In much of the country, rain does some of the exterior cleaning. Here it mostly does not. Homes in the Inland Empire and Orange County go long stretches without a real rinse, so dust settles, sprinkler minerals build up, and the sun bakes all of it onto stucco, glass and concrete. None of this happens fast, which is why it is easy to miss until the house looks tired.
A checklist fixes that. Instead of one overwhelming weekend, you look at the right things at the right time of year. This one is built around four moments that matter in our climate: after winter rain, before summer, after Santa Ana winds, and before the holidays.
After winter rain
Our rain arrives in short bursts, and it moves more dirt around than it washes away. Once the wet season winds down, walk the property.
- Look for new green or black growth. Shaded walls, north-facing walkways, the base of stucco and the area around downspouts stay damp longest. Algae on a walkway is a slip hazard, not only a cosmetic issue.
- Check where water ran. Mud splash along the bottom of walls, dirt trails across the driveway and streaks below roof edges show where runoff goes. Streaks under windowsills and eaves are common on stucco.
- Clear gutters, downspouts and drains. Leaves and roof grit collect during storms. Clogged gutters overflow down the fascia and walls and leave stains.
- Inspect caulking, paint and stucco cracks. Rain finds the gaps. It is better to notice a failed seal now than after another season.
- Clean the windows. Rain mixed with months of dust leaves spotted, filmy glass. Spring light shows every bit of it.
- Look at the roof from the ground. Note slipped tiles, debris in the valleys and any dark staining. Stay off tile roofs, since tiles crack underfoot.
If the walls need more than a rinse, this is a good time for it. Stucco and painted trim should be cleaned at low pressure with the right solution, not blasted. Our post on soft washing vs pressure washing explains why.
Before summer
Summer is when you live outside, and it is when heat makes every stain harder to remove. Get ahead of it in late spring.
- Clean the driveway, patio, pool deck and walkways. Oil, tire marks and organic stains bake in over the summer. Cleaning before the heat gets the best result. Our guide on how often to pressure wash a driveway covers timing and the signs that it is due. You can also read about our pressure washing service for driveways, patios, walkways and walls.
- Run the irrigation and watch it. As watering schedules ramp up, heads that spray the house, windows, fences or concrete cause mineral crust and algae. Adjust them now. This one step prevents most of the hard water spots on windows we see.
- Go through the screens. You will want windows open on cool evenings. Look for tears, brittle sun-damaged mesh, loose spline and bent frames. Our screen repair service covers both repair and replacement for windows and doors.
- Wash patio furniture, covers and the barbecue area. Rinse dust from patio covers and ceiling fans while you are at it.
- Clean outdoor light fixtures and clear the cobwebs from eaves and entries.
- Look at sun-facing paint and wood. South and west exposures take a beating. Catching peeling trim early keeps it a small job.
After Santa Ana winds
Santa Ana winds are dry, strong and full of dust. They usually show up in the fall and can return through the winter. After a wind event, the whole house wears a fine tan coat, and debris ends up everywhere.
- Walk the property for damage first. Look for slipped roof tiles, loose gutters, broken branches, fence damage and torn or blown-out screens.
- Clear debris from the roof line and gutters. Dry leaves and palm debris packed into valleys and gutters are a fire concern as well as a drainage problem. Hire this out if it cannot be done safely from the ground.
- Rinse dust before it gets wet. Dust is easy to remove while it is dry and loose. Once morning dew or sprinklers hit it, it turns to a film on walls, sills and glass. Use low pressure and work from the top down.
- Clean window tracks and sills. Wind packs grit into tracks, where it grinds on rollers and keeps windows and sliding doors from sealing.
- Get the windows cleaned. Dusty glass plus the low autumn sun makes every streak obvious. Our window cleaning service covers interior and exterior glass and frames.
- Blow off or sweep hard surfaces. Leaves left sitting on concrete leave brown tannin stains once they get damp.
- Check exterior vents and the areas around air conditioning equipment for packed debris.
Before the holidays
Guests, photos and lights all draw attention to the front of the house. A few weeks ahead is the right time.
- Clean the entry. The front walk, porch, steps, door and the wall around it are what every visitor sees up close. Remove cobwebs, wipe the door and fixtures, and clean the flatwork.
- Wash the front elevation. Dust and streaks on stucco are far more visible at night under lighting, because light grazing down a wall highlights every mark.
- Clean the windows inside and out. Interior lights and decorations show through clean glass, and dirty glass shows from both sides at night.
- Clean the eaves and fascia before anything is hung on them. Lights go up along the roofline, and so do the dust and webs if they are not dealt with first.
- Test exterior outlets and timers before the day you decorate.
- Think about how you light the house. If the yearly ladder work is wearing thin, permanent outdoor lighting stays up all year and changes color from your phone, for holidays, events and everyday accent lighting.
- Tidy the side yards and trash area if guests will be using the backyard.
Every month or two
Small habits keep the big jobs small.
- Sweep or blow off the driveway, walkways and patio.
- Treat new oil drips before they soak in.
- Glance at the sprinklers while they run.
- Knock down cobwebs at the entry and eaves.
- Rinse bird droppings promptly, since they can mark paint and stucco.
- Move planters and doormats so moisture does not stay trapped under them.
What to do yourself and what to hire out
Plenty of this list is homeowner work: walking the property, adjusting sprinklers, sweeping, light rinsing, treating fresh spills and keeping gutters clear on a single-story home.
Other jobs are better handed off. Anything on a tall ladder or a roof. Second-story windows. Pressure washing concrete, where the wrong tip leaves permanent etching and stripes. Washing stucco and painted surfaces, where the method matters more than the muscle. Hard water removal from glass. Building new screen frames.
How we can help
ALLCLEAN Home Services handles the outside of homes and businesses across Riverside County and Orange County. Our exterior cleaning service is a complete refresh that removes dirt, dust, grime and buildup, and it pairs naturally with windows, screens and flatwork so everything is done in the right order on one schedule.
Whether you want a one-time cleaning or ongoing property maintenance, book a free estimate online and we will walk the property with you and put together a plan that fits your home.
