I need to start my spring cleaning jobs ASAP. I've already started on a few spots indoors — like deep cleaning my pantry and scrubbing my stair carpet — but really, I need to work from the outside in. After all, it's the outside of my house that my neighbors can see. And, this is what greets my guests before they set foot into my entryway.
I've already pressure-washed my patio, so naturally, the next step is to tackle my grubby outside walls. Truly, it's a sight that I don't want my neighbors and guests to see for any longer. So this current dry spell that we're having is proving itself to be the right time to tackle this problem.
With that said, the front of my house could do with a pressure wash — the position it faces means it looks very dirty, plus it's a large area. The back of my house, though? This is more of a spot cleaning job, hence why I asked AI to tell me a non-toxic way to clean these walls. No bleach required, as I have a dog and a toddler to think about.
Trust me when I say: it'll look worse before it looks better. But when I tell you that baking soda was the answer to my woes here, you might not believe me. In fact, I'll never use anything else to wash my exterior walls. Here's everything I did to achieve this magic.
1. Make your solution
In a bowl, you'll want to mix a cup of baking soda with 2-3 litres of water. Grab a soft but sturdy brush and apply this solution to your dirty walls. Be prepared: this might get messy. I found that applying this near my French doors meant that white water splatters ended up all over them!
Once you're finished scrubbing the area, you'll notice it looks even dirtier than before. This is normal, and it's exactly what I meant when I said it gets worse before it gets better. Trust the process.
2. Have a little patience
You'll then need to wait around 5-10 minutes for the solution to soak in. It may dry a little, but don't panic: it'll wash away even if it does dry.
It goes without saying that you'll want to do this on a dry day; the solution will wash away straight away, so it won't have a chance to set.
3. Grab your hose
Here comes the satisfying part of washing it away. Grab your hose and turn it on. Spray the wall, and you'll literally watch the dirt melt away from your walls. I couldn't believe my eyes at this point!
You can see the part of the wall I scrubbed with this solution vs. the part I didn't. Which means I now need to go over the entire wall and cover the spots I may have missed.
The final verdict
While I wouldn't encourage you to use this method to clean a large area, for instance, the entire front of your house, as it'd be time-consuming, this is a really great alternative to pressure washing. Especially if you're without a hose connection, a pressure washer, or only need to clean a small corner of your outside space.
This would be ideal for cleaning balconies, terraces, or small patio areas. It works fast and is totally safe to apply around children and pets. Plus, the best part about it is that it only requires one ingredient — and you probably already have it in your pantry.
