Summer Cleaning Hacks

By Brad Raftery

Rear garden of a contemporary Australian home with tiled swimming pool
Rear garden of a contemporary Australian home with tiled swimming pool
Top tips to maximise your cleaning power around the home

The team at Kärcher know a thing or two when it comes to cleaning. They share their top tips for helping you get your home sparkling in no time.

Deck: Periodic cleaning, especially after the winter months, will help your deck or patio retain its brand-new appearance. Whether it’s for preventative maintenance or washing away unexpected spills and stains from the BBQ, cleaning your deck regularly will extend its life and save you time and money in the long run. Add stone or wood detergent to a cleaning tool and use it in a sweeping motion with overlapping strokes. This prevents inconsistent results once dry. When cleaning wooden decking, remember to clean in the direction of the wood grain.

Pathway/Driveway: Cleaning pathways and driveways of moss or dirt is often neglected on the household chore list, but it’s important when it comes to making your home both safe and tidy. Mossy pathways can be slippery when wet, but they’re an easily managed safety hazard. Use a pressure washer to remove the thick layer of dirt on the surface and reach the pores to blast out stubborn, worn-in grime. Hold the pressure washer jet vertically to the paved surface and slowly move from one edge of the moss-covered area to the other at a distance of around 20 to 30 centimetres.

Windows: Cleaning dirty windows to get that satisfying streak-free shine is usually a labour-intensive task that’s easily put off. However, clean windows let much more sunlight into the home, so it’s a shame to neglect them! Spray your windows down and agitate the surface with a microfiber cloth, paying particular attention to any stubborn stains. Microfiber cloths are ideal for cleaning as they leave no lint on the window’s surface.

Façade: Pressure washing your home to remove the build-up of dirt and dust can make a tired property look fresh again and it’s important to do so before applying a new coat of paint. Don’t forget to close windows and doors and test the pressure setting by spraying the ground before you begin. Hold the spray at a 45-degree angle to increase the surface area you cover. Work in small areas at a time and start washing from the top to prevent streaks. When you’re done, give the surface a rinse to ensure dislodged dirt doesn’t dry out.

SHARE THIS ARTICLE

Print Recipe

You may also like

BECOME A MiNDFOOD SUBSCRIBER TODAY

Let us keep you up to date with our weekly MiNDFOOD e-newsletters which include the weekly menu plan, health and news updates or tempt your taste buds with the MiNDFOOD Daily Recipe. 

Member Login