10 Things I Check Around Every Melbourne Home After 30+ Years in the Cleaning Business

By Jan Middleton

After more than 30 years of cleaning Melbourne homes, I've learnt something...

You start noticing things.

I can walk up to a house and almost immediately spot the things the homeowner probably hasn't noticed yet.

A gutter that's starting to fill with leaves.

Windows that looked clean until the sun hit them.

A driveway that's slowly turning black.

A solar panel covered in bird droppings.

And usually, the homeowner will say:

"Oh... I hadn't even noticed that!"

So, if I were walking around your home this weekend, here's what I'd be looking at.

Grab a cup of coffee and come for a little walk with me.

1. I'd Look at Your Windows in the Sunshine

The first thing I'd check is the windows.

Not from inside.

I'd walk outside and stand back from the house.

Then I'd wait for the sun to hit the glass.

That's when you really see it.

Dust, fingerprints, pollen, cobwebs, water marks and all those little spots that somehow become invisible until the sun shines directly through them.

Clean windows can make a surprisingly big difference to how a home feels.

They let in more natural light and make the whole property look fresher.

And if you've got windows that haven't been professionally cleaned for a while, you might be surprised by the difference.

My tip: Don't just look at your windows from inside the house. Walk outside and look back at them.

You'll see things you didn't notice before.

🍂 2. I'd Have a Look in the Gutters

Next stop?

The gutters.

This is probably the one I check most often.

Especially if the house has trees nearby.

Melbourne has plenty of beautiful leafy streets, but those trees can be a nightmare for gutters.

I'd be looking for:

• Leaves

• Gum nuts

• Twigs

• Dirt

• Moss

• Small plants

• Bird nests

And I'd particularly look around the downpipes.

A gutter can look reasonably clear while the downpipe is completely blocked.

The problem with gutters is that they're very easy to forget about.

You can't see them from inside the house, and you don't normally think about them until it's raining and suddenly there's a waterfall pouring over the side.

My tip: If you can't remember the last time your gutters were cleaned, that's probably a pretty good sign it's time to have a look.

☀️ 3. I'd Check the Solar Panels

If you have solar panels, I'd definitely have a look at them.

And I'd be checking more than just whether they're covered in dust.

I'd look for:

🐦 Bird droppings

🌿 Leaves

🌸 Pollen

🟢 Lichen

🌫️ Pollution film

A lot of people assume the rain will take care of solar panels.

Unfortunately, it doesn't quite work that way.

Rain can wash away loose dust, but stubborn grime and bird droppings can remain stuck to the glass.

If you're standing on the ground looking up, they might even look perfectly clean.

But get closer and you'll often see quite a different story.

My tip: If your solar panels haven't been professionally cleaned in the last year or two, it's worth having them checked.

🧱 4. I'd Look at the Driveway

Now I'd walk out to the driveway.

This is another one that people gradually stop noticing.

A little bit of dirt appears.

Then some algae.

Then some black marks.

Then tyre marks.

Then suddenly you've got a driveway that looks about 20 years older than it actually is.

I'd look particularly closely at shaded areas.

They're often where mould and algae really start to build up.

Professional pressure cleaning can make an enormous difference to concrete, pavers and outdoor areas.

And honestly, sometimes the transformation is a little embarrassing...

Because you realise:

"Oh... THAT was the colour of my driveway!"

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🕷️ 5. I'd Look Up for Cobwebs

Now I'm going to look up.

Around windows.

Under eaves.

Around doors.

Along gutters.

Under verandahs.

Cobwebs have a sneaky habit of appearing in places you don't normally look.

And once they start building up, they can make a beautifully maintained home look a little neglected.

Especially around front doors and entertaining areas.

If I'm walking around a home and see lots of cobwebs, dust and dirt building up on the exterior, I'd start thinking about an overall exterior clean rather than tackling everything

individually.

🏠 6. I'd Stand Back and Look at the Whole House

This is something I think homeowners should do more often.

Walk out to the footpath.

Turn around.

And really look at your house.

Don't look at the garden.

Don't look at the car.

Look at the house.

Does the exterior look bright?

Or does it look a little dull?

Are some areas darker than others?

Can you see dirt around windows?

Are there cobwebs around the eaves?

Does the exterior look dusty?

Sometimes you don't notice how much your home has changed because you see it every single day.

It's a bit like having a haircut.

You don't always notice it getting longer...

Until someone shows you an old photo!

🌿 7. I'd Check What's Growing in Your Gutters

This one always makes me smile.

If I see a little plant growing out of a gutter, I know we've probably got a bit of work to do.

Gutters aren't meant to be garden beds.

But once leaves and dirt collect inside them, they create a lovely little growing environment.

Add some rain...

Add some seeds...

And suddenly you've got a miniature garden above your head.

It's funny until the gutter becomes blocked and starts overflowing.

My tip: If you've got greenery growing out of your gutters, don't ignore it.

It's a pretty good indication that there's plenty of debris underneath.

💧 8. I'd Watch What Happens When It Rains

This is one of my favourite homeowner checks because it doesn't require any equipment.

The next time Melbourne gets a decent downpour, have a look outside.

Watch your gutters.

Is the water flowing nicely through the downpipes?

Or is it pouring over the sides?

Is water running down your walls?

Is it overflowing near the corners?

Is water pooling where it shouldn't?

Your gutters have one very important job:

Get rainwater away from your home.

If they're overflowing, something isn't working properly.

And it's much better to discover that while you're standing inside with a cup of tea than after you've discovered water damage.

🪴 9. I'd Check the Outdoor Entertaining Areas

If you've got a patio, courtyard or entertaining area, I'd have a look at the floor.

Especially after winter.

Look for:

• Dirt

• Mould

• Algae

• Leaf stains

• Cobwebs

• Built-up grime

These areas often get overlooked because they're used regularly but aren't necessarily cleaned regularly.

A professional pressure clean can make pavers and concrete look dramatically different.

And if you're planning a barbecue, birthday party or having friends over, it's amazing what a clean outdoor area can do.

👀 10. I'd Ask Myself One Simple Question

Finally, I'd walk back to the front of the house and ask:

"If I was seeing this house for the first time today, what would I notice?"

That's probably the best home maintenance question I know.

Because when you live somewhere, you stop seeing the little things.

The dirty windows become normal.

The gutters become invisible.

The black driveway becomes "just the driveway."

The cobwebs become part of the house.

And the solar panels?

Well... you probably haven't looked at them properly in years.

But visitors notice.

Neighbours notice.

And more importantly, you deserve to enjoy a home that looks as good as it can.

A Little Advice From Me

After more than 30 years of cleaning Melbourne homes, I've learnt that you don't have to wait until something looks terrible before you do something about it.

A little regular maintenance goes a long way.

You don't necessarily need everything cleaned at once.

Maybe your windows need attention now.

Maybe your gutters can wait another couple of months.

Maybe your driveway is the thing that's really letting the house down.

Or maybe your solar panels haven't had a proper clean since they were installed.

That's completely fine.

Start with what's needed most.

And if you're not sure, give us a call.

We're always happy to give you honest advice. If something doesn't need cleaning yet, we'll tell you.

Looking After Melbourne Homes Since 1991

Middleton's Cleaning is a family-owned Melbourne cleaning business, and we've been helping homeowners look after their properties since 1991.

We provide:

✓ Window Cleaning✓ Gutter Cleaning✓ Solar Panel Cleaning✓ Pressure Cleaning✓ Exterior House Washing✓ Residential & Commercial Cleaning

We're fully insured and service Melbourne's eastern suburbs, south eastern suburbs, bayside suburbs and surrounding areas.

Want to know what your home needs?

Contact Middleton's Cleaning for a free quote.

And next time you're standing outside your house with a coffee...

Have a good look around.

You might be surprised at what you notice. 😊

— Jan