GFWC Indiana - Cleaning & Home Improvement

We all know how important it is to maintain our home’s exterior. Neglect can lead to costly premature repairs and renovations of the building materials that make up our home. Dirt, mildew, mold, and algae can decay and rot building materials. Regular cleaning will stop the damaging effects of these contaminants and save you money in the long run. This alone is a well enough reason to invest in regular house cleaning maintenance.

Besides the savings on costly future repairs, house cleaning will also improve the curb appeal of your home and property which will directly increase the value of your home. It is a fact that improved curb appeal will increase value, this makes house cleaning and other pressure washing services well worth the investment. It has said that a better first impression of your home can add as much as 5 to 10 percent of value to the home.

For those planning on putting their home on the market, house cleaning and pressure washing services can set your home apart from the competition (other homes for sale). The cleaning investment could be the reason your home sells before another home. Not cleaning up the exterior of the home can lead to lesser offers on the home and can even create deal breakers. Let’s say for example that your roof has black streaks on it and you neglect to have it low pressure cleaned before listing your home. Now even though the roof is not bad but is just in need of a cleaning, most people do not know this. The majority of people will pull up and instantly proclaim that the roof needs replaced. This could result in an offer of thousands of dollars less or could even deter people from making an offer at all.

Unfortunately, this happens all the time. The sad fact is that most of the time it happens, the sellers are not even aware of who walked away or why someone offered way less but it happened regardless of the reasoning. This scenario alone costs home sellers thousands of dollars without even realizing it. A simple low pressure cleaning done by professional power washers would have yielded them 10 times more than the cost of the cleaning. If people only realized this, it would be a no brain-er for them. It isn’t just roofs but the siding, concrete, decks, fences, and other surfaces around the home that could be cleaned.

When you think of house cleaning you normally think of maid services for the inside of your home. But also consider the exterior of your home. House washing is sometimes referred to as house cleaning. A nice clean inside gives you a good feeling and improves your quality of life. But having the outside of your house cleaned can give you the same great feeling and have other benefits as well.

Exterior house cleaning can increase your home’s curb appeal and will boost your home’s value. Cleaning dirt, mold, and mildew off the house siding and gutters can greatly improve the appearance of your home which raises home value. Not only will it put money in your pocket through added value, it will save you money as well.

House cleaning will stop the negative effects of contaminants like dirt, mold, and mildew. These contaminants can rot and decay the building materials that make up your home costly you expensive premature repairs and replacements. Raised value and cutting renovation costs is a great recipe for a good investment. Exterior house cleaning is a great bang for your buck when it comes to home improvement projects, if not the best.

The key to a successful house cleaning is to find a reputable professional house cleaning company in your area. Find a company that has been in business for a number of years and that has a good sized customer base and testimonials. Find a house cleaning company that cleans houses full time as opposed to a weekend warrior type company if you want the best house cleaning results.

A great way to grow your own plants and flowers for a more appealing landscape around your home is with a garden greenhouse. No matter where you live or what time of year it is, you can enjoy your gardening hobby. You can maintain your greenhouse with a few simple cleaning tips. Mold and mildew are prone to grow in humid climates so a regular cleaning is necessary. Recommended cleaning is at least once a year for the best results.

You can rent or borrow a pressure washer if you do not own one. Remove all your plants and flowers from the garden greenhouse. Because of this, it might be best to do this during the time of year that your inventory is the lowest. Mix up a mild solution of bleach cut in half with water and a quarter cup of dish soap in a five gallon jug. Apply the cleaning solution to the infected areas with a brush or pump up sprayer and allow it to dwell for several minutes.

Hook a water source to the pressure washer and follow the directions for starting. Wash the areas that were treated with the cleaner and rinse well. Be sure to rinse the grass and surrounding area with clean water. If your greenhouse is small enough you can flip it over to allow it to air dry. For bigger garden greenhouses, leave all possible doors and window open so it can fully dry, you do not want a humid bleach smell in your greenhouse.

Once it is completely dry your greenhouse it clean and ready for use again. Gardening can be a fun hobby that you can enjoy with a portable greenhouse. They are sold in many shapes and sizes to fit your gardening needs in your desired area. They have come a long way in quality and durability and when taken care of, can last for years to come.

For most homeowners washing the entire house or restoring a wooden deck may be a little too overwhelming but there are some good jobs for a consumer grade pressure washer around the house. Small areas of concrete or brick pavers can be cleaned using a small pressure washer, like a sidewalk, walkway, or patio without too much problem. A large driveway may be another story unless you just clean a little bit at a time, it can be quite tedious.

Outdoor patio furniture is also a good weekend job for the do it yourself homeowner. Tables and chairs that have sat outdoors for some time will collect dirt, mold, and mildew and will eventually need cleaned. A little soap and bleach mix can be applied using a soft brush. Let that dwell for a few minutes and then wash the furniture with the pressure washer to make it look new again.

Glass tables should be rinsed well so the bleach does not etch the glass. Even soft cushioned outdoor patio furniture can be cleaned this way without harming the surface. You may need to turn the pressure down a little on the cushions or just keep the pressure stream a safe distance away while washing your outdoor patio cushions. The green mold and black mildew will turn brown once the bleach hits them and the rest is just a simple wash with the washer to restore its appearance.

Depending on your geographical climate, outdoor patio furniture, sidewalks, dog houses, grills, sheds, and other small objects should be cleaned yearly. A regular maintenance program will increase the longevity of your property and belongings saving you money in the long run. If you do hire a professional to wash your house, deck, or driveway it is possible that they can add in some of the other small items that you want washed as well. It shouldn’t cost much as they are already there working anyway.

Washing a house is not rocket science but it does take some knowledge of equipment, methods, and house cleaners used in order to give you the best results possible. Many people wash their own homes but do not get the results that a professional house washing company would deliver. We have seen homeowners only wash the bottom half of their two story house year after year. The upper parts of the house get neglected to the point that when they do call a professional, it may cost them more to have it cleaned and it may not clean up as well as the bottom portion.

The biggest problem with DIY house washing, is that most homeowners are not going to use contractor grade house cleaners. Most will but some cheap big box store house wash or just use nothing at all. The house wash sold to consumers has to be safe to handle, unfortunately this makes it pretty worthless as far as actually cleaning your house siding.

Not house detergent at all and cleaning the home with just pressure and water is not going to kill any mold or mildew which means it will grow back within a short time. This is why homeowners that do clean their own home will do it every single year. If it was done correctly, it should stay clean for a couple of years depending on the climate. In more northern states, like Indiana, a house should definitely stay clean for up to 2 years when cleaned correctly.

Most people believe that proper way to clean house siding with a pressure washer is to blast the heck out of the surface. After all, it is called a “pressure” washer, right? This is the biggest mistake we see people doing. High pressure is not necessary and actually it not recommended on vinyl siding. He can mark up the siding and force water under the lip causing water intrusion in the home. Low pressure washing with the right house cleaners will give better results that will last longer. This is where a professional pressure washing company can help. Be sure they use the low pressure methods discussed and it will be worth hiring them to do the work for you.

With leaves turning color and falling off the trees many people are thinking about getting their gutters cleaned. Having free flowing gutters going into winter is very important. With freezing and thawing all winter long your gutters need to be in good working order. Clogged gutters will build up with ice. Ice dams can grow larger and larger over the long winter to the point where the begin to lift your roof shingles and heave the roof itself.

Water expands as it freezes and is extremely strong, it can even bust steal. Ice has no problem buckling your roofing material or even causing your gutters to come loose or fall down completely. It is important that your gutters are free of any debris before winter, meaning that you should have them cleaned sometime in mid to late fall after most of the leaves have fallen.

A great idea is to couple gutter cleaning services with another service that is offered by cleaning professionals. For example, you might find a great deal on having your entire house washed in the fall and having the gutters cleaned at the same time. Roof cleaning, house washing, and gutter cleaning are great services to get in the fall because of the great deals. With most pressure washing contractor’s season coming to an end it can be very beneficial for you to capitalize on some great year end deals.

House washing professionals will also do a much better job than some handyman that may not even carry insurance. Hiring a professional is always the best bet, remember that you get what you pay for and hiring a company that is fully insured and does the type of services that you are looking is going to be the best choice. If someone that is not insured falls off your roof it can be a lawsuit that you didn’t see coming. Always hire an insured ethical and reputable company to avoid any issues.

A lot of people ask when is a good time to get my house washed. Many people get their house washed during the spring as warm weather and rain start to sprout new growth. It is a busy time of the year for most contractors regardless of the line of work they are in. On average, May is typically the busiest time of year for most any service contractor.

The second busiest month for most contractors providing residential services, and this goes for pressure washing contractors in the Midwest, may surprise you. It is September when the weather starts to cool and leaves start thinking about changing color. A lot of people decide to have their houses washed in the Fall as well as in the Spring. Both have their benefits but one of the main reasons people get it done in the Fall is because they have simply procrastinated all summer about it.

Some homeowners may not even realize it at the time but with most pressure washing contractor’s year coming to an end, they may be a little more prone to give a discount or a good deal. Also a good reason to get the house washed in the Fall is that you can get the gutters cleaned out at the same time so they are flowing good for winter. Clogged gutters during winter can cause ice dams and roofing damage.

In states like Indiana that see a lot of snow during the winter houses remain clean and still look like new when spring hits. So instead of feeling like you are waiting till the last minute on a Fall house wash look at it like you are getting ahead of the spring to do list for next year. Other services like roof cleaning, deck cleaning, and concrete cleaning are also available through the Fall months as long as the high temperatures remain around 50 degrees or so.

How often your vinyl siding needs cleaned is really dependant upon the area you live and the climate. Homes that are further south in the warmer and more humid climate tend to need cleaned every year or so. Homes further north are more commonly washed every one to two years depending on the situation.

The most commonly used cleaner for vinyl siding cleaning is a mix of bleach and soap, not only is this combination very effective, it is recommended by the Vinyl Siding Institute (VSI). The bleach will kill and remove things like mold, algae, and mildew and the soap will clean any dirt and grime. In combination, at the right ratio, this recipe will do a great job on vinyl siding without harming it.

When using the proper cleaners as described earlier, there is no need for extremely high pressure. Too many people are under the impression that because they are using a “pressure” washer they have to blast the siding. This is not true at all and actually does more damage than good. Too much pressure will produce wand marks on the siding, can force water behind the siding, and will blow out window seals. High pressure is just not necessary when using the proper cleaners.

An average home can be washed by a professional in about 2-3 hours with excellent results. With today’s equipment there is no need for scaffolding or lifts if the home is 3 stories or less and ladder work can be minimal. With the proper equipment vinyl siding cleaners and chemicals can be applied at a 40 to 50 foot distance. The cleaners are then allowed to dwell before performing a wash/rinse method starting from the top down. A good amount of water flow is necessary for this to work at low pressures, only a commercial grade power washer that is setup for this type of low pressure washing will be adequate.

It is worth noting that it may be necessary to get up on a step ladder at a fair distance away from the house so that the water stream is at a flatter trajectory to the vinyl siding. This will keep water from penetrating under the bottom lip of each lap. Water intrusion can occur when leaning an extension ladder directly against the house and spraying high pressure at a severe upward angle, not to mention it is very dangerous.

Cleaning vinyl siding can be done efficiently and very effectively with the proper equipment. The old school ways of using high pressure, ladders against the house, scaffolding, and taking all weekend to do it are over. Professional contractors that are involved in the industry and that keep up with industry standards do not use these caveman like methods anymore. Like with any industry, methods and results are always evolving for the benefit of both the professional vinyl siding cleaning contractor and the homeowner.