Professional Soft Wash House Washing
Over time, dirt, algae, mildew, pollen, spider webs, and other buildup can leave your home's exterior looking dull, stained, and neglected. Hydro Shine provides professional house washing using a soft wash approach designed to clean your home's exterior without relying on unnecessarily high pressure.
We evaluate the siding and exterior surfaces before we begin, then adjust our cleaning process based on what we're actually dealing with. Our goal isn't simply to make your house look cleaner—we want to thoroughly clean the exterior while taking care of your siding, landscaping, and property along the way.
Whether you're preparing your home for a special occasion, getting it ready to sell, or simply tired of looking at a dirty exterior, Hydro Shine can help bring back a cleaner, brighter appearance.
What Is Making Your House Look Dirty?
Not all exterior buildup is the same. Your home's siding can collect ordinary dirt and grime over time, while shaded areas—especially north-facing sides of the house—can develop algae and other organic growth. You may also find spider webs, pollen, lichen, and other buildup that requires more than simply spraying the surface with water.
Dirt, Grime & Everyday Buildup
Some of what you see on your home's exterior is simply dirt that accumulates over time. Dust, road grime, pollen, and other environmental debris can gradually make siding look dull and weathered.
Algae & Organic Growth
Shaded and moisture-prone areas are particularly susceptible to algae and other organic growth. This is why the north-facing side of a home often develops green or dark staining before the sunnier sides.
Spider Webs & Other Buildup
House washing isn't just about removing visible stains. Spider webs, insects, pollen, and other debris can collect around siding, soffits, fascia, windows, doors, and other exterior surfaces.
So how do you clean all of that without simply blasting the house with high pressure?
Why House Washing Isn't Just About Pressure
A house isn't one giant concrete surface. Different exterior materials have different cleaning considerations, and using excessive pressure simply because it removes dirt quickly can create problems of its own.
That's why Hydro Shine uses a soft wash approach for most house washing. Instead of relying on high pressure to force contaminants off the surface, we use a cleaning solution to break down organic growth, dirt, and other buildup before thoroughly rinsing the exterior.
The strength of the cleaning solution is adjusted based on what we're actually trying to clean. Most homes can be effectively cleaned with a standard solution, while heavier algae or lichen growth may require a stronger treatment.
The goal is simple: use the least amount of chemical necessary to effectively clean the home while minimizing unnecessary exposure to the surrounding property and landscaping.
So how is it done?
How Our House Washing Process Works
1. Inspect & Assess the Home
Before we begin, we take a walk around the property to determine exactly what we're dealing with. We identify the type of exterior surfaces, including vinyl, painted wood, stucco, Dryvit, brick, and other materials, and assess how heavily each area is affected.
We look for algae, dirt, spider webs, lichen, and other buildup because different conditions can require different cleaning approaches. Lichen, for example, may require a stronger cleaning treatment than a home with ordinary dirt and light algae.
We also inspect the areas around the home that need to be protected. That includes landscaping, outdoor furniture, lighting fixtures, electrical connections, exterior outlets, generators, air-conditioning equipment, garage-door keypads, doorbells, security cameras, and other items that could be affected by water or cleaning solution.
The purpose of the inspection is to identify potential problems before the cleaning begins, so we can plan the work appropriately and protect the property throughout the process.
2. Prepare & Protect the Property
Before we start washing, we prepare the areas around the home. Outdoor furniture is moved away from the house when necessary, particularly when cushions or other materials could be affected by the cleaning solution.
We also take additional precautions around vulnerable fixtures and connections. Depending on the home, this can include using protective stucco tape around electrical boxes, garage-door keypads, sensitive lighting fixtures, doorbells, security cameras, and other areas where water or cleaning solution could potentially get where it shouldn't.
Natural wood surfaces require additional consideration because cleaning solutions containing sodium hypochlorite can damage untreated wood. If a home has cedar accents or other sensitive wood features, we'll protect those areas before cleaning.
We also pay close attention to the landscaping around the home so we can determine where additional protection or care may be necessary.
3. Pre-Rinse the Home & Landscaping
Once the property is prepared, we thoroughly pre-rinse the landscaping and the exterior surfaces we're about to clean.
For non-masonry surfaces such as vinyl, painted wood, stucco, and Dryvit, the pre-rinse helps prepare the surface before the cleaning solution is applied. It also helps cool surfaces that may be heated by direct sunlight, reducing the chance of the cleaning solution drying too quickly or becoming overly concentrated on the surface.
Masonry surfaces such as brick and concrete are handled differently and generally do not require the same pre-rinse process.
The landscaping is also pre-rinsed before the cleaning solution is applied. This helps minimize the amount of solution that can be absorbed by surrounding plants during the cleaning process.
4. Apply the Cleaning Solution
With the home and surrounding property prepared, we apply our cleaning solution across the exterior, working from the gutters and upper portions of the home down toward the ground.
Our solution combines sodium hypochlorite with a surfactant. The sodium hypochlorite is used to treat organic growth such as algae and lichen, while the surfactant helps the solution cling to the surface and assists with contaminants such as dirt and spider webs.
Most homes can be cleaned using a standard-strength solution. When we encounter unusually heavy algae or lichen growth, we can adjust the cleaning process and use a stronger soft wash application when appropriate.
We don't use the strongest chemical mixture simply because we can. We use the strength the home actually needs.
5. Rinse the Home & Landscaping
After the cleaning solution has had time to work, we thoroughly rinse the exterior from the gutters and upper portions of the home down to the ground. We take care to remove the cleaning solution from the surfaces we've treated rather than leaving it behind.
Once the house has been rinsed, we perform a thorough post-rinse of the surrounding landscaping. This helps remove any cleaning solution that may have contacted the plants during the washing process.
Before we leave, we make sure the work area is cleaned up and the property is left in good condition.
What Should You Expect After Your House Is Washed?
When we're finished, your home's exterior should look significantly cleaner and brighter. We remove the dirt, algae, mildew, spider webs, and other buildup that can make siding and other exterior surfaces look dull and neglected.
The final appearance will depend on the condition of the surface before we begin. House washing can remove years of accumulated dirt and organic growth, but it cannot reverse pre-existing damage to the surface itself. Scrapes, peeling or failing paint, oxidation, and other permanent surface conditions may remain after cleaning.
We can also address certain stains that require more than our standard house-washing process. Rust staining, for example, can often be treated using a specialized acid formulated specifically for removing rust. When we encounter these types of stains during our inspection, we'll determine whether they can be safely treated based on the surface they're on.
Our goal is to leave you with an exterior that looks noticeably better—not simply a house that has been sprayed down.
House Washing FAQs
What Is Soft Washing?
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Soft washing is an exterior cleaning method that uses a cleaning solution to break down organic growth, dirt, and other buildup before the surface is thoroughly rinsed. Instead of relying on high pressure to physically blast contaminants from the surface, soft washing allows the cleaning solution to do much of the work.
Hydro Shine adjusts the cleaning process based on the surface and the type of buildup we're treating. This allows us to effectively clean the exterior while minimizing unnecessary pressure on your home's siding and other surfaces.
Is soft washing safe for vinyl siding?
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Yes. Soft washing is well suited for vinyl siding because it relies on cleaning solution rather than excessive pressure to remove dirt and organic growth.
Before we begin, we inspect the siding and surrounding property to determine the appropriate cleaning approach. We also pre-rinse the siding and landscaping before applying our cleaning solution, then thoroughly rinse the house and surrounding plants after the cleaning is complete.
Can House Washing Remove Algae and Mildew?
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Yes. Algae, mildew, and other organic growth are some of the most common reasons homeowners have their houses professionally washed.
Our cleaning solution is designed to treat this organic growth rather than simply trying to blast it off the siding with pressure. The strength of the cleaning solution is adjusted based on the amount and type of growth we're dealing with, with heavier algae or lichen requiring a stronger treatment when appropriate.
Will House Washing Remove Spider Webs?
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Yes. Spider webs and other surface debris can be removed as part of a professional house wash.
Our cleaning solution includes a surfactant that helps loosen dirt, spider webs, and other inorganic buildup. We then thoroughly rinse the exterior from the gutters down to the ground to leave the home looking clean and refreshed.
Can You Remove Rust Stains From My House?
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In many cases, yes. Rust stains require a different approach than ordinary dirt or organic growth, so they may not come off during a standard house wash.
When appropriate for the surface, Hydro Shine can use a specialized acid formulated specifically for rust removal. We'll evaluate the stain and the material it's on before determining whether it can be safely treated.
Can You Clean Brick and Concrete?
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Yes. Hydro Shine cleans masonry surfaces such as brick and concrete as part of exterior cleaning projects.
Masonry is different from most siding materials and can generally tolerate a stronger cleaning treatment. Because of that, we adjust our process based on whether we're cleaning masonry or a more delicate exterior surface rather than using the exact same approach everywhere.
Will House Washing Damage My Plants?
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How Often Should I Have My House Washed?
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Our process is designed to minimize the impact of cleaning solutions on your landscaping.
Before applying the cleaning solution, we thoroughly pre-rinse the surrounding plants and landscaping. We also monitor the property throughout the cleaning process and perform a thorough post-rinse afterward to remove any remaining solution from the surrounding areas.
During our initial inspection, we identify landscaping that may require additional attention or protection so we can plan for it before the cleaning begins.
There's no single schedule that works for every home. How quickly a house becomes dirty depends on factors such as shade, moisture, surrounding vegetation, environmental conditions, and the amount of organic growth present.
Many homeowners choose to have their home professionally washed every 1–3 years, while homes in heavily shaded or damp environments may benefit from more frequent cleaning.
The best indicator is the condition of the exterior. If you're starting to see algae, mildew, noticeable dirt buildup, or heavy spider webs, it's probably time to have the exterior cleaned.
Related Exterior Cleaning Services
Looking to give your whole home a refresh? Pair your house washing service with other exterior cleaning services to keep your entire property looking clean, well maintained, and ready to enjoy.
A clean house can still look unfinished if the roof is covered in black streaks, algae, moss, or other organic growth. Our soft wash roof cleaning process is designed specifically around the roofing material and the type of growth present.
Keep water moving away from your home with clean, functional gutters. We remove leaves, debris, and buildup from gutters and downspouts to help your drainage system work properly.
Complete your home's exterior refresh with professional window cleaning. We use purified water and water-fed poles for exterior windows to help leave the glass clean without the residue associated with ordinary tap water.
Ready to Give Your Home a Fresh Start?
If dirt, algae, mildew, spider webs, or other buildup has taken away from your home's appearance, Hydro Shine can help.
We'll evaluate your home's exterior, determine the right cleaning approach, and provide a straightforward estimate for the work your home needs.