Use Our End-of-Summer Cleaning Checklist to Give Your Home a Refresh Before Fall

Clean Exterior Siding

According to exterior cleaning professional Randy Dewey, the end of summer is the perfect time to clean your exterior siding—and it has to do with the toasty temperatures. "Bleach is used in 95% of exterior cleaning, and, when temperatures drop, bleach is not as effective," Dewey explains. “This results in longer cleaning times—or, in some cases, having to use a stronger solution of bleach, which can cause damage to the surrounding landscaping.”

To best project your flowers and planets, now is the time to clean the grime, mold, and pollen from your siding. Prompt cleaning of dirty siding can also help preserve paint or sealants, which means you hopefully won't have to replace the siding itself as quickly.

Check for Insect Residue

In the summer months, bugs run amok (due in part to the sped-up reproductive cycle), which can mean more related residue on your property. Jamison Jarosz, founder of Arizona Grime, says this bug grime can become even more stuck on if you leave cleaning it until the fall. And no one wants to see baked-on bug guts flattened on their house from three months ago. 

Jarosz recommends keeping your eyes peeled around entryways, soffits, and porch lights. These can be breeding grounds for wasp nests, spider webs, and other general insect splatter.

Soft-Wash Your Roof

A new roof can be a major expense, which is why taking good care of the one you already have is so important. Dewey recommends soft washing your roof before the summer is over. A more gentle cleaning method compared to power washing, soft washing involves using a lower-pressure washer or hose to remove organic matter with the help of outdoor-use cleansers. 

Waiting until the temperatures are colder to complete this task is not in your best interest, Dewey explains, as chilly weather lessens the effectiveness of the chemicals utilized.

Deep Clean Grills and Outdoor Cooking Equipment

If you’re ready to store your grill away for the summer (or just get it prepped and ready for football season burgers), it’s time to give it a deep clean. Jarosz says that grills should be fully degreased, rinsed, and covered after a season of using it.

Leaving stuck-on food residue behind will likely attract unwanted pests and is unsanitary for future cooking. Plus, a dirty grill can cause flare-ups, which means unevenly cooked food at the very least—and injuries at the worse.

Wash Decks and Patios

Both Jarosz and Dewey recommend cleaning your deck and patio before summer ends, mainly because algae, mold, and mildew grow rampant in these months. If cleaned properly and eradicated before the cold sets in, algae and the like will have a harder time growing in the winter. “Plus, it’s easier to dry decks quickly before cooler, damper fall conditions or even frost arrives,” Jarosz adds.

Get Rid of Organic Debris

Clearing organic debris like leaves, twigs, and dirt from decks, gutters, and shaded siding areas before summer ends helps prevent bigger problems down the road. When this type of material stays damp, it creates the ideal environment for mildew, mold, and algae to thrive. Plus, it can also attract pests looking for a place to nest. 

As Jarosz puts it, “If it stays damp and dirty, something will grow or move in.” So if you don’t want bugs, pests, and mold to stake claim to your gutter or siding, it’s best to give damp debris the boot ASAP.

Clean Intake Vents

Want to keep your home’s air clean and your HVAC system running as it should? Jarosz says it’s time to pay attention to the intake vents. He recommends cleaning them, along with changing your air filters, after the summer months of running your AC unit. This is especially important if you live in a dusty climate, Jarosz notes.

Wash Pool Gear

For families who regularly use the pool, cleaning chlorine and sunscreen off favorite floaties, life jackets, and water toys is the best way to keep them fresh for next season. “Pool gear, such as inflatable items, should be completely dry before storing to prevent mold,” says Jarosz.

If left unwashed, these common residues can cause fading, cracking, mold growth, and even reduce the lifespan of the pool gear. So if you want your pool items to last longer than one summer, careful cleaning and storage are critical.