Exterior cleaning
House soft washing
Green streaks, black spots and gray film off your siding, with about the pressure of a garden hose.
The green streaks on the shady side of a house, the black spots under the eaves and the dull gray film on white vinyl are mostly living things: algae, mildew and the dirt they hold onto. Soft washing kills that growth with a cleaning solution, lets it work for a few minutes, then rinses it away at low pressure.
A pressure washer strong enough to blast that growth off can also drive water up behind vinyl laps, cut grooves into wood and peel paint off trim. Soft washing gets the siding clean without any of that, which is why it is the only way we wash houses.
Signs it's time
- Green or black streaks, usually on the north side or under trees
- A chalky gray film on vinyl that rubs off on your hand
- Dark spots on soffits and on the siding under the gutters
- Cobwebs and old wasp nests packed into corners and eaves
- You are listing the house, or hosting a graduation party this summer
Step by step
- Walk the house with you and point out anything loose, cracked or already damaged
- Soak plants and beds with water, and cover outdoor outlets and light fixtures
- Apply the cleaning solution at low pressure, working from the bottom up
- Give it a few minutes to break down the growth
- Rinse the house from the top down, then rinse the plants again
Soft washing removes growth and dirt. It does not fix faded or chalking paint, oxidized aluminum siding or orange rust stains from well water. If we see those, we tell you before we start.
Soft washing vs. pressure washing
Pressure is right for concrete. For siding, trim and roofs, low pressure and the right solution do the job without the damage.
| Compare | Pressure washing | Soft washingWhat we use on houses |
|---|---|---|
| Water pressure | High, often thousands of PSI | Low, close to a garden hose |
| What does the cleaning | The force of the water | A solution that kills algae and mildew |
| Vinyl siding | Can force water behind the panels and crack brittle vinyl | Cleans the face of the siding, nothing forced behind it |
| Painted wood trim | Can strip paint and gouge soft wood | Leaves paint and wood alone |
| Asphalt shingles | Blasts off the granules that protect the shingle | Low pressure is the safe way to clear black roof streaks |
| How long it stays clean | Growth left in the surface comes back sooner | Growth is killed, so it takes longer to return |
From first call to finished job
- 1
Tell us what you need
Tick your services on the quote form, or call or text. It takes about a minute.
- 2
We look and give you a price
We come out, look at the house and give you a price in person. Nothing is booked until you agree to it.
- 3
We do the work on your day
We show up on the scheduled day and do the work, and we send you photos when it's done. If weather moves the date, we text you first.
House soft wash: questions
How much does a house wash cost?
Most one-story homes run $300 to $400 and most two-story homes $400 to $600. Size, height and how dirty it is all change the price, so we look at your home and confirm the exact price in person before anything is booked.
Is soft washing safe for my plants and lawn?
We soak plants before and after the wash so any solution that reaches them is diluted, and we rinse the beds again when we finish. If there is a bed you are especially careful with, tell us when you book and we will cover it.
How long does a house wash last?
It depends on shade. Sunny walls often stay clean for a year or more. Walls that sit under trees or face north can start to green up again within a year. A yearly wash keeps it from building up.
Do I need to be home?
No. We need an outdoor water spigot and a way around the house, so leave the gate unlocked. We will text you when we finish.
How long does a house soft wash take?
On a typical home, a one-story house takes about 1 to 2 hours and a two-story house about 2 to 3. Big homes, heavy growth and lots of trim take longer. We give you a closer time when we come out to price it.
House soft wash near you
Based in Geist and serving these towns and the northeast side of Indianapolis.
Often booked with it
Window cleaning
Glass, frames and sills scrubbed and squeegeed by hand, with screens brushed and put back.
Learn moreGutter cleaning
Gutters cleared by hand, downspouts flushed and checked, and anything broken pointed out.
Learn moreDriveway and concrete cleaning
Driveways, walks and patios cleaned evenly, without the zebra stripes a wand leaves.
Learn moreLet's get the green off your house
Tell us what you need and we will come out, look at the job and give you a price in person.