For many homeowners, a bulk of the cleaning tasks are centered around the interior. While the exterior is that part of your home that outsiders are going to see first, it’s easy for homeowners to neglect it. But, when you wish to improve the overall appearance of your home, it’s not just the inside that matters. You need to pay attention also to what’s outside and what you can do to make it look clean, fresh, and new.
Because it’s your home exterior, more often than not, visitors, neighbors, and onlookers can immediately form their opinions and impression about you based on what they can see from the outside. You’ll want this to be a positive one, whereby each time they visit your home, they always look pleased and happy. Who knows, your home may even be that one that will inspire them too to give theirs some TLC.
Here’s how you can keep your home’s exterior looking sparkly clean:
1. Conduct A Thorough Inspection of Your Home’s Exterior
The first step is to conduct a thorough inspection of your home’s exterior. That way, you can determine with accuracy and in detail the problem areas and how you can go about fixing and cleaning them up.
This should include an examination of your grass, plants, trees, and bushes. Perhaps there are certain plants that are dying (or dead). You can uproot them. On the other hand, there may tree branches that are dangerously too close to your roof. Cleaning up your garden is a good way to make it look bigger and for you to make better use of the space in the future.
After this, assess all surfaces around the home’s exterior. This covers your roof and your walls. Typically, a good pressure wash is more than enough to clean these dirty areas.
As you go around your lawn, pick up any debris that shouldn’t be there, such as misplaced rocks, nails, outdoor gardening, or hardware materials that may no longer be in use. There’s no reason for you to keep plants, materials, and other belongings in your shed and outdoors if these are no longer needed.
2. Clear the Gutters
Gutter care should always be considered an important part of home cleaning and maintenance. Unfortunately, when you put off this job always on the side, it may lead to damage on your roof, plumbing, and other parts of your property. To avoid major problems, clearing your gutters should be scheduled at least once a year.
Before calling the professionals, here are simple ways you can do this by yourself:
- Remove debris and clear any blockage by scooping them out using an old spatula or gutter scoop;
- After removing the debris and blockage, clean it up with a garden hose to wash away any that may still be left behind.
3. Rake Your Lawn
The outdoor area of your home is likely to become dirty from leaves and grass clippings. It is important to rake these areas regularly. If you can do this weekly or bi-weekly, then so much the better. No matter how sprawling your garden may be, it’ll be so hard to appreciate how it looks when the grass is all covered with leaves and clippings.
You can start by sweeping all the leaves, dirt, and debris from the pathway. Then, you can move on to your patio or outdoor deck.
Doing this chore can help avoid rush situations when guests come over, and you’re embarrassed to show your garden as dead leaves are all over the place.
4. Remove Stains on the Driveway
Depending on the material your pathway, driveway, and garage floor are made of, these can eventually stain over time. Moss may also start to build up and grow.
For instance, with concrete, remember that this is a porous material. Every time your car passes by, vehicle fluids can leave marks or stains.
If you don’t have a pressure washer, you can consider hiring professional Power Washing in Columbus Ohio, if you’re from around the area. For smaller areas that are more manageable, you can also scrub this yourself with a brush and a mixture of water, bleach, and laundry detergent.
5. Give Your Herbs and Vegetables A Haircut
Your plants need a haircut too! If you see that the flowers and veggies in your garden are starting to get all over the place and are growing too much, give them a trim.
Not only will this make your garden look cleaner, but it’ll also encourage your plants to grow more.
If you can’t finish up all those greens, herbs, and vegetables, now’s a good time to share your harvest with family and friends!
Final Word
By following these simple tips for cleaning your home’s exterior, you’ll be able to maintain your home and keep it looking beautiful for years to come. While you pay close attention to the inside of your home, don’t forget what’s outside. After all, this is that part that gets easily exposed to all the harsh elements outdoors. Wear and tear can easily take its toll on your walls, roof, and gutters, among others. Now you can give your home new life – starting from the outside.
