Make Your Home More Inviting by Doing Some Exterior Cleaning

First Impressions Matter

You can't judge a book by its cover, but first impressions tend to be lasting ones. Your home's exterior is the first thing people see, and more importantly, many of its features are an integral part of your home's structure. Therefore, it's important to maintain the outside of your home. A fresh, clean exterior not only makes your home more inviting but also makes it safer and more enjoyable for your family. With the following tips and advice, you can keep your home's exterior in top condition all year round.

Outdoor Cleaning Essentials

As with indoor cleaning, outdoor cleaning is important for safety as well as appearance. Exterior features such as gutters and chimneys serve important functions and can pose a danger to you and your family if not properly maintained.

Gutters divert rain water away from your home, protecting it from leaks and expensive water damage. However, they also provide the perfect place for leaves and other debris to collect. Gutter cleaning should be undertaken at least once a year to remove this debris and ensure that rain water (and, in certain climates, melting ice and snow) is carried away from your home, keeping you dry. Siding cleaning is important as well.

Another great way to stay warm and dry on a rainy day is with a wood-burning fireplace. These require chimneys for proper ventilation. Over time, soot, ash, smoke residue and other buildup can accumulate inside of the chimney shaft, inhibiting air flow. This is a fire hazard and may also affect indoor air quality. Proper chimney cleaning eliminates such hazards, keeping your family safe.

Windows are an essential part of any home, providing a view of the outside while acting as a barrier between your home and the elements, including dirt, smog and bugs. Unfortunately, these can take a toll, leaving your windows grimy and speckled with dirt. Washing exterior windows once or twice a year (at least) will help keep your home's exterior fresh and its interior bright.

Gutter and window cleaning can be DIY projects, with the proper tools and safety equipment. Pressure washers also make these jobs fairly easy for the average homeowner. Chimney cleaning is best performed by a professional chimney sweep or chimney cleaning company.