How Should You Prepare Your Home for a House Wash?

Preparing your home for house washing comes down to a few simple jobs you can finish the day before. Close every window and door, and move furniture, grills and cars away from the walls. Point out outdoor outlets, lights and doorbell cameras so the crew knows where they are. Keep pets and kids inside, and give your plants a deep drink ahead of time. With those steps done, the crew can work around the whole house without stopping.

A house wash is usually a soft wash, which pairs low pressure with a diluted cleaning solution. The solution kills mildew and algae at the root, so the water itself can stay gentle. That changes what you need to protect around the outside of the house. The solution can harm thirsty plants and bother pets that walk through it before the rinse. Good prep is mostly about keeping the solution on the siding and trim, where it belongs.

Each step on this list has a simple, practical reason behind it that protects your home. Windows, doors and the furniture and décor that crowd your walls come first. After that, it helps to know what the crew checks before starting and how to protect pets, kids and plants. Last comes what wash day looks and sounds like, so nothing catches you or your neighbors off guard.

Close Windows and Clear the Walls Before Wash Day

Start with every window and door on the outside of the house, including garage and pet doors. A low-pressure rinse can still push water through a window left cracked open or a torn screen. Check that dryer vents and crawl space vents have their flaps or covers in place too. Older homes with loose window frames or worn seals deserve an extra look before wash day. If a window does not latch tightly, tell the crew so they rinse around it with care.

Next, give the crew clear access to every wall. Pull patio furniture, grills, planters and wall décor a few feet away from the siding. Move cars out of the driveway or away from the house so they stay out of the rinse. Clear garden hoses, bikes and toys from the side yards, since the crew walks the full perimeter. A clear wall gets an even clean from top to bottom, with no outline where a bench sat.

Outdoor Outlets, Lights and Doorbells

Water and electricity do not mix, so make sure every outdoor outlet has its weather cover closed. Unplug string lights, extension cords, fountains and anything else plugged in outside the house. Point out light fixtures, doorbell cameras and security cameras so the crew can rinse around them gently. If an outlet cover is broken or missing, mention it ahead of time so it can be covered or avoided.

• Close and latch every window, including upstairs windows and small bathroom windows
• Shut garage doors, pet doors and any vents that have covers or flaps
• Move patio furniture, grills, planters and wall décor away from the siding
• Unplug outdoor cords and close the weather covers on every exterior outlet

What a Washing Crew Checks Before Starting

Before any solution goes on, we walk around the house and look for anything that needs extra care. Loose vinyl panels, cracked trim and gaps around windows can let water in, so we note them first. We check for chalky or peeling paint, which a wash can loosen further. We also look for open vents, damaged screens and fixtures that need a gentle rinse. Then we find the outdoor spigot, since a house wash runs on water from your outside faucet.

This walk-around is also your chance to share what you know about the house. Tell the crew about a leaky window, a loose gutter or a plant you care about most. Point out stains you want looked at, such as rust drips under a light or hose bib. Red clay splashed on the lower siding after summer storms is worth mentioning too. Getting ready for soft washing goes faster when the crew knows about these spots up front.

• Loose siding panels, cracked caulk or gaps around windows and doors
• Chalky, faded or peeling paint that could flake off during the rinse
• A working outdoor spigot that turns on easily and does not leak or drip
• Delicate plants, fresh mulch beds or vegetable gardens close to the walls

Keeping Pets, Kids and Plants Safe During the Wash

Keep pets and children inside until the wash is done and everything has been rinsed. The cleaning solution is diluted, but it can still bother paws, skin and eyes before the rinse. Pet safety groups advise keeping animals off freshly cleaned surfaces until they are rinsed and dry. Bring in pet bowls, toys and anything kids play with near the house the night before. If your dog needs to go out, use the side of the yard farthest from the wash.

Central Alabama weather adds a few more things to plan around before wash day. Yellow pine pollen coats porches and drifts through open windows for a few weeks each spring. Booking after the heaviest pollen settles keeps your clean siding from turning yellow again right away. Summer heat dries out plants and soil fast, especially along sunny, west-facing walls and beds. A thirsty shrub on a hot afternoon soaks up whatever lands on it, so watering ahead matters here.

Watering Plants Before the Soft Wash Starts

Give flower beds, shrubs and grass along the house a deep watering the evening before the wash. Plants that are already full of water absorb less of the cleaning solution that drifts onto them. Our crew also wets plants down before washing and rinses them well again afterward. Point out any prized rose bush or vegetable bed against the wall so it gets extra attention.

• Pets and kids are inside, with bowls and toys moved off the porch
• Beds and shrubs along the walls got a deep watering beforehand
• Cars, bikes and outdoor gear are parked well away from the house

What to Expect While Your House Is Being Washed

On wash day, the crew hooks up to your outdoor spigot and works around the house wall by wall. Each section is wetted, treated with the cleaning solution and given time to work on the growth. Then it is rinsed from top to bottom at low pressure, so dirty water runs down and off. You will hear pumps and hoses running outside for most of the visit. Plan phone calls, video meetings or a baby's nap with that noise in mind.

Expect the ground around the house to stay wet and slick for a while, especially on patios and steps. The crew rinses plants again at the end so no solution stays on the leaves. Once everything dries, walk around and look at each side of the house in daylight. Check the corners, the trim and the spots you pointed out during the walk-around. Our work comes with a satisfaction guarantee, so point out any spot that needs another look.