Cleaning your home’s exterior is a fairly simple job when you prepare properly and use the right supplies. In most cases a garden hose, a soft brush and a mild soap are all you need to remove dirt, dust, pollen and bird droppings. A pressure washer is only for tough stains, and it has to be used with care.
It is worth doing. Built-up grime makes a house look tired, and over time it can damage siding, brick and other exterior materials.
Prepare Before You Start Washing
Pick a warm, dry day with little wind. Move lawn furniture and anything else that could be damaged away from the house.
Make sure every window and door is shut securely. Use plastic sheeting to cover bushes, outdoor light fixtures, vents and any other spot where you do not want water to go.
Steps for Cleaning Your Home’s Exterior
Start with a garden hose
An ordinary garden hose handles most houses. A siding cleaning kit with a nozzle attachment, or a hose-fed brush made for washing cars, makes the work easier. If the house is not very dirty, plain water may be enough.
Treat stains and mildew
For stains, use a solution of water and dish soap, or buy a cleanser made for house exteriors. For mildew, a mixture of water, oxygen bleach and dish soap works well. Wear goggles and gloves when you handle bleach.
Choose cleaning products that will not harm the trees and plants in your yard, and rinse them off with plain water.
Use a pressure washer carefully
Tough stains may call for a pressure washer, but it can damage some materials. Test a small area first and check for damage before you go further. If you see any, go back to the garden hose. We cover this in more detail in our guide to power washing vinyl siding.
Start at a low setting and increase the pressure gradually only if the stains do not come off. Keep the wand moving from side to side so you never concentrate the spray on one spot.
Spray downward and work in sections
Whether you use a hose or a pressure washer, aim the water at a downward angle so it does not get driven up behind the siding or under shingles. Clean one section completely before moving to the next. When you are done, let the house air dry.
Do Not Forget Windows and Doors
Glass, frames and door surfaces need a gentler touch than siding. Use a soft cloth and mild soap, and keep high pressure away from seals and weatherstripping. Our cleaning and care tips for vinyl replacement windows explain the details.
What to Do If You Find Damage
Washing the house gives you a close look at every part of the exterior. You may find siding that is warped or cracked, window frames that have gone soft, doors that no longer seal or railings that have come loose. Make a note of each problem so it can be dealt with before it gets worse.
Aladdin Inc. can help with many of those repairs, including vinyl replacement windows, entry doors and patio doors and aluminum and wrought iron railings.
Get a Quote for Exterior Repairs
Found something that needs replacing? Contact us or call (203) 776-9996, tell us what you found, and we will give you a quote.