House cleaning isn’t only an indoor activity and in reality the majority of people who see your home are walking or driving by your home. If not properly maintained the outside of your home will be negatively impacted by environmental factors. Pollen and mildew build up on the outside of your home, patio furniture and grills become dirty and gutter and drains gather leaves and other debris. Here are several outdoor cleaning and maintenance tips to help keep your home looking clean and new.

Pressure Washing: Over time exposure to the outdoors can damage your home because of weather, mildew and mold. Without pressure washing your home will become dirty and the may begin paint to peel. Pressure washing is an important cleaning and maintenance task to protect your home and keep it looking new.

Patio Furniture: When cleaning your patio furniture it is important to first find an area that is clean and has good drainage so your hose does not spray dirt and mud back on the furniture. Next rinse the furniture and wash with dish soap and water. Lastly rinse the soap away and let your patio furniture dry out in the sun.

Gutters and Drains: During the summer and early fall tropical storms and hurricanes can bring heavy rainfall in areas like Westchester County New York. Last year we witnessed the devastation caused by hurricane sandy first hand. It is important to prepare for flooding by cleaning your gutters and drainage systems around your home. Window wells, flat roof drains and your gutter system all gather debris such as sticks and leaves which can leave you with water damage or significant flooding if not cleaned.

Grill Cleaning: After using your grill it is important to remove stuck on food particles. Metal brushes are good, but the bristles when weakened can break off and get stuck on the grill which can pose a huge health hazard. A very simple way to clean and disinfect your grill is to put vinegar on a wad of tin foil and rub it against the grate.

Window Cleaning: Keeping up with window cleaning is important. Clean windows increase the amount of light that enters your home which makes indoor lighting less necessary which will save energy consumption. Clean windows also let in more heat which saves you money spent on your heating bill. Window cleaning in Westchester County New York is a necessity for homeowners who want their homes to look and feel inviting as well as save money on energy costs.