House Washing That's Safe for Your Siding
Blasting siding with high pressure can crack stucco, dent aluminum, and drive water behind the panels. Our soft-wash method cleans gently and lasts longer, because it kills the algae instead of just rinsing it.
Why Your Siding Turns Green
That green and gray film is colonies of algae, mildew, and mold feeding on dust and pollen, especially on shaded north-facing walls. Pressure alone doesn't kill it, so it grows right back. We treat it at the source.
Our climate makes it worse. Long, humid summers, heavy spring pollen, and the tree cover that shades so many Greensboro-area lots give organic growth everything it needs. Walls that stay damp the longest, north and east faces, low spots behind shrubs, anywhere gutters overflow, are usually the first to discolor and the last to dry.
- Safe for every siding type, vinyl, aluminum, brick, stucco, fiber cement & painted wood.
- Detergent does the work, not brute force, so there's no risk of forcing water inside.
- Stays clean longer, killing the growth means months more of a fresh look.
Different Siding Needs Different Care
"House washing" isn't one setting. The method that's right for chalky vinyl is wrong for old mortar, so we read the surface first.
Vinyl & aluminum
The most common siding here. Cleans up beautifully with low pressure, but aging vinyl can hold a chalky oxidation we'll point out before we start.
Brick & stucco
Porous and prone to trapping mildew in the texture. We let detergent dwell so it lifts growth from the pores instead of just the face.
Fiber cement & wood
HardiePlank and painted wood demand the gentlest touch, high pressure lifts paint and drives water behind boards. Soft washing is the manufacturer-friendly choice.
How We Soft Wash a Home
Every step exists for a reason, and the reasons are what keep your home safe:
- We pre-wet landscaping first. Saturated leaves and roots can't absorb much else, so plain-water saturation is the single best protection for your beds.
- Detergent before water, always. The cleaning is chemical, not mechanical. A biodegradable mix breaks down algae and mildew so we never need damaging pressure.
- We let it dwell, then rinse low. Giving the solution time to work means a gentle rinse finishes the job, no streaks, no etching, no water forced under the siding.
- A final landscape rinse. We soak your plants again on the way out so nothing sits on the foliage.
What Goes Into Your Quote
A house wash starts at $199. Where your number lands depends on a handful of honest factors, not a guessing game.
Size & stories
Square footage and reach matter most. A sprawling ranch or a three-story facade simply takes more product, time, and care than a compact two-story.
Surface & severity
Heavy, years-deep algae needs more dwell time and sometimes a second pass. Textured brick and stucco hold growth more stubbornly than smooth vinyl.
Add-ons & access
Gutter face brightening, a window rinse, or tight, fenced access can shift the total. We price these clearly so you choose what you want.
Want the most value? Bundle a wash with a driveway clean for $279 (15% off), or join the Curb Appeal Club for 20% off recurring visits. Pricing scales with the work, never with a fixed quote we invented before seeing your home.
Common DIY House-Washing Mistakes
Too much pressure
A rented 3,000-PSI wand can carve lines in soft vinyl and blow water past the lap joints into the wall cavity, where it rots sheathing.
Spraying upward
Angling a wand under siding laps or into soffit vents is the fastest way to push water somewhere it should never be.
Rinsing, not killing
Water-only blasting makes siding look clean for a few weeks, then the algae returns because the roots were never treated.
None of this means you can't clean your own home, but a wrong move on a ladder with a pressure machine gets expensive fast. When in doubt, let us quote it, the wash is often less than the repair.
The House Wash Package
All siding surfaces
Every wall, plus soffits, fascia, and trim, cleaned top to bottom.
Algae & mildew kill
Treated at the root so it doesn't return in weeks.
Cobwebs & nests
We knock down spider webs, wasp starts, and dirt-dauber mud.
House Washing FAQ
Will a house wash damage my plants or grass?
No. We soak your landscaping with plain water before and after we work, which dilutes any runoff to a level plants tolerate, and we keep our detergents at low, surface-safe concentrations. Beds directly under the eaves get the most attention because that's where rinse water lands.
How long does a house wash last before the green comes back?
Because soft washing kills the algae and mildew rather than just rinsing it off, most homes in the Triad stay clean for 12 to 18 months. Heavily shaded or tree-lined lots on the north side regrow faster, which is why some homeowners choose a twice-a-year plan.
Do I need to be home during the house wash?
Usually not. As long as we can reach the exterior and an outdoor spigot, you're free to go about your day. We'll confirm gate codes, pets, and any windows that should stay shut when we schedule.
Can you safely clean fiber cement (HardiePlank) and painted wood?
Yes, and those are exactly why soft washing exists. High pressure can force water behind boards and lift paint, so we use low pressure and let the detergent do the cleaning, adjusting to the age and condition of the finish.
Why does my old vinyl leave a chalky film when I rub it?
That chalk is oxidation, the slow UV breakdown of the vinyl's surface. A soft wash removes dirt and biological growth and improves the look, but it can't reverse oxidation. We'll tell you honestly what a wash can and can't fix before we start.
Is pressure washing ever safe for vinyl siding?
Done at low pressure with the right detergent, yes. Done with a high-pressure wand, no. We dig into the details in Is Pressure Washing Safe for Vinyl Siding?
Make Your Home Look Years Younger
A house wash is the single highest-impact thing you can do for curb appeal. Get your free quote today, most come back the same day. Cleaning more than siding? See our roof soft washing and driveway & concrete cleaning too.