GFWC Indiana - Cleaning & Home Improvement

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.

When you think of house cleaning you might not think about the exterior of your home, but exterior house cleaning is just as important as cleaning the interior. House cleaning done right, by a professional, will increase the value of your home. Increased curb appeal directly affects the value of a home and cleaning up the exterior of the house is a surefire way of increasing curb appeal.

House cleaning is a project that is best left to a professional. Many inexperienced power washing operators and weekend warriors have damage vinyl siding and caused water intrusion. The proper house cleaning chemicals, methods, and equipment are a must in doing an effective and efficient job.

For most homeowners, professional exterior house cleaning services are very affordable considering the return on the investment. You can not really put a price on increased curb appeal and home value. Vinyl siding, asphalt shingle roofs, sidewalks, driveways, and decks are just a few examples of surfaces that can benefit from a professional cleaning.

Just remember that house cleaning the outside of your home and property is just as important as cleaning the inside. House cleaning the exterior of your home is a great investment and can give you the best bang for your buck when it comes to home improvements. Search online for a local professional exterior house cleaning contractor in your area.

Those that have been affected by the current economic conditions are cutting back on large purchases like family vacations and such. This spring break, some have chosen to take a quick weekend get away as opposed to a week long extravagant vacation. This means people are around the house and yard a little bit more and because they’ve saved a couple thousand dollars by not splurging on a big vacation or other wants, spending a little money to have the exterior of the house cleaned is no big deal.

At home services like carpet cleaning, landscaping, house cleaning, and pressure washing can actually flourish during a recession. Companies that can weather the storm usually come out looking good once the dust settles. The trick is to be a strong enough company that people can see the value in your services. If you have always presented professionalism, delivered quality, and have outstanding customer service than you have done things right to make it through tough times.

Exterior house cleaning services are probably one of the best returns on the homeowners investment. A fresh clean house, roof, deck, and driveway can really boost a home’s curb appeal and overall value. Homeowners will not loose money with cleaning maintenance. House cleaning and pressure washing services can add up to 5-10 percent of value to the home. House cleaning services will also save the homeowner expensive future repairs and replacements that can be caused by neglect.

During a recession people cut back on wants but understand how important it is to take care of the things they have. People become more possessive and feel more proud of what they have, they are more grateful even if it is subconsciously. Because of this gratefulness, they feel more obligated to take care of the house, car, yard, and even their health. Providing a useful and valuable house cleaning or other service can be the perfect prescription for an economy that is a little under the weather.

Cleaning and maintaining a vinyl siding home is an important part of home maintenance. A clean home is worth more than the same home that is neglected. Curb appeal is everything, a good first impression can literally increase a home’s value by 5 to 10 percent. It is so important these days to take care of the things we have, especially your home which is probably your largest investment.

The best way to get and keep a clean exterior is to hire a professional house washing service company. A reputable pressure washing service company can clean your home’s siding and put you on a maintenance plan to come out every year or two. This will mean you will have a nice clean home all the time, it will never get to a neglected or overly filthy point again.

A quality pressure washing service company will use safe low pressure methods coupled with effective contractor grade house cleaners. Using the right house cleaners is especially important so that the house is not only clean, but that all the mold, mildew, and algae are killed so they do not return any time soon. Just blasting the siding with hot water and/or high pressure will not clean effectively or kill these contaminants; allowing them to grow right back again.

Finding a good quality pressure washing service company is essential to a quality job done right that will last for a year or more. Some companies may even offer a guarantee or warranty on their work. Some warn against hiring lawn care or painting companies that happen to own a pressure washer. A pressure washer alone is not enough in delivering effective results. The proper equipment, knowledge, methods, and cleaners all play a part in giving a premium house washing service. Be sure you find a full time house washing company so you can get the results you expect.

With the current slow down in the housing market, it is more essential than ever to keep your house clean and clutter free when trying to sell. To give you a helping hand and some motivation, here are some tips to making your house market friendly.

Wash all the windows inside and out. If you can’t reach all the outside windows then consider hiring a window cleaning company. A good tip is to dry the windows with crumpled newspaper and if you can, wash the windows on a cloudy day rather than a sunny one because the sun can cause the windows to streak.

Clean all the showers, sinks and bath tubs, to remove hard water spots and scum off.  Use undiluted, heated white vinegar. Put in a spray bottle, spray on and let it dwell for 15 minutes before scrubbing. Cleaning all light fixtures and replacing the light bulbs with a higher wattage is a good idea, these little things are easy to forget, but can make all the difference.

Pack away all non-essential items to eliminate clutter so that potential buyers can see the whole space, it will also make the rooms look bigger. Also take down all family pictures and personal items. This makes it easier for viewers to picture themselves living there. It is also a good idea to have the exterior of your home cleaned because when selling, curb appeal is everything.