Many people who clean their homes themselves usually focus on the interior. And it is understandable since this is where you spend the most time with friends and family. However, it is important to note that the exterior also adds value, and it is necessary to conduct routine home maintenance on these parts. Moreover, when your immediate outdoors is dirty or unkempt, it becomes more susceptible to extreme weather and may even expose the indoors. As a solution, here are cleaning tips to keep your home’s exterior in good condition.
Wash the siding
It doesn’t matter what material your siding is made of because it still will attract dirt. Admittedly, some siding materials are designed to mask dirt and to aid in easy cleaning. However, if you ride on that marketing gimmick, you might end up with layers of dirt that may become difficult to wash off. Different households adopt varying cleaning methods for their home’s siding. Some opt for pressure washing, while others prefer wiping it down with a damp cotton cloth. Another method that has proven to be effective to consider is soft washing. It is the exact opposite of pressure washing and targets dirt at the source rather than blowing surface dust. For this reason, many households are using this cleaning method. The trick to cleaning your siding is to concentrate on the overlapped areas. This is where dust, dirt, insects, and grime hide the most. Remember to keep your windows closed when cleaning your siding. It will prevent dust from getting blown indoors.
Tackle stains in the driveway and the garage floors
According to data on US homes, about 55% of households park their cars in the garage. Additionally, 7 in 10 homes have stained garage floors. Usually, this is caused by oil and other lubricant leaks from underneath the vehicles. It is the same problem with driveways. These stains are hard to scrub off with just soap and water. You need approved solvents to dissolve the oil stains and make cleaning easier. Driveway and garage cleaning experts say the best way to tackle these external parts of the home is to single out stains first.
It would be best if you first poured approved oil-dissolving agents on all stained areas. After 10 – 20 minutes, you can scrub the surface. When that is done, it is advisable to surface clean the entire area. When you fail to handle stained areas first, general cleaning of the floors may harden these discolorations. This is particularly important when your garage floor or driveway is concrete. Coated garage floors are easier to handle than concrete options.
Protect outside light fixtures and vents
The external parts of the home accumulate more dust and debris than the indoors. This is why it is crucial to keep your windows closed when cleaning the home’s siding. However, there is more. Outside light fixtures, electrical outlets, and vents are more at risk of collecting flyaway debris from your vigorous outdoor cleaning activities.
It is therefore recommended to protect these components with safe plastic sheets or coverings. It is also advisable to move outdoor furniture away from the cleaning area. If they’re bulky, an appropriate protective covering will be required. Sometimes, even with ample covering, you may have to dust off your lawn furniture after your outdoor cleaning chores. With winter starting soon, it would be a good idea to clean your outdoors.
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