Real estate agents worship it. Homebuyers notice it in the first few seconds. It's that magnetic first impression from a sparkling home that “shows well.” It's known as curb appeal. How do you get it?

“One way to boost your home's curb appeal is to make the exterior as clean as the day it was built,” says Richard Roll, president of American Homeowners Association (AHA). “Nothing attracts more attention than a clean and bright exterior on a home.”

Here are some helpful hints to make your home's exterior shine. Of course, cleaning is just the first step. You'll need to weed, seed and focus on your general landscaping if you want to make that favorable first impression.

You'll need a bucket and several soft scrub brushes in different sizes to get started, along with sponges, cleaning cloths or paper towels for drying.

The best way to tackle cleaning your siding, deck or outdoor furniture is to grab a scrub brush and cleaning solution and apply some elbow grease.

Use a good all-purpose cleaner — ask your local home improvement center for suggestions. Avoid caustic cleaners, use gloves and be careful to avoid contact with skin or eyes.

When cleaning vinyl or wood, be sure to rinse well throughout the job to see how much progress you have made. A pump sprayer or power washer can be used to apply the solution.

Try to clean windows on a cloudy day so they won't dry too quickly and leave streaks. Use newsprint to dry the windows — that will minimize the streaks even more.

Wash door and window screens with a brush and cleaning solution, rinse well, and allow to air dry.

Don't forget to clean stone pathways, statues or walls, too— use a mild cleaning solution, and rinse well with clean water.

Wash wrought-iron railing with clear water using a damp sponge or cloth, then wipe dry. If you want to, add a protective coat of liquid wax to make cleaning easier next time and to help prevent rust from building up.

Always read the instructions and precautions on any cleaner before using it. Avoid exposing your landscaping to toxic cleaners to prevent unnecessary harm to plants.

For more information on any aspect of home ownership, go to www.ahahome.com.

— American Homeowners Association