How to Spring Clean The Exterior of Your House

Make your home shine from every angle, whether you're hosting or selling, with our spring cleaning checklist. This guide is dedicated to refreshing your outdoor surfaces and fixtures, so continue reading to learn how to keep your exteriors in shape.

Before you start cleaning, we recommend completing the following tasks:

• Check the warranty and care instructions for any items you own, and follow the suggested cleaning methods.
• When working with harsh chemicals and pressure washers, always wear goggles, gloves, a facemask, boots, and ear protection.*
• Block off your work area so curious kids and pets can't wander in by mistake.

*NOTE: Some of the cleaning methods below include bleach. If you prefer a natural alternative, we recommend undistilled white vinegar.

Instructions

Step 1: Do a preliminary rinse with the garden hose to remove debris.
Step 2: In your sprayer, mix half a cup of bleach and two tablespoons of dish soap per gallon of warm water.
Step 3: Working in sections, spray the siding with the bleach mixture, then scrub it in with the brush.
Step 4: Let the solution soak for five minutes, then rinse the area with the garden hose.
Step 5: Repeat Steps 3 and 4 on the rest of the siding.

Instructions

Step 1: Rinse the brick with the garden hose to remove dirt and debris, then let it air-dry.
Step 2: Mix one tablespoon of bleach per gallon of warm water in your sprayer.
Step 3: Working from the top down, spray a small section with the bleach mixture.

Step 4: Scrub the area with the brush, then hose it down with clean water.

Step 5: Repeat Steps 3 and 4 on the remaining sections.

Instructions

Step 1: Inspect the wood for damage or rot and repair these areas before cleaning.
Step 2: Rinse the siding with the garden hose to remove dust and dirt.
Step 3: Mix equal parts water and vinegar in the pump sprayer.
Step 4: Starting at the top and working down, spray the vinegar mixture onto a small section.
Step 5: Scrub the area with the brush, then hose it off with clean water.
Step 6: Repeat Steps 4 and 5 on the rest of the siding.

Instructions

Step 1: Check the stucco for cracks or chips. Seal them with caulk and apply a layer of sand to blend with the texture.
Step 2: Once the caulk is dry, hose off the siding to remove loose dirt and debris.
Step 3: In the sprayer, mix half a cup of Borax and two tablespoons of dish soap per two gallons of water.
Step 4: Working from the top down, spray a small section with the solution and scrub it in with the brush.
Step 5: Let the siding soak for 10 minutes, then rinse the area with the garden hose.
Step 6: Repeat Steps 4 and 5 on the rest of the stucco.

Instructions

Step 1: Rinse the siding with the garden hose.
Step 2: Mix 70% water and 30% vinegar in the sprayer.
Step 3: Working from the top down, spray a section of siding with the vinegar solution and scrub it in with the brush.
Step 4: Rinse the area with the hose, then repeat on the rest of the siding.
Step 5: (Optional) Apply a paste made from baking soda and dish soap to tough stains.
Step 6: (Optional) Scrub the area with the brush, rinse, and repeat where necessary.

Refresh your doors, windows, and light fixtures with our cleaning steps.

Instructions

Step 1: Remove loose dirt with the vacuum.
Step 2: Mix soap and water in a bucket.
Step 3: Scrub the door’s surface and fixtures with the sponge.
Step 4: Rinse the area with the hose.
Step 5: Thoroughly towel-dry all surfaces.

Instructions

Step 1: Mix warm water and vinegar in the spray bottle.
Step 2: Spritz the glass with the vinegar solution.
Step 3: Wipe the glass with the squeegee or cloth, moving from top to bottom.

Instructions

Step 1: Fill the steam cleaner with distilled water and turn it on.
Step 2: Line window sills with towels to catch runoff.
Step 3: Spray the glass in long side-to-side passes.
Step 4: Wipe off moisture with the cloth, working from top to bottom.

Instructions

Step 1: Turn off the circuit breakers to the light fixtures.
Step 2: Mix dish soap into one of the buckets of water.
Step 3: Use the screwdriver to remove the glass and plastic covers and soak them in soapy water. Set all other parts aside.
Step 4: Cover sockets with masking tape and remove debris with the paintbrush.
Step 5: Scrub the loose parts and components you can't remove with the sponge and soapy water, then carefully wipe them with a damp cloth.
Step 6: Rinse the covers with clean water.
Step 7: Towel-dry everything.
Step 8: Remove the masking tape from the sockets, reassemble the fixtures, and turn the circuit breakers back on.

Refresh your home’s exterior floors with these easy cleaning methods.

Instructions

Step 1: Remove dirt, leaves, and debris with the broom or leaf blower.
Step 2: Rinse your deck with clean water.
Step 3: Mix one cup of vinegar for every gallon of water in the bucket.
Step 4: Working from the top down, scrub the vinegar solution into the railings, balusters, and floorboards with the brush.
Step 5: Rinse all surfaces with the garden hose and let the deck dry completely.

Instructions

Step 1: Remove debris with the broom or leaf blower.
Step 2: Spray down the surface with your garden hose.
Step 3: Mix baking soda and vinegar into the bucket of water.
Step 4: Pour the vinegar mixture onto the concrete, covering all areas evenly.
Step 5: Let the concrete soak for several hours (or overnight).
Step 6: Scour the floor with the nylon brush.
Step 7: Hose down the concrete and let the area air-dry.

Instructions

Step 1: Clear away leaves and dirt with the broom or leaf blower.

Step 2: Mix dish soap into the bucket of water.

Step 3: Scrub the soapy water onto the floorboards using the brush.

Step 4: Rinse the area with your garden hose and let it air-dry.

• When cleaning wood, scrub with the grain to prevent damage.
• Never use a wire brush on concrete; it can leave rust stains and scratches.
• Vinyl siding can melt when repeatedly exposed to extreme heat, so place grills, smokers, and fire pits far from your home's exterior.
• To keep doors and windows operating smoothly, periodically apply a small amount of silicone-based lubricant to the hardware.
• Regularly vacuum or wipe window tracks to prevent insects, dirt, and grime from creating blockages.
• Poke holes in a small plastic sandwich bag and fill it with nutmeg, bay leaves, and caraway seeds. Hide the bag near your light fixtures to repel insects.
• Protect metal light fixtures from oxidation by applying a thin coat of non-abrasive liquid polish or car wax.

• Choose non-chlorine bleach over the chlorinated versions—it’s gentler on surfaces and better for the environment.
• Do not steam-clean glass when it's cold outside. The extreme temperature changes can cause the glass to crack.
• Avoid harsh chemicals or abrasives on delicate surfaces like glass, brick, stucco, lacquer-coated brass, etc.
• ALWAYS turn off circuit breakers to any fixtures that run on electricity before cleaning them.
• Use scaffolding when cleaning siding, as it’s safer and more convenient than a ladder. If you don’t have access to scaffolding, have another person steady the ladder while you work.

That being said, pressure washing is ideal for deep cleaning sessions. When your house needs extra TLC, a pressure washer will make quick work of tough stains, old lead paint, mold, mildew, and other issues that soft washing can't handle.