates health and structural risks.
- Preparation is essential before cleaning; remove any obstructions and gather specialized tools and solutions.
- Wear protective gear while cleaning to avoid accidents or injuries when dealing with stubborn dirt.
- Once cleaned, revive outdoor spaces by refreshing plants and landscaping, repainting, or restoring surfaces.
- Common spots where dirt accumulates include garden spaces, garages, children’s play areas, and roof and rain gutters.
- Achieving a spotless and inviting home exterior requires thorough cleaning and carefully preparing the areas you intend to clean.
A clean and polished exterior sets a welcoming tone for any home. However, outdoor dirt, grime, and weathering can accumulate, leading to a dull and uninviting look for your house. It takes more than the occasional spray with a hose to achieve that desirable spotless and inviting look for your home’s exterior.
Thick and accumulated dirt is unsightly and unattractive to look at, and it can compromise the safety of your outdoor spaces and harm the health of those living in your home.
Stubborn dirt and grime on your home’s roof, sidings, or fence can also encourage the growth of mold and mildew, which can compromise your home’s structural integrity and increase health risks.
A dirty exterior also invites pests and unwanted guests, such as rodents and insects, to your home. Thorough exterior cleaning eradicates all these problems and improves the overall appearance of your home.
Preparing for Exterior Cleaning
To achieve a thoroughly cleaned exterior, you must first prepare for the cleaning process.
Start by removing any outdoor furniture, garden decorations, potted plants, or accessories that might hinder or get damaged during the cleaning process.
Ensure that the area you intend to clean is free of debris and that all the areas are accessible.
Assessing the Level of Dirt Accumulation and Its Challenges
Before cleaning the exterior, it’s essential to assess the level of dirt accumulation and the challenges you might encounter during the cleaning process.
Thick and accumulated dirt may require specialized cleaning tools and solutions to eradicate. Similarly, the type of outdoor surface you intend to clean, such as wood, concrete, or brick, may require different cleaning solutions and techniques to achieve the desired result.
Gathering Specialized Cleaning Tools and Solutions
Stubborn dirt and grime require specialized cleaning tools and solutions for complete removal. These tools include a pressure washer, a scrubber, a hose, a bucket, and cleaning solutions that are tough on dirt, such as bleach and vinegar.
It’s essential to follow the instructions on the cleaning solutions before using them to ensure they do not cause damage to the surfaces you intend to clean.
Ensuring Safety Measures for Dealing With Stubborn Dirt:
Safety is critical when dealing with stubborn dirt and grime. It’s essential to wear protective gear such as gloves, safety glasses, long-sleeved clothing, and shoes with a firm grip to prevent accidents and damage.
Following the manufacturer’s instructions on tools such as pressure washers is also necessary to avoid accidents and injuries.
Reviving Your Outdoor Spaces
After cleaning your exterior thoroughly, the next step is to revive your outdoor spaces. This includes:
Refreshing Garden Plants and Landscaping
After cleaning your outdoor spaces, replace any plants that may have been damaged during the cleaning process and refresh any landscaping that may have suffered due to dirt accumulation. Add new plants and flowers to enhance the overall look of your outdoor spaces.
Repainting and Restoring Outdoor Surfaces
Repainting or restoring your outdoor surfaces after cleaning is critical to maintaining their original look and structural integrity.
For painted surfaces, such as doors or shutters, a fresh coat emphasizes the color and helps protect the surface from further damage.
For decks or fences, staining or sealing the surface ensures they remain free from moisture and the damaging effects of the weather.
Repairing and Refinishing Outdoor Furniture and Accessories
Outdoor furniture and accessories are an essential part of any outdoor space. After cleaning, check for any damaged or worn-out furniture or accessories and repair or refinish them to maintain their functionality and longevity.
Places Outside Where Dirt Accumulates
The exterior of your home is the first thing that visitors see. It leaves an impression on you and your lifestyle. You’ll want to ensure it looks neat, tidy, and inviting. However, keeping up with dirt, mold, and other outdoor elements can take time and effort.
These are some of the places where you need to keep an eye on:
Neglected Garden and Patio Spaces
Outdoor spaces are prone to accumulate dirt and grime from exposure to the elements. If left uncleaned, it can weaken the structural integrity of concrete and wood. Use a high-pressure cleaner to blast away dirt and stains on concrete and washing liquid for wood surfaces.
Garage Surfaces
Garages contain oil, gasoline, and grease stains that are hard to remove with regular cleaning. You’ll need to use a degreaser for those tough stains and followed by a high-pressure wash to remove them entirely. If you don’t have a high-pressure cleaner, use a scrub brush and a bucket of soapy water.
For more stubborn dirt and stain, it is a great option to employ the help of professional driveway cleaning services since they can provide a deep clean that is difficult to achieve on your own. Moreover, they use advanced cleaning solutions and tools to clean thoroughly, saving you time and energy.
Outdoor Play Areas and Playsets
Children’s play areas are frequently exposed to harsh elements like rain, snow, and bright sun. These elements can cause dirt and grime to accumulate, creating an unsanitary and unhealthy environment for children. Use a mix of washing solution and a scrub brush for surface areas like slides, swings, and railings.
Roof and Rain Gutters
Roofs are one of the most challenging parts of the home to clean. But clearing any accumulated leaves, twigs, and debris can prevent damage and leaks.
Clearing the rain gutters of debris is also essential, particularly in autumn when leaves and debris fall heavily. Gutters control the flow of rainwater and help protect your home’s foundation from problems like water damage.
Assessing the level of dirt accumulation and gathering specialized cleaning tools and solutions for tough dirt, ensuring safety measures when dealing with stubborn dirt, and reviving your outdoor spaces ensures your home maintains its aesthetic appeal and structural integrity.
Refreshing garden plants and landscaping, repainting and restoring outdoor surfaces, and repairing and refinishing outdoor furniture and accessories are the final steps in achieving a home exterior that is spotlessly clean and inviting.
