The outside of your house may be covered with dirt, dust, bird droppings, pollen, and other substances. Contaminants can make your home unattractive and can damage the siding, brick, or other exterior material. Fortunately, cleaning your home is a fairly straightforward chore if you know how to do it and use the appropriate supplies.
Prepare to Clean Your House
If possible, wash your home’s exterior on a warm, dry day with little wind. Remove lawn furniture and anything else that could get damaged from the area around the house. Make sure that all windows and doors are shut securely. Use sheets of plastic to cover bushes, outdoor light fixtures, vents, and anywhere else that you don’t want water to go.
Figure out How to Clean Your House
In many cases, all you need to clean the exterior of your home is an ordinary garden hose. You may want to buy a siding cleaning kit with a nozzle attachment or attach a brush designed to clean cars to your hose.
If your house isn’t that dirty, you may be able to clean it with just water. If it has stains, you can remove them with a solution of water and dish soap or buy a cleanser specifically designed to clean a house’s exterior.
If you discover mildew, you can get rid of it with a mixture of water, oxygen bleach, and dish soap. Wear goggles and gloves when handling bleach and only use it in a well-ventilated area.
If you need to use any type of cleaning product on your house’s exterior, look for one that won’t harm trees and plants in your yard. Rinse off the cleanser with plain water.
For tough stains, you may need to use a pressure washer. It can damage some materials, so spray a small space with the pressure washer and check for any signs of damage before you use it on a large area. If the pressure washer damages the exterior of your home, use a regular garden hose for cleaning.
If you use a pressure washer, start at a low setting and see if it gets rid of stains. If it doesn’t, gradually increase the amount of pressure. Move the pressure washer continuously from side to side so you don’t damage any area on your home’s exterior.
When you spray your house with a hose or pressure washer, point the water at a downward angle so it doesn’t get under the shingles and cause damage. Work on one section of the house at a time and get it clean before moving on to the next section. When you’re done cleaning, simply let the house air dry.
If Your Siding Is Damaged, Contact Aladdin
When you clean the outside of your house, you may discover that the siding is warped, cracked, or falling down. If so, the team at Aladdin can install new vinyl siding that can make your Connecticut home more attractive and energy-efficient.
