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The Benefits of House Washing
Cleaning your house regularly is one of the best ways to keep it clean. It can also prevent mildew and mold from forming on surfaces and protect your home from the elements.
Pressure washing is an effective way to remove dirt, grime, rust, and mildew. However, hiring a professional for house washing is a safer and more efficient option. See our home page.
Exterior
The siding, roof, and eaves of your house protect you from the sun’s harmful rays and outside pollutants. Over time, however, they can also build up a layer of grime that creates a foothold for mold and mildew. Washing the exterior of your home prevents this from happening, and keeps it looking its best.
Brick is another popular material used to build homes, and it adds to a home’s character while offering a durable and long-lasting finish. However, if it isn’t properly cleaned regularly, it can become stained and dingy.
Using a pressure washer, a professional can quickly and efficiently clean dirt, debris, moss, mildew, algae, rust, soot, and other stains off a house’s exterior surfaces. Professionals are able to use a controlled amount of pressure to ensure the safety and integrity of the surface being washed and to avoid damage to landscaping or other property. They will often combine the use of a pressure washer with a special cleaning solution that will easily wash away this buildup and leave the surface of your home sparkling.
Interior
As with the exterior, a professional low-pressure house wash uses special cleaning solutions and a specialized brush to remove any green algae, black mold or mildew, dirt, bird or bug debris, cobwebs, etc. These solutions are then rinsed off with a low water pressure (typically 300 psi). This soft rinsing prevents any damage to your home including pencil stripping, flash oxidation, and chalky residue on door and window seals as well as damage to surface paint.
The cleaning solution used during a house wash is typically 1% to 3% sodium hypochlorite mixed with algaecide detergents. The strength of this mixture depends on the surface materials being cleaned – brick, Hardie siding, Stucco, stone, or vinyl may require a stronger mix than smooth surfaces like shingle roofs. These cleaning solutions are typically harmless to Texas plants and flowers. This method is also more effective and gentle on your windowsills than power washing. Contact your local Shine for a free quote today!
Roof
Depending on your home’s location and surrounding trees, moss and mildew can accumulate on the roof. This can cause leaking and lead to water damage within the home. In addition, this organic matter rots and attracts insects, which can enter your living space.
A professional cleaning company can safely clean your roof using a low-pressure wash and detergents. This process is much safer than pressure washing and doesn’t void your roof’s warranty. It does take longer than pressure washing because the technicians must set up ladders and use harnesses.
Some companies use chlorine bleach to kill the fungi and lighten stains on the roof. This is more effective than manual scrubbing but corrodes metal roof flashings and downspouts, and it can “bleach” anything the runoff comes in contact with. Sodium hydroxide products, on the other hand, are more effective than bleach but can be toxic to plants and corrode concrete. The best choice for a roof is soft washing, which uses soaps and solutions that kill the organisms without damaging your shingles.
Deck
Over time, the deck takes on a gray appearance and a periodic power wash can bring back its original color. Cleaning the deck also helps prevent moss, mildew, and other unwanted growths and protects against further damage from sunlight, rain, snow, birds, animals, and foot traffic.
The first step is to connect the pressure washer hose and make sure it’s cold (remember, standing water in the hose could be hot). You may also want to choose a different spray tip from the one provided with your power washer. Choose one with a moderate angle of spray, since too-high pressure can gouge wood.
Use a brush to remove any large debris. Then, apply a bleach-based cleaner and scrub visibly dirty areas. Finally, rinse the whole deck with a garden hose, making sure not to miss any spots and that all of the cleaner is lifted from the surface. It’s important to rinse promptly to keep the solution from drying, which can cause a film or streaks. Discover more interesting articles.
