Cleaning the outside of your home may seem like a daunting task. That involves things like ladders, power washers and a lot of time, right?

Wrong. Giving your home an exterior refresher does not have to be as big of a deal as it seems. With these five tips for cleaning the outside of your home, this daunting task will actually seem incredibly easy.

1) Cleaning the exterior of your home should not be done solely for cosmetic reasons. There are safety reasons to clean as well. In fact, things like clearing out clothes dryer air vents can actually prevent a fire and save lives. A swift air vent cleanse is very simple but you do want to make sure you go about it in a safe way. The first thing to do is to unplug your dryer so that you do not experience an electrical shock. If you have a gas dryer, you will want to shut off the gas. Locate and remove the snake-like vent behind your dryer. Use your hand to remove any debris caught in the dryer and in the vent tubing. Once that is complete, reattach the vent to the dryer and head outside. Find your vent on the exterior of your home and remove it. Use a hand-held vacuum cleaner, a wet rag or your hand to clear lint and other particles from the vent. Next, secure the vent back on the wall, plug in the dryer and run it for about 10 minutes.

2) Screens need a good wash every year. Screen doors generally attract grease from hands and screen windows habitually attract dust and dirt. You do not even need to go to the store to buy a screen cleaning solution. Simply combine ammonia with a few drops of dishwashing soap, add water and you have yourself a nice homemade screen cleaning formula. If you can, remove the screen from the tracks and clean each side by propping it against a wall. If you are unable to remove the screen, simply clean it as it stands. Use a brush with soft bristles to scrub the screen. Rinse it with water once you are complete.

3) Cleaning the siding of your home can have the most dramatic effect on its appearance. Unfortunately, power washers can be expensive and are difficult and risky to use if you are not an experienced power washer. There is however an easy way about cleaning the siding of your home without one. Find a sprayer that can hold at least a few gallons of cleaner. There are varieties of siding cleaners that can be purchased online or at your local hardware store. Spray the cleaner onto the siding of the house and use a wet rag to scrub the siding. A ladder would be required to reach the high areas. You wouldn’t want the bottom of your house to look shiny while the top half is still covered in grime, would you?

4) Concrete is strong but sometimes even concrete can succumb to harsh weather and natural wear and tear. Caulk repair is super cheap at home improvement stores, so are caulk guns. Spend about $10 and clean up the cracks and chips in your driveway and walkway.

5) Last but not least, give your front door a good scrub. It is the first thing people notice when they look at your house. Your front door is the brave face of the house and is subjected to all sorts of weather conditions. Spray it down with a mixture of water and vinegar, grab a sponge and get to work. A little elbow grease is well worth a clean front door.