How to Quickly Clean a Balcony (Including the Outside Too)

We usually put balcony cleaning off until later: it seems like it will take forever. Let this article be your call to action and help reduce the time spent on cleaning.

What do we need?

• Floor brush;
• Cleaning cloth for floors;
• Vacuum cleaner;
• Container with soapy solution or powder (for the floor);

• Aerosol cleaning products (for windows);
• Clean fabric;
• Sponge or brush with a long handle;
• Stiff brush (for railings).

Where to start?

Remove all items that will get in your way. It's better, of course, to take everything out—this is also a good opportunity to decide what you no longer need.

Move on to the windows

If you start with the floor, dust and dirt from the walls and windows will settle on it during cleaning. So wipe all surfaces, paying special attention to frames. Don't forget the door to the balcony: it also needs to be washed.

We already explained how to properly wash windows. But if you want to finish even faster, use aerosol cleaning products for glass (or fill a spray bottle with soapy solution). Start from the inside to determine how dirty the window is on the outside.

What about the back side of the window?

You have two options for cleaning it: use a long-handled brush or a magnetic brush.

Long-handled brushes are double-sided. One side has a sponge, the other has a rubber scraper. You can easily wrap fabric around the scraper and go over already clean glass. It's great if the handle is adjustable so you can easily reach the farthest parts.

However, it's much more convenient to use a magnetic brush. It consists of two brushes connected by a magnet. If placed on both sides of the glass, the magnet prevents them from falling. When purchasing, pay attention to the thickness of your glass and the size of the magnet. These brushes can clean glass up to 32 mm thick. The stronger the magnet, the higher the price.

What if the balcony is open?

Then you'll need to wash the railings instead of the windows. If time is short, just go over them with a brush soaked in soapy solution. If you have an extra hour, refresh the railings after a long winter: repaint and apply varnish.

Move on to the floor

Collect all large debris with a broom or vacuum cleaner, then go over it with a mopper. The choice of cleaning product will depend on the flooring on the balcony. To avoid using abrasive products, replace them with a soapy solution.

Start from the farthest corners and gradually move toward the entrance. If there are baseboards on the balcony, pay special attention to them—as more dirt accumulates here.

On the cover: Design project by Maja Valit