Ways to Clean the Outside of House

While it is nice to enjoy the warm weather after a long, cold winter spent indoors, cleaning and repairing the outside of your home doesn’t necessarily have to be a spring project. House cleaning is also done outside, not just inside. You might want to consider taking on these neglected outside maintenance projects.

Cleaning outside of house

You can clean the outside of your home quickly with a pressure washer, but be careful because the extremely high pressure can damage wood and other softer materials.

Although a pressure washer does not require scrubbing, the addition of detergent to the machine’s reservoir serves to loosen stubborn dirt and speed up the cleaning process. Clean your surfaces with a cleaner designed to be used with pressure washers and for the type of surface you’re cleaning. Specific cleaners are available for various surfaces, including siding, decks, and masonry when house cleaning.

When cleaning outside of house, mold or mildew can be removed with specific products from the grocery or hardware store. It is also possible to kill mold on nonporous surfaces by mixing 1 part bleach with 4 parts water. If you’re working with bleach or other harmful chemicals, wear protective clothing and rubber gloves, and water any plants or grass beforehand. Safety first even when house cleaning. Wash the bleach mixture off by using a hose or pressure washer after allowing it to remain on for 10 – 15 minutes.

Driveway repair

Periodic maintenance is also necessary for driveways and sidewalks when cleaning outside of house.

1. Remove any grass or weeds that are growing in cracks or encroaching on the driveway.
2. A pressure washer should then be used to thoroughly remove dirt and grime.
3. Then, use a concrete resurfacer to patch cracks and holes in concrete surfaces.
4. To restore the look of worn asphalt drives, a coat of latex asphalt sealer can be applied.

Keeping the decks clean

To look their best, wood decks need periodic cleaning to protect them from the elements. Your curb appeal relies on this, so it’s important to include when cleaning outside of house.

1. Using a pump up sprayer, apply a specially formulated deck cleaner.
2. Then, use a pressure washer or a long-handled scrub brush to clean the deck after it has had time to dry.
3. Allow the deck to dry after rinsing it.
4. Apply sealer or stain with a pump up sprayer and use a brush to smooth it out if refinishing is needed.
5. Before using the deck, let the sealer completely dry.

Cleaning and repairing screens

Whenever you’re house cleaning, windows are one of the priorities. You can clean window screens by soaking them in a child’s wading pool filled with soapy water and gently scrubbing them with a soft scrub brush. The final step is to rinse the screen using a fine spray setting on the garden hose to prevent any damage, especially when cleaning outside of house.

For a seamless repair of small holes in screens, flatten the fibers out and brush on clear fingernail polish several times. If there are large tears or holes, the rubber spline should be removed from the screen frame and a new piece of screen should be installed using a screen spline roller tool.

Repairing the roof

You should also inspect your roof in the spring to see if winter snow and ice caused any problems that need to be resolved. Make sure that it’s clean and free of debris when cleaning outside of house.

1. Check for missing or torn shingles that may need to be repaired or replaced.
2. Keep an eye on flashing around chimneys, plumbing vents, and other openings that could leak. Make sure any gaps are sealed with roofing cement.
3. A dab of roofing cement should be applied to exposed nail heads.
4. Get rid of leaves, sticks, and other debris that has accumulated in valleys and around chimneys, porches, and dormers.

Ready the Grill

No matter what type of grill you have, spring is a great time to fire it up. It’s part of entertaining your guests outside, so it’s apt to include when cleaning outside of house.

1. Remove any rust that has formed over the winter by cleaning the grill and wire racks with an old wire brush and a degreasing detergent.
2. Check for rust on the burners of gas grills and clean them. Ensure the holes in the burners aren’t clogged. Remove any clogs with a wire if necessary.
3. You should prepare the outside of the grill to be painted by lightly sanding the surface and thoroughly cleaning it to remove all grease. Once it’s completely dry, spray it with a high heat spray paint (often called barbecue or stove enamel). Check Vanessawest.tripod

The quality of your home’s exterior (as well as its interior) will ultimately affect your curb appeal, and your daily pleasure when you return home will also increase. Whether cleaning the outside of your house is a spring clean project or not, it’s still important to maintain its appearance all year long. Remember: house cleaning is done inside and outside to ensure ultimate comfort.