Cleaning Tips for Your Home’s Exterior

Maintaining the appearance and functionality of your exterior requires regular cleaning. Before the leaves and snowfall, some areas that may need attention are below.

Eavestrough and downpipe system

Twice a year, eavestroughs and downpipes need to be cleaned to ensure that this system is doing its job correctly. If it's not, debris will begin to clog up the system and cause water backup that could lead to many problems, like foundation issues. 

Learn more about eavestrough maintenance and how to clean your eavestroughs by reading our "Eavestroughing Maintenance Is Important For Your Home" blog.

Siding

Cleaning your siding can refresh the exterior of your home. The method for cleaning exterior siding can vary depending on the style and material. It may be faster and easier to clean your siding with a pressure washer, but you risk damaging your siding and other elements of your home. 

Check out our blog "How to Properly Maintain Your Home's Siding" for more information on how to clean your siding. 

Windows

If your home is multi-story, the windows are older or need to be replaced in general, cleaning your windows can be a bit of a challenge. It might be best to hire a professional window cleaner if this is the case. 

If not, using a soft sponge or brush, you can use an extendable pole to clean the outside of your windows with warm water and dish soap. You can use a solution of one part vinegar and 10-parts water on noticeably dirty windows. You can also use a window cleaner with a sponge or brush. Make sure not only the glass of your windows is cleaned, but also the frame, sill and shutters. These are also areas where dirt, mould and mildew, and insects like to hide.

If you think your windows are older but are unsure if they need to be replaced read our blog "Is It Time To Start Replacing Your Windows?"

Front and backyard areas

Cleaning up these areas may mean the gardens, driveway, walkway, porch areas, or back deck areas. 

Gardens

Cleaning your gardens can entail multiple tasks. It could be that you want to replace all of your spring/summer flowers and plants with fall flowers or trim flower bushes and greenery. 

Driveway

The type of driveway you have might require resealing the asphalt or filling in areas packed down with dirt or gravel. 

Porch/Back Deck

Cleaning the porch or back deck might require a quick pressure wash to get rid of the dirt and grime from the spring and summer seasons.

The fall is the perfect time to toss out what you don't need around the exterior of your home. If not, it could become a hazard sitting underneath the surface of snowfall or rot and deteriorate throughout the winter. 

Cleaning up the exterior of your home can make all the difference at the end of the day. It can bring back some life into your exterior without completing an exterior renovation.