What Exterior House Cleaning Usually Covers

Planning to hire a professional contractor to tidy up the exterior of your house? It’s important to know what the job actually covers so you can see if the contractor is covering everything. 

In today’s article, we’ll talk about what you can expect during the work. Let’s get started. 

The Home Is First Prepared for Cleaning

This is the first step in exterior house cleaning, where a contractor may ask you to move outdoor furniture or components out of the way. They’ll also protect the plants by giving them a big drink of water at the roots. They’ll cover the outdoor electrical outlets and vents, as dust may affect their operation. 

Making sure that all your belongings are protected will help you prevent costly issues down the line. 

The Gutters Are Inspected and Cleared

The next step is to clean the gutters to prevent clogging. It’s because when they’re clogged with debris, the water can cascade down your siding. This runoff carries mould spores and algae directly across the walls, which creates ugly green and brown streaks. 

Unclogging the gutters will ensure that the water doesn’t overflow or stain your property’s exterior. 

Move to the Siding

Cleaning the siding means you’ll not only eliminate the harmful substances like mildew but also keep your home looking brand new. If left unchecked, the same substances can harm the environment (and your health too). 

If the siding is made of stone, it would let the mould penetrate the surface. In this case, pressure washing won’t be enough. The mildew can only be eliminated with a softwash-style cleaning that uses hypochlorite spread over the stone. 

If there is mould or mildew on the siding, the contractor would just need a soapy bucket of water to clean the general grime.

Washing the Windows

It’s an important step if you want to improve the visual appeal of your home. Washing also removes the dirt and algae from window frames, which could damage the entire window if left unchecked.

The contractor may start by scrubbing the frames with soapy water. They can also remove the screens and use a dry brush to dust the frames and sills. The glass is scrubbed by dipping a microfiber washer into a bucket of warm water. It cleans the dirt thoroughly. 

For the edges, a dry, lint-free microfiber cloth is used to quickly wipe down the squeegee blade. It is also used to dry the wet corners of the window pane.

Cleansing the Patio & Deck

The patio and deck of your home are spaces that get the most foot traffic. In just a short amount of time, they accumulate dirt and stains and can also get discolored. 

A contractor may start by sweeping and clearing the area. For wooden decks, they’ll first pre-rinse the wood with clean water to moisten the boards. They may also use a specialized oxygen bleach deck cleaner.

For patios, loose dirt is first swept up using a leaf blower. If there are grease stains, certain chemicals can be used to absorb them. Pressure washing works best for concrete pavers and sturdy surfaces. But if the surface is not that hard, gentle cleaners can be used.