Cleaning advice · 04 Nov 2026
Metal roof and roof deck cleaning in Ipoh: how and how often
A metal roof is cleaned in order: sweep the leaves and dirt with a soft brush or leaf blower, lower the debris, hose the whole roof and its gutters, then wash stuck-on dirt with mild soap and a soft brush and rinse. Never use hard tools or solvent cleaners, and hose sheltered areas at least every six months.
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This guide is for homeowners, landlords and building managers in Ipoh and elsewhere in Perak with a metal roof, metal awning or metal roof deck (the flat or low-pitched steel sheet over a porch, car park or extension) that has collected leaves, mud and grime. The care steps come from Lysaght, an Australian maker, written for its own steel roofing; if your sheets come from another maker, its instructions come first.
01How is a metal roof or roof deck cleaned properly?
A metal roof is cleaned dry first and wet second: leaves, twigs and dirt come off with a soft-bristled brush or a leaf blower and are lowered to the ground. Then the whole roof and its gutters are hosed, and only dirt the hose leaves behind is washed by hand with mild soap and rinsed.
- Sweep leaves, twigs and dirt into a pile with a soft-bristled brush or a leaf blower. No shovels or hard tools.
- Put the debris in a container and lower it to the ground.
- Hose the whole roof and the gutters, including the high ends of gutters under overhangs, rain heads and overflows.
- Wash any dirt left behind with a mild solution of pure soap or non-abrasive detergent in warm water and a soft brush, pressing gently.
- Rinse straight away with clean water so no detergent is left; repeat for stubborn dirt.
Steps 1 to 3 come from Lysaght's guidance on inspecting and maintaining roofing, which recommends sweeping debris with "a stiff, soft bristled brush or leaf blower" and washing the whole roof and gutter with a hose, "including high ends of gutters possibly protected by overhangs, rain heads, waterspouts and overflow locations". Steps 4 and 5 come from its article on maintaining and cleaning Lysaght cladding.
02Why does dirt on a metal roof matter?
Dirt on a metal roof matters because it holds moisture against the metal. Lysaght explains that condensation can be absorbed by dust and dirt that has stuck to the surface, and that this may eventually lead to corrosion, so neglected dirt is worth the extra effort to remove.
"It's important to make the extra effort to clean this because condensation can be absorbed by the dust and dirt, and eventually this may lead to corrosion."
Lysaght's inspection guidance lists what to look for: staining where water may pond, build-up of dust and debris, and metallic staining of the gutter, including surface rust. It adds that twigs, dust, leaves and fungal matter should be removed without damaging the cladding.
03What should never be used on a metal roof?
Shovels and hard tools should never be used on a metal roof, and neither should solvent cleaners such as mineral turpentine, kerosene or paint thinners. Lysaght also warns against pressing too hard when rubbing, because that can leave shiny areas on the metal.
In its article on maintaining and cleaning Lysaght cladding, the maker recommends a mild solution of pure soap or a mild non-abrasive kitchen detergent in warm water, applied with a sponge, soft cloth or soft bristle nylon brush, and a thorough rinse with clean water straight afterwards to remove any trace of detergent. Stubborn dirt can take the same process again.
| Task | Use | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Moving leaves, twigs and dirt | A soft-bristled brush or a leaf blower | Shovels and hard tools |
| Stuck-on dirt | Mild soap or non-abrasive detergent, soft brush, then a clean rinse | Solvent cleaners such as kerosene or paint thinners |
| Rubbing | Gentle pressure | Hard rubbing, which can leave shiny areas |
04How often should a metal roof in Ipoh be cleaned?
Where rain washes a metal roof regularly, it rarely needs any cleaning beyond the rain. Lysaght recommends hosing down the parts the rain cannot reach, such as cladding under the eaves and the underside of eave gutters, at least every six months, and about every three months near salt spray or commercial or industrial activity.
For a roof in Ipoh away from factories and other industrial activity, that means the six-monthly tier for the sheltered parts; a roof close to industrial activity falls in the three-monthly tier. The parts that collect dirt are the sheltered ones the rain cannot reach, such as cladding under the eaves, the underside of eave gutters and the high ends of gutters under overhangs. On a roof deck where leaves settle, look at the places water can pond: Lysaght lists staining at possible ponding locations among the things to inspect.
| Where | How often |
|---|---|
| Open areas washed by rain | Rarely needs more than the rain |
| Sheltered areas the rain cannot reach | At least every six months |
| Near salt spray, or near commercial or industrial activity | About every three months |
05What about fungal growth on a metal roof?
Light fungal matter comes off with the twigs, leaves and dust in the sweep and the wash. Where significant fungal growth is found, Lysaght says it should be identified first and then removed following BlueScope's technical bulletin on fungus.
The bulletin the guidance names is "Technical Bulletin TB 27 - Identification of fungus in the field and recommendations for its removal". The same guidance asks for care that no damage occurs to the cladding while debris is removed, and notes that breakdowns in the coating generally result from poor maintenance techniques and scratching.
06Should you clean a roof yourself?
Cleaning a roof is height work, and the steps above assume someone can reach every part of the roof and its gutters safely. If that is not you, send the details to a team that does height work and let them see the roof before anything is agreed.
Kean Can Cleaning Service does glass and high-access cleaning across Ipoh and Perak; the before-and-after photograph above is its own, of a metal roof deck. For height work the company asks for a site visit before anything is confirmed, and its equipment and chemicals are its own and sit inside the quote.
Exterior walls and driveways that have gone black or green are a separate job, covered in pressure washing black and green stains.
07What should you send when asking for a roof to be cleaned?
Send what the roof is made of, a rough size, what is on it (leaves, mud, moss, staining), photos from the ground or a window, and how the roof is reached, so the site visit and the quote start from the right facts.
- The roof type: metal sheet, roof deck or awning, and roughly how big it is.
- What is on it: leaves and twigs, mud, moss, stains or rust marks.
- Whether the gutters are blocked or overflowing.
- Photos of the roof and the gutters, taken safely from the ground or a window.
- How the roof is reached: a staircase, an access door or only from outside.
WhatsApp 014-313 0767, or see the glass and high-access cleaning guide, all services and the common questions.
08What else do people ask about roof cleaning?
Four short answers to the questions that follow. The outside facts come from Lysaght's published guidance.
Can a metal roof be cleaned with a pressure washer?
Lysaght's published roof care does not mention pressure washers: it washes the roof down with an ordinary hose and cleans stuck-on dirt by hand with mild soap and a soft brush, and it warns that pressing too hard when rubbing can leave shiny areas. Check your roof maker's instructions before putting high-pressure equipment on the sheets.
Does a metal roof that gets plenty of rain need cleaning at all?
Mostly not. Lysaght says cladding that is regularly washed by rain is unlikely to need any further cleaning. The exceptions are the parts the rain cannot reach, such as cladding under the eaves and the underside of eave gutters, which it says to hose down at least every six months.
Why are the gutters stained or rusty?
Lysaght lists metallic staining of the gutter, including surface rust, among the things to inspect, and says to work out whether it is a metallic deposit or a breakdown of the coating. A deposit is removed straight away; a coating breakdown is restored following BlueScope's guidance, which is a repair rather than a clean.
How is a roof cleaning job quoted?
Send the roof type, rough size, what is on it and photos taken safely from the ground on WhatsApp. Roof cleaning is height work, so Kean Can Cleaning Service asks for a site visit before anything is confirmed; its equipment and chemicals are its own and sit inside the quote.
09Where does this information come from?
Lysaght, an Australian steel roofing brand that is part of BlueScope, publishes the roof care guidance quoted on this page, written for its own steel sheets. The checklist of what to send is the company's own practical advice. Sources read on 4 November 2026.
- Lysaght, "Inspection and maintenance of roofing": what to inspect, removing debris, washing down roofs and gutters, fungal growth (Technical Bulletin TB 27) and metallic staining.
- Lysaght, "Maintaining and cleaning Lysaght cladding" (23 May 2023): how often to wash, mild soap and detergent, what to avoid, and why dirt matters.
This page is general guidance. Follow your roof maker's instructions for your own roof.
Written by the Kean Can Cleaning Service crew in Ipoh, Perak: about the company.
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Send a photograph and tell us the scope so the team can assess the work.
Ipoh and across Perak.