How to Clean the Exterior of Your House Like a Pro

Even when you have a firm grasp on how to clean the inside of your house, tackling the exterior can feel like a massive undertaking if you're new to the process. But this is not just about winning the "prettiest house on the block award." Keeping your siding, windows, roof, and porch clean can prolong the safety, stability, and yes, the beauty, of your home for years to come. Learn how to do exterior house cleaning from top to bottom in this step-by-step guide.

Why Clean the Exterior of Your Home?

Learning how to clean the exterior of your home is just as important as deep cleaning or decluttering the inside. Not only does a good cleaning make your home look inviting, but it also ensures its health and stability.

Think about the forces of nature your home faces throughout the year. Rain, snow, leaves, and fallen branches can accumulate on the roof and in the gutters. Mold, mildew, moss, and even pests build up on your roof and siding. Here are some reasons why you should learn how to clean the outside of your house on a regular basis.

• Remove mold and mildew

• Clear out clogged gutters

• Dislodge pests and nests 

• Reveal areas that require repairs

• Prolong the life of your siding, gutters, and roofing

• Avoid potential water and mold damage

6 Ways to Clean the Exterior of Your House

Understanding how to wash the exterior of a house will typically involve knowing which parts of a house can be power washed. The power washer will be your best friend for hard-to-reach areas and stubborn mildew. We recommend starting by investigating the materials of your roof, gutters, and siding. Not all can handle the high water pressure or hard cleaners, so it's best to do your research before jumping in.

Clean the Roof

When you clean an interior room, you know the age-old rule: start with the top and work your way down. The same rule applies when working outside. By starting with the top of your house, any debris that falls below can be cleaned up in the later stages.

We recommend bringing in a roof inspector before you get started, especially if you haven't had it looked at in over a year. The cost of a roof inspection can run between $75 and $800, vastly depending on its size and condition.

Algae, mold, and fungus have a habit of building up on and underneath some shingles. Over time, these unwanted visitors can break down the strength of your shingles and eaves.

Due to the height and complexity of this part of the process, we recommend hiring a roof cleaner if necessary. These pros will choose the right hose pressure and cleaning materials—and all the while keep you safely on the ground.

Clean the Gutters

The next step in your exterior house cleaning is to move on to the ever-important job of cleaning your gutters. Gutters become clogged throughout the year, not just in the fall. It's crucial to keep gutters clear to prevent leaks in your roof and overflooding around your foundation down below.

Here's what you'll need:

• Sturdy ladder

• Plastic bucket or garbage bag

• Work gloves 

• Hose

• Straightened clothes hanger

Begin by finding safe access to your gutters with your ladder—or hire a pro to do this safely for you. Avoid leaning your ladder against the gutters themselves, as the pressure can damage them. If it's the only option, use a ladder stabilizer or gutter guard for more stability. Always ensure your ladder is large enough for the job and placed on even ground before attempting to ascend.

Clear away all debris from your gutters and place it in the light plastic bucket or garbage bag as you go. Use a hose to then check the flow of your downspouts. If there is a clog, delicately use the straightened clothes hanger to remove debris.

If heights make you nervous or you are concerned about safety, you'll spend an average of $160 for a professional gutter cleaning.

Clean Your Siding

Removing the dirt, cobwebs, and algae from your home's siding is one of the most satisfying stages of the exterior house cleaning process. Consider cleaning or hiring a pro to clean siding about every 12 to 18 months to keep your home looking fresh.

Choose Your Cleaning Solution

Your cleaning method comes down to your siding material and how dirty it is. In most cases, you can remove basic dirt and soot with warm water and a mild soap. Low-maintenance types of siding, such as vinyl or fiber cement, are less likely to mind hard solutions than, say, wood siding.  Dealing with algae and mold? You'll need a mild bleach-based cleaner. Your hardware store will likely sell a specific solution for your home's siding, whether it be vinyl, wood, stucco, or brick.

To Pressure Wash or Not to Pressure Wash

Pressure washing is not ideal for all materials. When turned up too high, pressure washers can damage wood, brick, and even some vinyl. Stick with a low-pressure setting when doing this yourself to be safe.

Remember to stay away from windows, eaves, and soffits to avoid damaging these areas with the cleaning solution and pressurized water.

Has it been a few years since your siding got a good bubble bath? Call in the pressure washing professionals for between $100 and $650.

Focus on the Windows and Shutters

Use an extendable pole to clean the outside of your windows with a soft sponge or brush. Warm water and a few drops of dish soap should do the job. For tougher layers of soot and grime, use a solution of one-part vinegar and 10-parts water or a store-bought window cleaner on the back of your sponge.

Be sure to spend time on the window frames and any decorative elements surrounding them, such as exterior shutters. These are favorite hiding places for spider webs and other bugs, as well as mold and algae.

Expect to pay around $200 for professional window cleaning services for both inside and out.

Spruce Up the Porch

Be sure to give your outdoor living space some special love during the exterior home cleaning process, as this will likely be the first place you settle down to marvel at your newly cleaned home.

Start cleaning your deck by removing all furniture, dog toys, and lawn tools to properly sweep and clear away debris. Use a soft-bristled brush and a cleaning solution of your choice, depending on your porch material. 

For example, just like the side of your house, a dish-soap-and-water solution will do the trick for basic cleaning. For algae and mold, opt for an oxygen-bleach cleaner.

Rinse the deck with a garden hose to remove all soap and cleaning solution. Pressure washers are not ideal for painted porches, as they'll remove the paint over time.

Finish With the Pavement

Now that you've reached the ground level of your house, don't forget the paths, patios, and driveway. Cleaning pavers takes a little extra care, especially if you have a few leftover grease spots from the summer barbecue.

Use the same long-handled mop from your porch to add a soapy solution to your pavers, letting any grease spots soak before rinsing. Add a power-washer attachment to your garden hose for particularly dirty pavers, otherwise, a good scrub and rinse should do the trick for regular cleaning.

If you have major grease stains on your asphalt driveway, remove them with a commercial-grade degreaser before cleaning with a pressure washer. 

Professional power washing jobs cost between $185 and $385, so it could be beneficial to call in the pressure-washing pros for an annual deep clean.

Tips for Cleaning Your Home’s Exterior

It may seem daunting to learn how to clean your home’s exterior without giving up a good chunk of time for the job. Moving carefully–and one section at a time–makes the job very DIY friendly. Here are some safety tips to help you when cleaning the exterior of your home:

• Before you begin, decide which tasks you will DIY. Call in a pro if you find you’re in over your head once you begin. 

• If it's been a while since your last wash, hire a local roof and home inspector to check for damages before you spray the surfaces with a power washer. 

• Clean after the pollen season in the spring or after the leaves fall in the autumn.

• Address pest problems before cleaning to avoid disrupting nests.

• Double-check that your cleaners will not damage your home's exterior finishes.

• Recruit a friend or family member to assist with ladders and the tough scrubbing.

• Determine a cleaning schedule, particularly how often to pressure wash your house based on local climate factors.

DIY vs. Hiring a Pro to Clean the Exterior of Your Home

Before you fire up the pressure washer or climb up to your gutters: here's an important note. Some exterior house cleaning projects are easy and cost-effective to DIY, others not so much. Any time extreme heights, electricity, or structural questions come to mind, it's best to get the pros in there for a look.

In each of the categories above, we explained the cost of doing each project yourself vs. hiring a local pressure washing team or a home cleaner for the job.