Clean the Outside of a House

Cleaning the outside of a home seems like a large task, but it can actually be fairly simple if you use the right tools and techniques. Using a garden hose is the best method if the house isn’t very dirty, or if your house is made out of brick, stucco, or delicate wood shingles. Pressure washing is the way to go if your house has difficult stains. Vinyl, wood siding, and hybrid materials can withstand pressure washing. No matter what method you choose, you should prepare your house before cleaning it.

Steps

Prepping the Outside of Your House

1. Choose a warm day to clean. If possible, wait to clean the outside of your home on a warm, dry day. A windy day will cause overspray, which will come back on you as you clean. If it isn’t possible to clean on a warm day, at least wait for a dry to clean the outside of your house.
2. Protect the area on and around your home. Begin by making sure all doors and windows are closed. Secure them with tape if necessary. Put duct tape and plastic sheeting over outside light fixtures, vents, and electrical outlets. Move lawn furniture away from the home. Cover plants and shrubbery with plastic sheeting.
   • Make sure kids and dogs are inside while you clean if you’re using a pressure washer.
3. Use soap and water to remove stains. Inspect your home before you begin cleaning. Look for stains that can be cleaned without the use of a garden hose or pressure washing. For most stains, you can use a scrub brush, water, and regular dishwashing soap. Scrub the stain until it begins to lift.
4. Create a solution with oxygen bleach powder to remove mildew. For tougher stains, like mildew, use a solution made out of oxygen bleach, water, and dishwashing liquid. Put a gallon (3.8 L) of water, one-quarter pound (1 L) of oxygen bleach, and a one-eighth cup (29.6 mL) of dishwashing liquid in a bucket. Dip a scrub brush in the bucket and scrub the mildew until it lifts.
   • Be very careful when handling bleach. Make sure to wear eye protection, rubber gloves, and handle it in a well-ventilated area.

Using a Garden Hose to Clean

1. Use a cleaning kit or brush to clean the outside of your hose. You can buy a siding cleaning kit with a nozzle attachment from your local home improvement store. Or, you can buy an automobile brush that will attach to your hose. You can use only water to clean if your house isn’t heavily soiled. If it is, you will need to use a cleanser. A siding kit should come with a compartment to pour the cleanser into the attachment.
   • You can find cleanser specifically made for washing the outside of houses at most home improvement stores.
2. Work from the bottom to the top. Spray your hose at a downward angle. Work from the bottom to the top of the house. Work in small, separate sections at a time.
3. Rinse with water if a cleaner was used. If you used more than water, you will need to rinse off the cleanser. Again, work from top to bottom as you rinse off the house with only water. You do not need to do anything to dry off the house.

Cleaning with a Pressure Washer

1. Choose a nozzle to pressure wash with. Nozzles are typically measured in degrees. The spray is stronger the lower you go in degrees. Choose a low setting if you aren’t familiar with pressure washing. A 40-degree angle is good to start with. You can gradually work down to a 25-degree angle if the 40-degree nozzle isn’t getting the job done.
2. Test the pressure washer on a small section of your house. Pressure washing can do damage to a house, especially if the material the house is made of is weak or has weakened. Spray the pressure washer on a small, hidden part of the house. Switch to a garden hose or call in a professional if you see any damage done by the pressure washer.
3. Spray downward. Begin pressure washing by spraying at a downward angle. Spraying at an upward angle can cause water to get trapped in the cracks or seams, which can cause damage to your house later on.
4. Move the pressure washer from side-to-side. Hold the pressure washer steadily as you pressure wash. Move the pressure washer from side-to-side in a sweeping motion. You should still be holding the pressure washer at a downward angle. Continue until you have cleaned all of the outside of the house.
   • Do not stop at one spot when using the pressure washer—always continue moving. Stopping in one place can cause damage.
5. Move from top to bottom if using a cleanser. Water alone should typically be enough to pressure wash the house, but you will need to wash in a different motion if you’re using a cleaner. Spray from top to bottom if you’re using a cleaner. Rinse off the cleanser with water when you are finished pressure washing.

Tips

• Consider buying extensions and spray tips if you have a two-story home.
• You can buy supplies for cleaning the outside of a house at most home improvement stores, like Home Depot.
• Call a professional if you don’t feel comfortable pressure washing your house on your own.

Warnings

• Don’t pressure wash if your home is made of brick, stucco, or delicate wood shingles.
• Wear safety goggles when using a pressure washer.
• Avoid pressure washing if you have roses or ivy growing near the house.

Things You’ll Need

• Soap
• Scrub brush
• Garden hose
• Nozzle attachment
• Cleanser
• Oxygen bleach
• Pressure washer

Sources and Citations

See also

• Use Borax Around the House
• Make a Sandbox Garden
• Research the History of Your House