The cleanliness of your home is the first impression that people have about you. You need a clean exterior that consists of the siding, windows and roof. You can do the cleaning yourself by following these four simple steps.
Choose the Right Pressure Washer
A pressure washer varies by the level of speed and water pressure. Choose the right features based on the strength and intensity of the cleaning. A low pressure is needed to clean small items like a car or furniture. Increase the pressure to 2,400 psi or more to clean a large area like a patio or driveway or to remove tough stains on siding.
Choose the Soap
There are detergents that are designed for power washing all surfaces from vehicles to buildings. Lather combined with water helps to remove the toughest stains and leave the area disinfected. You have numerous choices, such as multipurpose cleaners, concentrate solutions, house and deck cleaners and vehicle detergents. Some people claim that mixing bleach with dishwasher soap is equally effective. It's recommended that you use oxygen bleach that is weaker than chlorine bleach, which is damaging to colors and destructive to plants.
Determine the Extent of Coverage to Clean
Every homeowner has different areas of coverage to worry about. You may want to clean one side of the house, both sides or the patio only. Consider the different areas that you need cleaned in the front and back yards. There is the siding, roof, windows and patio along with the driveway and walkways.
Clean the Worst Stains First
Every home exterior has openings where dirt and debris settle in without coming back out. Start by power washing the siding, and continue to the windows where stains are most visible. Then, look for other parts of the exterior where stains are seen from afar or up close. An effective method is to rinse the area first, scrub the stains off with a brush and then rinse again.
Like many people, you're tired of looking at the dull, filthy covering of your home when you approach the driveway. Taking one look at a clean exterior is a relief from seeing the typical buildup of dirt, mildew and debris. When you set out to clean the home yourself, know there are proper tools and techniques that all professional house cleaners use.
