Exterior Cleaning near you

A house wash usually combines both methods, each on the surfaces it suits. The walls, soffits and windows get soft washing, because a strong jet aimed at siding can push water up behind the laps, into window frames and through vents, and can etch soft wood, paint and stucco. The cleaning solution does the heavy lifting, and the rinse is closer to a strong garden hose than a blast.

Pressure is kept for the flatwork at the end: concrete walks, stone steps and the entry, where the surface can take it. When comparing quotes, ask how each part of the house will be cleaned, not just whether the company owns a pressure washer. If the answer is high pressure for everything, including the siding, keep looking. Jobs that are mostly decks, patios or driveways are better booked as pressure washing.

Much of a house wash happens above the ground floor, near soffits, gutters and upper windows. Crews reach as much as they can from the ground with extension wands and water-fed poles, and use ladders with stabilizers or a lift for the rest. Wet siding, slick cleaning solution and soft ground make ladders far less stable, and a pressure wand's kickback can throw someone off balance, so this isn't a job to climb for yourself. Stay well clear of the electrical service mast and overhead wires.

Most organic growth, pollen and dirt comes off with the right solution. Some marks need a specific cleaner or aren't really dirt at all, and a good crew tells you which before starting.

Everything rinsed off a house, from cleaning solution to dirt and old paint, runs down into the yard. Toronto's Sewers By-law, for one, lets only rain and melted snow into outdoor catch basins, so wash water from outdoor cleaning has to be kept out of them, and the City notes that even plain water picks up contaminants. Rules vary by municipality, so ask your contractor how runoff will be directed onto lawn or gravel, contained or collected.

Plants are the other concern. Soft-wash solutions strong enough to kill algae can scorch leaves and harm roots, which is why beds are soaked beforehand, covered where needed and rinsed again afterwards. Keep pets and children indoors until the rinsing is done, and make sure runoff can't reach a pond, creek or vegetable garden. On an older home with peeling paint, have the paint tested for lead before any washing; Health Canada's page on lead-based paint explains the risk, and the pressure washing page covers it further.

There's no fixed schedule. A house surrounded by mature trees, facing a busy road or near water gets dirty and grows algae much faster than an open, sunny one, and shaded walls may need attention while the south side still looks fine. Many owners check the house each spring, once the pollen has fallen, and book a wash when streaks and green film start to show rather than on a calendar.