Terri Ramsey Beavers All of us know that we need to clean our house frequently, and we stick to this rule religiously. However, we should keep in mind that in order to have a beautiful home, we also need to take care of the outside part of the house. Cleaning the roof, siding, windows, etc. is important not only for aesthetic purposes, but it makes our home safe and makes sure it stays that way in the years to come. Thus, we bring you a few tips on how to clean the outside of your home in no time.
Cleaning the roof and the gutters
The best option for maintaining this part of your house is definitely to call professional help. However, if between two professional cleanings you get in a situation where you need to clean the gutters, make sure to use sturdy ladders, work gloves, a bucket, and a hose. When you first climb on the ladders, use your hands to get out all the leaves, branches, and other things that have clogged up the gutter, and put them in the bucket. Once this is done, use the water from the hose to flush out the gunk from the gutters and to make sure that everything is cleaned and functions properly.
Cleaning the siding
A fresh, cleaned siding will give a new life to your home. Depending on how dirty this part of the house is, you may need to use only water, or if it is especially dirty, a mixture of water, vinegar or liquid soap, and perhaps even mild bleach or a specifically designed solution. Use a brush to clean every part of the siding with the cleaning mixture and then use a hose with a 40-degree angle spraying nozzle. Rinse off the whole house with spraying water and make sure to work your way from the bottom to the top. Move the pressure washer from side to side and always hold it at a downward angle.
Get prepared
Before you actually start with the process of cleaning, you need to prepare all the necessary equipment. This includes a safe ladder, hose as well as pressure washer, brushes, mops, buckets, and anything else you might need to clean your house based on its proportions and the materials it’s made of. Moreover, you will need some safety equipment, like sturdy work gloves and appropriate footwear. To assemble all the right equipment may take a little more time, and it also requires some prior knowledge. If this feels a bit overwhelming for you, you may want to consider hiring an experienced rope access technician who will efficiently and professionally perform tasks such as window cleaning, pressure cleaning, or even caulking and concrete repairs. Using the services of a qualified company whose job includes outside house cleaning is the best solution for some homeowners, especially if you have problems maintaining and cleaning the upper, higher parts of the building.
Cleaning the windows
The best is to use a low-pressure water hose to clean the glass as well as the frames from all the dirt, spider webs, etc. Then, if your windows are much stained, fill a bucket with warm water and some liquid soap and use this mixture to clean with a soft cloth or a sponge. The next step is to clean the glass with a window cleaning solution you can get at any supermarket or you can make your own, homemade version. For this part of the job, you can again use a clean cloth or a sponge, or even paper towels, although they won’t be the most eco-friendly option.
And finally, by combing the housework on the inside and the outside, you will get a clean, gorgeous home. As you can see from the abovementioned tips, it takes just a bit of effort to get the outside of your home perfectly clean. Of course, if you don’t feel comfortable with any part of the cleaning process, you can always hire professional help.