Cleaning the exterior of your home is an easy way to
improve curb appeal and the overall look of your home. Instead of taking the leap of committing to a new color for your home, washing the outside of your home can drastically change the look. Read on for tips on how to wash the exterior of your home.
Why you should wash
Even if you only wanted to wash your home exterior so you could sell it, there are several other reasons why you should:
- If you're painting your house, you'll need to clean the exterior because paint won't stick nicely to crumbly, flaky paint. It will stick to dirty siding in the short term but over time it will come off.
- Cleaning the exterior of your home is just a general good housekeeping step. As you clean, you can inspect the siding and check for any damage to the exterior of your home.
Power washing
You could
use a power washer to clean the exterior of your house, but there are some pros and cons that you should weigh ahead of time:
- Pros:
- Less manual labor
- Faster
- Easier
- Cons:
- Possible damage to siding
- Water can seep under the siding
- Dirt can still remain on the house
There are safe ways to clean your home's exterior with a power washer, however. You can use a lower psi pressure washer, widen the spray and stand at least two feet back from the house. Read any instructions that come with the pressure washer or hire a professional to do the washing for you.
- Do you need soap? Water alone is often enough to clean the siding--however, if there is mold or mildew a special cleanser will be needed. What kind of nozzle do you need?
- ?What kind of nozzle do you need? The nozzles are measured in degrees with zero being the strongest spray (it's the narrowest opening). For most homes, a 40-degree a nozzle will work just fine. It's best to start with the lightest touch to prevent damage.
Secure your windows, pets and children before beginning to spray and wear a pair of goggles when you're working with the pressure washer.
TIP: Spray at a downward angle and work in small sections using a sweeping motion.
Hand washing
If you want to clean your house by hand, you'll ensure that there is no damage--but it will be very time consuming and labor intensive. To do so, you'll need to purchase a few brushes and a cleaning solution.
Hand wash tools: - Tri-sodium phosphate - this cleansing agent comes in powder and liquid and once it's mixed in water it makes an all-purpose cleaning solution
- Hand brush - a brush with stiff bristles, preferably one with a notch to screw in a broom handle for extra reach
- Wire brush - helps brush away stuck-on mud, dead wasps nests and any other debris that might be stuck in the grooves of your siding
- Garden hose
To hand wash your home's exterior:
- Pick a warm day to begin cleaning and work from the top to the bottom. Choose one side of your house to work on each day you plan on cleaning. It will make the project easier to manage.
- Remove large pieces of debris with the wire brush, broom or shop vac.
- Gently spray the siding with the garden hose. Be careful not to spray water under the siding or into air vents.
- Scrub down the section with the all-purpose cleanser and rinse with clean water.
- Mix up a fresh batch of the cleaning solution and re-scrub the area to get off any leftover dirt.
- Rinse and move onto the next section.
- Continue the process until the side is done and then repeat on the remaining sides of the house.
- Let the areas dry at least 24 to 48 hours before you try to paint them (if you're painting).