When Did You Last Clean The Outside Of Your Home?

When carrying out a Spring clean, many of us forget about the outside of our home. Keeping our home’s exterior clean is important for keeping it attractive and welcoming. However, it can also be important for preventing wear and tear, as well as having other practical benefits. 

If you haven’t cleaned the outside of your home in a while, now could be the time to do it. Below are just some of the areas of your home that could benefit from annual cleaning. 

Windows

Windows are probably the most important part of your home’s exterior to keep clean. If they get too dirty, you won’t be able to see through them. They also won’t look very attractive from the outside. Letting the frames get dirty can also have negative effects. Mould and algae can cause vinyl window frames to get discoloured, cause wooden frames to decay and cause metal window frames to corrode. Seals could also get damaged – leading to leaks and drafts. 

You can clean your windows yourself or hire professionals to clean them. You’ll need a squeegee, window cleaning solution and a microfiber cloth. This post offers a few tips on how to clean your windows and avoid streaks. When accessing upper floor windows, you may need a ladder or a water fed pole. Be wary that you may not be able to use certain chemicals on certain window frame materials. Cleaning windows with a pressure washer is also not advised.

Doors

The first thing that many people look at on a property is the front door. A dirty front door is therefore not good for creating first impressions. On top of the door itself, you also need to consider the area around the door – porches can often collect cobwebs and build-ups of leaves that also need to be tidied.

Take the time to scrub down your front door with a sponge. Use a long-handled duster or broom to get rid of cobwebs around your porch and use a broom to sweep away any leaves and debris from the doorstep. 

Roof

Most roofing materials will get dirty over time – attracting dirt, dust, mould, moss, algae and lichen. This doesn’t only make your roof look less attractive, but may actually cause damage over time.

It’s recommended that you therefore clean your roof annually. You may be able to do this yourself by using a pressure washer and biocidal roof wash. However, it’s often safer and more efficient to hire a roofing company that provides roof cleaning. Such professionals will be able to tread carefully on your roof and use the right cleaning methods to avoid further damage. You also won’t have to put yourself at risk (many people injure themselves each year trying to clean or fix their own roofs). 

Gutters

Gutters are designed to direct water runoff from your roof into a drain. However, leaves and other debris can get into gutters and cause blockages – preventing water from draining and causing it to spill over the sides. This can lead to puddles around your property and potential foundation issues. Blockages of leaves can also cause damage if they freeze up – guttering can expand and break, potentially coming loose from your home and falling onto things below.

This is why it’s important to inspect your gutters annually and clean out any leaves that may be there. You can do this yourself on a ladder – it’s possible to remove clumps of leaves by hand (wear gloves) or by using a gutter scoop. Alternatively, you can hire a professional gutter cleaning service to do it for you safely. To prevent leaves from accumulating in your guttering, it’s also possible to install gutter guards. Look for LeafFilter gutter guard installers in your area.

Siding

Lastly, it’s important to consider the siding on the walls of your property. Dirty siding can make a home look unattractive and neglected. Dirt, mould and moss can also cause damage to your siding over time.

There are a few different ways to clean your home’s siding. You could spray the outside of your home with a hose and then use a long-handled brush to scrub off any dirt and grime. Alternatively, you could consider using a pressure washer. There are also leave-on chemicals that you can apply to your exterior to kill fungus and moss. This guide at The Dollar Stretcher offers some tips on how to clean siding inexpensively. If money isn’t an issue, you may find that hiring professionals to clean your siding is more convenient. 

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