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Ways to Make Your Exterior Shine
Nothing attracts attention more than a clean and bright exterior on a home.
In fact, most real estate agents swear that prospective buyers make their
decision about a home in the first few seconds they see it, from the outside!
That means curb appeal is essential.
As the weather heats up and we all get that urge to clean out our homes, it
is important to take a look at how your own home looks from the curb, and the
backyard. You may not be selling any time soon, but your neighbors may be
and, believe it or not, the way your home looks may affect their sale! So be
a good neighbor and clean it up. Here are some helpful hints to make your
place shine. Of course, cleaning is just the first step. You will also need
to weed, seed and focus on your general landscaping if you want to make the
best impression.
Tools
You will want to gather your tools before you begin. Here is what you should
have for a complete outside shine:
Several soft scrub brushes in different sizes
Sponges for washing
Cleaning cloths or paper towels for drying
A good all-purpose cleaner
A hose or other source of water
Buckets
Household gloves
Some kind of tote for all your gear
You may want to use a professional strength all-purpose cleaner or make
your own hybrid cleaner. To mix your own, combine 1/3 cup powdered laundry
detergent with 2/3 cup Soilax (a professional cleaner found at most hardware
stores) with 3 quarts of water. If mildew is a problem, include 1 quart of 5%
chlorine bleach to the mix. However, be careful using bleach around your
landscaping!
Cleaning Vinyl or Wood
The best way to tackle cleaning your siding, deck or outdoor furniture is to
grab one of your scrub brushes and cleaning solution and apply some elbow
grease. Be sure to rinse well throughout the job to see how much progress you
have made. A pump sprayer or power washer can be used to apply the solution.
Windows
Clean windows inside and out can really brighten a home. You would be
surprised how much light dirty windows keep out. Try to clean windows on a
cloudy day so they won't dry too quickly and leave streaks. If you use
newsprint to dry the windows, you will minimize the streaks even more.
Screens
Wash them with the cleaning solution and rinse well. Then let them air dry.
Stone
Whether you want to clean stone pathways, statues or walls, the cleaning
method is the same. You will want to wash it with a mild cleaning solution
and rinse well with clear water then let dry.
Wrought Iron
Wash this with clear water using a damp sponge or cloth, then wipe dry. If
you want to, add a protective coat of liquid wax to make cleaning easier next
time and to help prevent rust from building up.
Final Note
Always read the instructions on any cleaner before using it. Each
manufacturer has a recommended way to use their product. And be sure to find
out how toxic the cleaners are to your landscaping before use to prevent
unnecessary harm to plants.
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