With all the lawn maintenance you’ve been doing and the addition of outdoor furniture, your home should be looking pretty great right now and be party ready, just in time for summer! 

Well, not quite. When looking at your home’s walls and other exterior areas, you might find something amiss. Those black streaks and moss overgrowth are to blame for it. Over time, due to weather conditions, dirt, mould, lichen, organic matter and even grease can accumulate and wreak havoc on your home’s exterior. 

Take, for example, the weather in Auckland; with its warm, humid summers and the winters that tend to be damp, a house wash in Auckland is an absolute necessity. 

Why A House Wash Is Important

Aside from improving the aesthetic value, there are many other reasons to wash your house. 

A house wash helps remove that nasty, grimy layer off your home. Mould and algae can feed on the surface paint, ruining that protective layer of your home. 

Due to this, it can also weaken the structural integrity of your home. 

Also, once damage occurs, spores can get into your home, adversely affecting the air quality in your home. Also, the better your house looks on the outside, the better the chances of you finding a new tenant or selling your home. 

How Often You Need A House Wash

In general, a house wash in Auckland once a year should be more than enough. However, the frequency at which your home might need one depends on:

Your Family’s Health

If someone in your home has severe allergies, you should wash your home more often to keep pollen and mould at bay. 

Renovations

If you plan on renovating your home’s exterior, it’s best to have a completely smooth and clean surface for your work.

The Size Of Your Home

The larger the house, the more time it will take – and the more areas you might miss while cleaning. 

Time Of Year

Depending on the weather where you live, you should plan this task, so your house gets a good chance to dry properly. 

For instance, summer and autumn are the best times for a house wash in Auckland. 

Important Events

This goes without saying, but if you’ve got some major events that you will host in your home soon, you should add a house wash to your party prep list. 

If you choose to hire professional home cleaning services (there are plenty of reliable services to hire for a house wash in Auckland!), then you can check with the cleaners on their expert opinion of what frequency your home needs. 

Must Wash Areas Of Your Home

There are essentially five areas that you should make sure that you – or a cleaning service – pay attention to while doing a house wash. Much like the primary rule of house cleaning, let’s start from the top! 

Roof

Besides removing debris, properly cleaning your roof makes your home look better and helps spot any areas of damage to its structure, algae growth, missing shingles or instances where there are critters who’ve chewed up parts of your roofing. 

Roof damage can quickly escalate and bring problems inside your home.

You’ll know it’s time to tackle your roof when you spot black streaks, grime buildup, clogged gutters and a general dowdy appearance.

Siding And Awning

The siding and awning of your home make it look good, protect it from weather conditions, and keep pests away. 

You’ll know it’s time to get your hands dirty (literally!) when you spot;

  • Warped siding and rusty nails.
  • An increase in your cooling and heating costs.
  • Uneven boards.
  • Your awning looks unclean and grungy.
  • Pooling rainwater.
  • It’s become more challenging to open or close your awning.

Patios And Balconies

Patios and balconies are areas of your home that allow you to enjoy the weather outside, host people or even take a relaxing moment for yourself. 

However, since it’s entirely outside, it’s more susceptible to the harsh weather conditions than any other part of your home’s exterior.

Make sure you get to cleaning these areas when you see:

  • Slippery moss and algae spots.
  • Splinters (especially if it’s a wooden patio, deck or balcony).
  • A peculiar new smell due to rot.
  • People have allergic reactions when outside.
  • Discolouration and having these areas appear way dirtier than they should be.

Driveway

Due to the daily traffic of cars, kids and pets playing, and deliveries, your driveway accumulates plenty of grime daily. Aside from this, external factors like wind, falling leaves, rain etc., can make it even dirtier. 

When you wash your driveway, it helps prevent mould growth, makes the driveway less slippery, and makes it easier to spot areas that need repairs. 

Additionally, pressure washing a driveway helps to inhibit weed growth! 

Here’s how you can tell when it’s time to wash your driveway:

  • Your driveway is slippery.
  • It looks overly dry and cracked.
  • There is plenty of visible algae and moss growth.
  • Areas of your driveway look damaged or loosened. 

Fence

Ah, the white picket fence! Sure, it completes the look of a house, but it also acts as a deterrent and helps protect you and your family! 

Depending on the material used to build a fence, there can be many signs of damage that, include:

  • Wood: Without any exterior shell protection, the sun heavily affects wooden fences, and they can begin to rot due to rainy weather. 
  • Vinyl: Though it is weather-resistant, it still needs to be washed to keep it clean and looking good.
  • When you spot cracking, bending, mould spots, signs of rot and chipping, it’s probably time to wash the fence.

Unlike many other home cleaning tasks, a house wash is difficult and requires a lot of skill and knowledge. If this is your first time doing this, or you do not have the tools to get the job done properly, hiring professionals is the safer option. 

At NexDo, we have the know-how, tools and solutions to give your home a thorough cleaning – at any convenient time!