Professionals on how to clean outdoor areas, from balconies to courtyards
Cleaning an outdoor entertaining area can feel like an overwhelming task. (Adobe Stock)
Whether it's a balcony, verandah or courtyard, outdoor areas are likely to be grubbier than you expected after the cooler months.
To help you prep for summer entertaining or simply enjoy any outdoor space you have, two experts share the quickest and most effective ways to get it sorted.
Declutter first
Decluttering should always be your first step when cleaning, Kate Croukamp says. (Adobe Stock)
Kate Croukamp owns a cleaning business and shares tips on her social media account Clean Like A Pro, from the Gold Coast / Yugambeh language region.
She recommends decluttering before tackling any kind of cleaning. She says starting by clearing clutter can help if you're feeling overwhelmed by the task.
"If it's outside, often things that start to build up are junky things that you've probably put outside and been meaning to take to the tip," she says.
Remove built-up dust and grime from surfaces
Jason Shipway runs a cleaning business and lives in Bunbury, Western Australia on the traditional lands of the Noongar people.
The winner of a national speed cleaning competition in 2024, Mr Shipway says "if you have access to a pressure washer it's really easy" to wash away built-up dust and dirt from verandahs or backyard spaces. These can also be hired from some hardware stores.
Ms Croukamp agrees that "pressure washing is the best way to go".
First, remove any items that might not fare well with water and pressure beforehand, such as some fabric cushions or outdoor furniture covers.
Ms Croukamp says the next best option is a hose. A nozzle thatn allows you to have some control over the pressure and spray direction works best, as well as a hard-bristle broom to scrub outdoor flooring.
The easiest way to remove established dust and grime is with a pressure washer, Jason Shipway says. (Adobe Stock)
It's not as simple on an apartment balcony where pressure washing or hosing risks soaking all the balconies below.
"Before you add any kind of water to an area like that, you want to vacuum or sweep up as much of the dust, debris and leaves and whatever else has built up," she says.
Then use a bucket of water and a broom or brush to wash down grubby surfaces.
Get rid of cobwebs
Mr Shipway says a good cobweb brush or broom will make removing spider webs quick and easy.
On a few of his recent jobs, he says people have wanted to get their homes summer-ready and "80 per cent of the job is just knocking down all the cobwebs, so a really good cobweb broom is pretty essential for that".
A flathead screwdriver wrapped in a cloth will also help get any cobwebs or grime out of tight corners.
Stubborn marks on pavers and concrete
For stubborn marks on flooring tiles, pavers or concrete, Ms Croukamp says "a good degreaser is what you're going to need".
This is especially true when the mark is under a barbecue where grease often falls, she says.
"You can also get mould build-up on flooring like outdoor pavers … so if there's been lots of plants on pavers or it doesn't get a lot of sun and it gets wet", she says.
Spray a mould cleaner or degreaser, let it sit there for 15 to 20 minutes and then wash it away and then give it a scrub
Windows and glass doors
If the outdoor space includes windows or glass doors, Mr Shipway says cleaning them will "make a big difference to the space."
He recommends using a squeegee with a fabric (usually microfibre) cover and a bucket (a rectangular will work best with the squeegee) with some dish soap and hot water.
"Doing one coat over the window to get all the dust off, and then going over it once more and then just squeegee it off and you don't have to do anything else."