It can be caused by the use of low quality paint, by soil splashing onto the substrate or by general air pollutants like dust and exhaust fumes collecting on your house body and horizontal trim.

If you’re unsure whether the problem is dirt or mould, conduct a simple spot-test (see mould).

Simply wash away all surface dirt with Selleys® Original Sugar Soap, rinse with clean water and ensure total dry state before priming and re-painting. If the dirt is heavy, you may need to use a power washer.

Dirt pickup can't be eliminated entirely but top quality exterior latex paints offer superior dirt pickup resistance and washability to minimise its impact. Higher gloss paints are also more resistant to dirt pickup than flat paints, which are more porous and can more easily entrap dirt. Dulux Weathershield Gloss is recommended.