Everyday tip: How to clean your balcony for summer
As the weather warms up, the balcony of a rental home becomes a second living room for many residents. To make it as pleasant as possible to spend time there, it’s worth giving the balcony a thorough clean right at the start of summer. With these tips, you’ll succeed even if the task isn’t familiar to you.
1. Empty the balcony and remove debris
Start cleaning by wiping down balcony furniture and floor grates with a damp cloth. Clean plant pots with a solution of pine soap to ensure that any plant diseases or pests that may have survived the winter are eliminated. Then move all items off the balcony and put textiles into the washing machine while you clean. Finally, sweep away leaves and debris that have accumulated over the winter using a brush, or use a vacuum cleaner.
Be mindful of your neighbours when cleaning – don’t sweep debris onto the balcony below!
2. Clean the balcony floor and walls
When washing balcony surfaces, it’s safest to choose a cleaning agent designed for each specific material. A mild pine soap solution and a scrubbing brush are a safe and effective option for most surfaces, such as concrete floors. Use water sparingly and wipe the floor with a damp mop. This helps ensure that wash water doesn’t accidentally run onto a neighbour’s balcony.
A pine soap solution automatically brings a fresh summer scent to the whole home!
Be careful when cleaning the balcony walls. Dirt that has built up should be removed gently with a brush, as wall surfaces painted with water-based paint or with a chalky finish usually don’t tolerate wet cleaning.
Allow the balcony to dry thoroughly before moving items back. Leave the balcony glazing open, if possible, so that surfaces dry more quickly.
3. Clean and maintain the balcony glazing
Balcony glazing has a big impact on the overall look of your home, so it’s not worth skipping this task. It’s best to do the job on a cloudy day so that the sun doesn’t dry the glass too quickly and leave streaks.
For cleaning balcony glazing, you can use a window cleaner, a mild all-purpose cleaner or washing-up liquid. You’ll only need a bucket for the cleaning water, a cleaning cloth and a good squeegee. Make sure your tools are clean so the result is neat.
For safety reasons, don’t lean outside the railing when cleaning the glass. Use an extension handle if needed to reach tricky areas safely.
Balcony glazing shouldn’t be kept constantly open or closed. It stays in better condition when you remember to move it regularly, as this prevents dirt and debris from building up in the sliding tracks. The tracks should always be cleaned when washing the glazing and lubricated if necessary.
4. Check the building rules before decorating
A clean balcony often inspires residents to start decorating their rented home. Stylish balcony furniture, flowers, textiles and lanterns are all great ways to refresh the look of your balcony quickly and easily.
However, remember that not all balcony decorating solutions are allowed without permission. Before planning your balcony garden or attaching hooks for hanging baskets or a swing chair, make sure you familiarise yourself with your building’s rules and guidelines. For example, flower boxes must be placed on the inside of the railing so they don’t pose a falling hazard. You’ll need permission from SATO to drill holes on a SATOhome balcony.
If the balcony’s façade surfaces need repair, you should also contact SATO, as their maintenance is SATO’s responsibility.
Sources: Koti Puhtaaksi, Helsingin Sanomat, Kotitalo, IS, Martat, Kodin Kuvalehti
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