Best House Wash for Keeping Your Home Sparkling Year Round
Are you looking for an easy and effective way to keep your home’s exterior looking sparkling and clean all year round? House wash cleaners are a great solution! Not only do they make it easier to maintain a clean and pristine look for your home’s exterior, but they can also help protect your home’s siding, gutters, and other surfaces from dirt, mold, and mildew buildup. In this blog post, we’ll discuss the best house wash cleaners and how to use them to clean your home’s siding, gutters, and other exterior surfaces.
House Siding
Cleaning siding is an important part of regular home maintenance and should be done regularly to keep your home looking great. You’ll want to choose a quality house wash cleaner that is designed specifically for the type of siding you have.
For vinyl siding, a quality house wash with mild detergent is a great option. It’s important to choose a cleaner that won’t damage the vinyl. Be sure to use a soft brush or cloth and gently scrub away dirt, dust, and other debris. Professionals use a pressure washer to downstream a 1-3% Sodium Hypochlorite (SH) solution which kills mold, mildew, and algae. It also helps loosen surface contaminants which easily wash away with a soft rinse using a larger orifice nozzle on the pressure washer. When purchasing a house wash from one of the big box stores, check to see if SH is an active ingredient to get professional results.
For stucco siding, you may want to opt for a more powerful house wash solution with an alkaline cleaner and scrubbing pads. This will help remove dirt, moss, and mildew that can accumulate on stucco over time. Well, if you’ve got moss growing on your stucco, you’ve let it go for way too long. Better try something stronger like SH or a masonry cleaning product specifically made for cleaning stucco or brick. EaCo Chem makes many different cleaning agents for masonry building materials.
Cement board like Hardi Plank, brick, and painted wood will require more specialized cleaning solutions. For cement board and brick, an acid-based house wash will help break down the dirt, grime, and other buildup that can occur. For painted wood, use a house wash with mild detergent or bleach solution and be sure to rinse it off thoroughly afterward.
When cleaning any type of siding, make sure you rinse it thoroughly with a garden hose after washing to avoid leaving behind any soap residue that can damage the siding material. Finally, when you’re finished, use a soft cloth to dry the siding and give it a final wipe-down to protect it from future dirt and grime.
Driveways, walkways, Patios and Sidewalks
When cleaning concrete surfaces such as driveways, walkways, patios and sidewalks, it is important to use the right tools and house wash products. Using a pressure washer and surface cleaner is the best way to get good results.
The combination of high pressure and the circular motion of the surface cleaner will get the job done faster and more efficiently. Start by using a pressure washer wand with a 45-degree nozzle to water-broom away loose dirt and grime from the surface. Then attach the surface cleaner to the pressure washer and move in a motion similar to mowing the lawn over the area you wish to clean. Make sure to keep the surface cleaner moving consistently for best results. Lastly, you can post-treat the concrete with SH to brighten it and eliminate streaks.
Once you are finished with the surface cleaner, rinse away any excess soap or debris with your pressure washer. With regular maintenance, your driveway, walkway, patio, or sidewalk should look brand new!
Cleaning Oxidation From Gutters
Gutters not only become clogged with debris, leaves and twigs, but the exterior finish oxidizes as well. To prevent this problem from occurring, it is important to clean the outside of your gutters regularly I suggest at least once per year.
The best way to do this is with a house wash cleaner specifically designed for removing oxidation (tiger striping) and dirt from the outside of the gutters.
To start, fill a pump-up sprayer with the house wash cleaner specifically formulated to remove oxidation. These cleaners can be strong so begin by spraying no more than 10 linear feet of gutter at a time. Then use a brush to gently scrub any dirt and oxidation to loosen it. Make sure to focus on the crevices and corners where dirt tends to accumulate. When finished, rinse away any excess cleaner and oxidation with a garden hose or pressure washer. If using a pressure washer be careful not to use too much pressure as it may strip away the gutter’s finish.
If your gutters are extremely dirty, you may need to repeat this process once more. However, be sure not to let the cleaner sit on the gutters for too long or it could cause damage to the finish. By following these steps, you can ensure that your gutters are sparkling clean and free of oxidation all year round.
Cleaning Wood decks and fences
Wood decks and fences are a popular way to add beauty and value to your home. However, they need to be cared for properly in order to maintain their beauty and structural integrity. Cleaning wood decks and fences is essential to maintaining the look and condition of these outdoor features.
The best way to clean a wood deck or fence is with a specially formulated house wash cleaner. These products are specifically designed to effectively remove dirt, mold, mildew, and other stains from wood surfaces. Home centers sell cleaners and brighteners separately as you must clean the deck prior to using a brightener.
To begin, apply the house wash (wood cleaner) product to the surface as suggested by the manufacturer. Then use a medium to stiff bristle brush, work it into the wood fibers in small sections. The cleaner along with a some elbow grease will loosen any environmental contaminants. Once you have applied the cleaner, let it sit for about 15 minutes before rinsing off with a hose or pressure washer. Be sure to rinse off all of the cleaner and let the wood dry completely before sealing (usually 24 hours).
Once your wood deck or fence is thoroughly cleaned and dry, it’s time to brighten it. Wood brighteners help to restore the original color and finish of the wood, giving it a beautiful shine. These products can be applied with a pump-up sprayer, just as you did with the house wash wood cleaner. Again, let the product sit as recommended by the manufacturer. This is usually for about 15 minutes before rinsing off with a hose or pressure washer. Be sure to rinse off all of the brighteners and let the wood dry completely before sealing.
Cleaning and brightening your wood deck and fence on an annual basis will keep it looking great for years to come. Investing in quality cleaning and brightening products is a worthwhile investment that will help protect the value of your home.
How to Clean Patio Furniture
Keeping your patio furniture looking great is easy with the right house wash cleaner. To use a house wash cleaner on your patio furniture, you will need a pressure washer, some household supplies, and your choice of house wash cleaner.
Start by cleaning off any loose dirt or debris from the patio furniture. If possible, move the furniture away from any plants or other objects that may be damaged by the pressure washer. Next, mix your house wash cleaner according to the instructions on the container. Use a downstream injector to apply the cleaner if using a pressure washer. This will make quick work of the cleaning project.
Begin spraying the patio furniture with the pressure washer using the nozzle specifically designed for downstreaming. Start at the top and work your way down. It doesn’t matter what motion you use as long as all of the surfaces are covered. Once you have sprayed all of the surfaces, allow the solution to sit for 5-10 minutes before rinsing.
Rinse the patio furniture off with clean water using the pressure washer. Make sure to rinse all of the surfaces completely. Finally, allow the furniture to air dry before using it again.
By following these steps and using a good quality house wash cleaner, you can keep your patio furniture looking like new for many years to come.
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