That fresh look of your brand new conservatory won’t last for ever. Exposure to the elements, dust, mould and mildew can all make their presence felt over time.
But, with the right techniques and equipment, getting your extension looking like new doesn’t have to be hard. Clean the outside of your conservatory at least every six months to stop damage and leaking – more often if the weather has been bad.
What you need
To keep your conservatory fabulous, you’ll need more than a cloth and elbow grease. And it’s not a job to rush, so dedicate a weekend to the task, and take lots of breaks!
To get to those hard to reach areas, consider investing in:
- A robust ladder – there are specialist ones for conservatories available. They need to be lightweight, and you should be able to fix them securely without leaving marks.
- Telescopic conservatory brushes – to get to awkward spots safely.
- Power washers – Also called jet or pressure washers, these are effective on areas of your conservatory not made of glass, like roofs, stone floors, concrete and brickwork.
Safety tips
Safety is, of course, always the most important consideration:
- Don’t stand or crawl on your conservatory roof, which won’t take your weight. If you can’t get to it with a brush or hose, climb a conservatory ladder and put crawl boards across the glazing bars of the roof, with the weight distributed evenly over two bars. Work methodically and slowly, and don’t leave the crawl board. In slippery or wet conditions, don’t go up on the conservatory roof. Get someone else to hold the ladder, pass things to you and be around if needed.
- Keep specialist cleaning products like mildew removers away from pets and children. When these products are not in use, keep the cap firmly screwed on.
Exterior cleaning: the basics
Get rid of plant material from the drainpipes and gutters before sweeping and hosing down the roof using a pressure washer. Blocked gutters and roof debris can damage your conservatory. With a mild solution, you can treat the roof for algae, mould and moss and stop these from growing back.
Clean the outside of the conservatory’s windows as you would any others in your home. Talk to a professional firm (like us!) if you see chips or cracks, as these may be unsafe, even if they look quite minor.
As for the framework, you can wipe down uPVC conservatories with warm soapy water – but avoid harsh chemicals. Brush wooden frames before sponging down with warm, soapy water, then treat with oil for added protection.
You can also use warm soapy water to spray so-called ‘self-cleaning’ windows occasionally but, again, don’t use abrasive chemicals.
With a bit of regular TLC, your conservatory will stay looking its finest!