Cleaning guides and advice
Straightforward answers to common cleaning questions, with safe steps you can follow yourself.
These guides are written to help you do the job properly, whether you tackle it yourself or decide to book someone in. Each one answers a single question, explains the method step by step, flags the mistakes that can damage a surface and says when it is worth calling a professional.
Driveways & paving
- How to clean block pavingStep-by-step cleaning for block-paved drives and paths, including how to pressure wash without blowing out the joints.
- Re-sanding block paving after cleaningWhy the joints need refilling after a clean, why kiln-dried sand is used and how to brush it in so it stays put.
- Should you seal block paving?An honest look at what a sealer can and cannot do, how to prepare for it and when sealing is better left alone.
- How to remove oil stains from a drivewayWhat to do with a fresh spill, how to tackle older marks on concrete and block paving, and what never to pour on a drive.
- How to remove weeds and moss from block pavingWhy weeds and moss take hold in the joints, how to get them out roots and all, and how to slow them coming back.
- How to clean a drivewayThe general method for any drive, a full walkthrough for concrete, and how to tell which surface you have.
- How to clean a resin drivewayRoutine care and gentle washing for resin bound and resin bonded drives, and the products and tools to keep away from them.
- How to clean a tarmac drivewayA gentle cleaning method for tarmac, plus how to deal with moss, oil and the risks of high pressure and hot weather.
Patios & decking
- How to clean patio slabsThe general method for most patios, when a pressure washer helps and when it does more harm than good.
- How to clean a patio without a pressure washerA hand-cleaning method that relies on the right cleaner, a good brush and a thorough rinse instead of water pressure.
- How to remove black spots and lichen from a patioWhy black spots survive scrubbing and pressure washing, and how to treat lichen without damaging the stone.
- How to get rid of moss and green algae on a patioClearing slippery green growth from paving and joints, and the shade, damp and debris that let it return.
- How to clean Indian sandstoneGentle cleaning for soft, porous sandstone, the products that can stain it and how to use a pressure washer safely.
- How to clean a porcelain patioEveryday cleaning for dense porcelain tiles, with most of the attention on the joints where dirt and growth collect.
- How to clean deckingCleaning timber decking by hand or with a pressure washer, without roughening the boards or leaving them slippery.
- How to clean composite deckingGentle cleaning for composite boards, including stubborn spots, grease and the pressure-washing question.
Walls & render
- Soft washing vs pressure washingWhat soft washing is, how it differs from pressure washing and which outdoor surfaces suit each method.
- How to clean renderSafe ways to clean green and black staining from rendered walls, and why a jet wash is usually the wrong tool.
- How to clean brickGentle ways to clean brick walls and garden brickwork, and the mistakes that damage brick and mortar.
Gutters & roofline
- How to clean guttersClearing gutters by hand or from the ground, with the ladder safety steps that matter most.
- How often should gutters be cleaned?Working out the right gutter-cleaning interval for your home, rather than following a rigid rule.
- Blocked gutters and downpipesSpotting a blocked gutter or downpipe, clearing it safely and telling a blockage apart from a fault.
- Do gutter guards work?A balanced look at mesh, brush and foam gutter guards, what they do well and where they fall short.
- How to clean uPVCGetting white uPVC frames, doors, fascias and soffits clean without scratching or dulling the surface.
Windows, conservatories & solar
- How to clean a conservatory roofCleaning glass and polycarbonate conservatory roofs from the ground, without climbing on the roof or scratching it.
- How to clean solar panelsSafe cleaning for ground-level solar panels, and why roof-mounted arrays are best left to a professional.
- Do solar panels need cleaning?Whether your panels need cleaning, what dirties them and how to check without going on the roof.
- How to clean windows without streaksWhy windows streak and the simple squeegee technique that leaves glass clear, inside and out.
- Water-fed pole window cleaning explainedWhat a water-fed pole is, why purified water dries clear without a squeegee, and what it means for frames, sills and upstairs windows.
- How often should windows be cleaned?Why there is no single right interval, and how roads, the coast, trees and the type of building decide how often your windows need cleaning.
Carpets, rugs & upholstery
- How to get stains out of carpetThe blot, treat and rinse method that works on most carpet stains, with specific advice for vomit, red wine and pet urine.
- How to get candle wax out of carpetFreeze, scrape and lift: how to remove spilt candle wax from carpet, and how to deal with the coloured stain it can leave.
- How to deep clean a carpetFrom a proper vacuum to using a carpet cleaning machine without over-wetting, the steps that make a home deep clean work.
- Carpet steam cleaning vs shampooingWhat people mean by steam cleaning, how it differs from shampooing and low-moisture cleaning, and which suits which carpet.
- How long does carpet take to dry after cleaning?Why drying time varies from home to home, what speeds it up, and how to look after a damp carpet until it is fully dry.
- How often should carpets be cleaned?Why the right interval depends on footfall, pets, children and your carpet's care guidance, and the signs that a carpet is due a clean.
- How to clean a rugHow to identify your rug's fibre, test the dyes and clean it safely at home, with specific care for wool, viscose and natural fibres.
- How to clean a mattressA low-moisture method for vacuuming, spot cleaning and freshening a mattress at home without soaking the filling.
- How to clean a sofaStart with the care code: how to clean fabric sofas and upholstery safely at home, with a brief note on leather.
Home cleaning
- How to clean an ovenA safe, step-by-step way to clean the oven cavity, racks and door glass, including what to do with pyrolytic and catalytic ovens.
- How to clean groutA gentle-first method for cleaning grey or black grout lines on wall and floor tiles, and how to tell when grout needs replacing instead.
- How to clean hard floorsRoutine and deeper cleaning for vinyl, LVT, tiled and natural stone floors, with the products each one needs and the ones to avoid.
- How to clean laminate floorsHow to keep laminate clean and streak-free with as little water as possible, so the boards and joints do not swell.
- House deep cleaning checklistA room-by-room checklist for deep cleaning a house, which also works as a spring cleaning checklist.
- Deep clean vs regular cleanWhat a deep clean covers that a regular clean does not, when each one makes sense and what decides how long a deep clean takes.
- End of tenancy cleaning checklistA room-by-room move-out cleaning checklist, what end of tenancy cleaning includes and what sets the standard at check-out.
Commercial cleaning
- Office cleaning checklistDaily, weekly, monthly and periodic office cleaning tasks by area, to help you build a cleaning schedule or check an existing one.
- What a commercial cleaning contract should includeThe points a commercial or office cleaning contract and specification should cover, so both sides know exactly what is expected.
Costs
- What affects the cost of gutter cleaningThe factors that change a gutter cleaning quote, what a good quote should include and how to compare quotes like for like.
- What affects the cost of carpet cleaningThe factors that change a carpet cleaning quote for homes and businesses, what a good quote includes and how to compare quotes.
- What affects the cost of window cleaningThe factors that change a window cleaning quote for homes and businesses, what a good quote includes and how to compare quotes.
- What affects the cost of driveway and patio cleaningThe factors that change a driveway, patio or jet washing quote, including surface type, condition, re-sanding and sealing, and how to compare quotes.
Rather leave it to us?
Speak directly to Jason or Lucas Prior. We are available 8am to 6pm and happy to visit your premises to provide an accurate quote.