From gutters to chimneys!
Here’s How Often You Should Clean Every Part of Your House Exterior
Updated on Sep. 30, 2024
Exterior Cleaning
Cleaning the exterior of your house is no fun task. It can be grimy, gross or even downright dangerous to scrape gunk out of the gutters or sweep out the chimney. However, doing so ensures the long-term wellbeing of your house, as well as all the people who live there. To help prevent home disasters—and homeowner procrastination—here’s exactly how frequently you should clean the different parts of your house’s exterior.
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Gutters
According to gutter-cleaning company Rain Gutter Pros, gutters typically need to be cleaned twice a year, for example, in spring and fall. However, if your house is especially surrounded by trees, you should increase that number, such as to once per season.
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Roof
Bill Ragan Roofing suggests getting your roof cleaned annually. You may be able to stretch this out to once every two years, depending on the condition of your roof. You’ll know it’s time to get your roof cleaned and inspected professionally if you see any of the following on it:
- Piles of leaves or sticks
- Moss or algae
- Dirt
- Animal droppings
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Siding
How often to clean your siding depends on the materials used. American Weather Techs recommends pressure-washing vinyl siding every couple of years, unless you see obvious dirt or mildew buildup. In those cases, clean it once a year.
If you have fiber cement siding, do not pressure-wash it! Instead, clean it with a cloth and mild cleanser every six months. Finally, if your house has wood siding, check it often for mold growth and clean it every six months. It will also need to be repainted every couple years.
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Windows
Top Care Cleaning explains that the outside of windows should be cleaned at least twice or three times per year. You can do this yourself or hire a professional cleaner. If you’d like to clean your windows yourself, you’ll need a sponge, squeegee, bucket, liquid detergent and cloths.
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Deck or Patio
Cleaning a deck or patio is a two-step process. First, says Architectural Digest, you should mop the deck once a month to remove obvious dirt or drink spills. In addition, you should fully pressure-wash your deck or patio every year or 18 months, according to Garden Gate. Performing both of these cleaning tasks ensures that your patio is well maintained, reducing slippage, allergens and other risk hazards.
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Chimney
Finally, no matter how often you use your fireplace, a chimney should be inspected annually, says Northeastern Chimney LLC. Make sure the inspector checks venting systems, stove systems and furnaces flues as well. The inspector will be able to tell you if the chimney needs to be cleaned or repaired in any way. In general, chimney inspecting companies recommend cleaning your chimney annually, after the inspection.
