The exterior of your home is the first thing people see. If it is poorly maintained, it will cause your home to lose value. Here is the best method to clean your terrace.
A façade in good condition, a well-finished fence, a well-maintained garden or a welcoming terrace… These are all assets that can make all the difference when assessing the value of a house. The first impression is very important and the garden is particularly popular. One in three French people would be prepared to increase their initial budget to acquire a house with a garden, and some are prepared to accept up to a 20% increase in price to have a pleasant garden. Conversely, a British expert assures that a terrace in poor condition can have an immediate effect with a 20% drop in the potential price.
Even if you don’t want to sell your house right now, it’s important to take care of your exterior and especially your terrace, especially during the cold season. The conditions are right in autumn to make your terrace unsightly. Bad weather and its share of inconveniences such as mud, moss or leaves that pile up can harm the appearance and condition of your home. This is why before winter arrives, a good big cleaning of your terrace is essential!
There are several options available to you. Before thinking about big measures like a passage with a high-pressure cleaner like the Karcher, the use of a simple product can be enough to give a second youth to your terrace. This is white vinegar to be used with precise instructions. Advantage, white vinegar is economical and works just as well for wooden, stone, concrete slab or tiled terraces. Here is how to do it:
- Protect your garden furniture and flower pots;
- Remove strong leaves and other large dirt;
- Prepare a mixture of lukewarm water and white vinegar in a sprayer (50 cl of white vinegar for 4 L of lukewarm water);
- Spray the solution over the entire surface of your terrace;
- Let the mixture sit for 20 to 30 minutes;
- Take a brush broom and scrub the floor vigorously;
- Rinse your terrace with clean water;
- Let dry before putting your outdoor furniture back.
Good to know: the day before, test the mixture on a small, inconspicuous area of your terrace to check that it does not damage the coating.
If moss has settled between the tiles of your terrace, you can also use white vinegar, but this time pure. You just need to spray it directly on the base, leave it for 10 minutes before scrubbing with a hard-bristled brush. Remember to rinse well. If the moss is tough, make an explosive mixture of white vinegar, black soap and water. You can also use a knife to remove the moss.
White vinegar is effective because of its acetic acid content, which acts as a powerful cleaning agent. It will remove stubborn stains caused by wear and tear, and can even correct discoloration. It is a particularly useful product in the fall when rain, wind, mud and dead leaves dirty the floor of your terrace.