Summer is slowly winding down, and the accumulated dust, pollen, and other debris of another lively growing season has accumulated on and in your home. The end of summer is the ideal time for deep cleaning many parts of your home to prepare yourself for fall and winter.
Now is the perfect time for major cleaning projects involving water since the lingering warmth of August and September prevent freezing temperatures from interfering with your plans. Before fall leaves begin to litter your yard, make sure to take care of these six essential home cleaning projects.
1. Power Wash the Home’s Exterior
Your home’s exterior is constantly affected by contaminants, such as dust, dirt, mold, algae, air pollution, and other debris that can cause it to look older than its true age. You may have just invested in painting or new siding a few years ago, but if you haven’t been keeping up with an annual power wash visit, it may be hard to tell that you recently invested in home improvement. Soft washing procedures remove all the stubborn dirt clinging to your roof, siding, bricks, and other exterior surfaces for a fresh and clean look with no damage. Don’t try to handle this task on your own since even a slight mistake in the water pressure setting can lead to costly damage.
Get more helpful tips on How to Clean Different Types of Home Exteriors.
2. Clean and Check the Gutters
Clean and clear gutters are essential for dealing with late summer and fall rainstorms, not to mention directing melting snow away from your roof. Some homeowners assume they don’t need to clean their gutters until after fall ends and their trees are bare. However, summer storms deposit plenty of debris in your gutters over the course of a few months. Waiting until there are fall leaves accumulating too will only greatly increase the chances of a damaging roof leak due to a clogged gutter or downspout. Give your gutters a quick check to make sure they’re still properly attached to the eaves and sloping correctly while you’re up there cleaning them, or let a professional handle both jobs.
3. Wash the Windows
No matter how often you clean your windows from inside the home, you still need to follow up with at least an annual exterior washing as well to maintain a sparkling clear view. Even windows that look clean often become surprisingly clear after a thorough exterior washing. Yet reaching the exterior of windows located on second stories, or even just high on the wall of a single-story home, can make this job a serious hassle.
A low-pressure, PURE WATER (state of the art water-fed-pole system) wash is the ideal way to clean window exteriors because even the largest and highest windows can be cleaned in mere minutes with no streaking or water spots. Don’t fuss with cleaning tools with extendable handles that will leave your shoulders sore the next day when we can quickly handle the cleaning of the entire home exterior without risking damage.
Get answers to All Your Questions on How to Make Your Windows Shine.
4. Deep Clean the Carpets
Carpets are wonderful for quieting indoor noise and warming your toes, but they also trap a lot of dirt over the course of a busy summer. Add in pets and kids and you’re living with a literal sponge in your floor that is likely dirtier than you think. Even daily vacuuming can’t get everything.
Rent a steam cleaning machine or hire a dry cleaning service to get rid of every last bit of dust lingering between the fibers. Clean carpeting leads to better air quality over the fall and winter when it’s hard to open a window for a daily airing out.
5. Clear Out the Air Ducts
If there’s dust gathering on your home’s exterior and between the carpet fibers, what do you think is lurking inside your air ducts? Even if you’ve been running your air conditioner all summer long, you should invest in duct cleaning before switching to heating for the winter. Since most homeowners try to avoid opening the windows wide in the winter to exchange stale air for fresh, air quality is even more reliant on clean ducts. At least have your ducts inspected to see how dusty they are before assuming they’re ready for the winter heating season.
6. Power Wash the Deck, Patio Furniture & Driveway
Driveways and decks boost your curb appeal, but only if they’re clean and new looking. Many homeowners assume that the fading or changing color of their decks and driveways are inevitable and are shocked to see how new their exterior looks after a single pressure washing visit. Don’t forget to follow up with the right wood or concrete sealant after cleaning to keep the surface protected over the fall and winter. While you’re at it, wash down the outdoor furniture and get it ready to store for the winter.
Get more valuable seasonal home maintenance advice from Trotta’s: Essential Fall Deck Maintenance and Avoid Clogged Gutters with Power Washing.
Ready to polish up your home’s exterior before fall arrives? Want to enjoy the last bit of summer rather than slaving away in the heat with home maintenance projects? Schedule a visit from us here at Trotta’s Power Washing and we’ll have your home sparkling in no time.