What to Expect on Exterior Cleaning Day
Is this your first time having your home washed? The day is calm and simple. Here is how to get ready, what the crew does, and how the job ends.
Short answer: On cleaning day, our crew washes the outside of your home at low pressure while you go about your day. Most homes are done in one day, and you do not need to be home. When the job is done, we send you photos of every side of the house.
How to get ready the day before
This only takes a few minutes. Doing it the night before keeps your morning easy.
- Close all windows and storm windows.
- Move cars out of the way.
- Bring in cushions and soft outdoor items.
- Take down hanging things you care about.
- Keep pets inside during the visit.
- Turn on an outside spigot and clear a path to it.
Windows matter most. An old window that does not seal well can let water in. It is easier to close them all than to find the one that leaks. Close any vents on the basement or crawl space too.
Two things are worth a quick text to us. First, tell us about any plants you love. Maybe it is a bush your grandmother planted, or a bed you worked on all spring. Second, tell us about access. Send gate codes, alarm codes, a sticky latch, or a dog door that must stay shut. Then nobody has to call you at eight in the morning.
What happens when the crew arrives
- A quick walk around We walk the property and confirm what is included. We look at the problem spots up close. If you are home, this is a good time to point things out.
- Checking each surface Siding, trim, soffits, paint, decks, and concrete each get the right method before anything gets wet. Ipe and other hardwood decks get their own care.
- Protecting your yard We wet your plants first. We cover lights and other delicate things. We plan where the water will run.
- The cleaning We clean and rinse from the top down. That way, clean areas stay clean.
Sometimes the walk around turns up something new, like rotten trim or a torn screen. If it changes the job, we tell you before we start, not after.
What it sounds and looks like
It is about as loud as yard work. You will hear a machine running, water on the walls, and the crew talking. On siding we use low pressure. It sounds more like heavy rain than a loud machine. Cleaning concrete is louder than washing the house.
Wet walls look darker and streaky while we work. That is normal. If you peek outside halfway through, it may look worse than when we started. Judge the result once it is dry.
The ground will be wet. Walkways and driveways get wet while we work. If people are coming and going, have them use a path away from the crew.
You do not need to be home
Lots of our customers never meet the crew. We just need an outside spigot and a way through the gates. Then we can do the whole job while you are at work, on a trip, or at the beach. We send photos when the job is done, so you can see it before you get back.
If you would like to be there, that is fine too. Either way, you get the same photos.
How long it takes
Most homes are done in one day. The exact time depends on the size of the house, how tall it is, and how many surfaces we clean. It also depends on how dirty it is. A two story home by the marsh that has not been washed in years takes longer. A one story home cleaned last year goes faster.
We give you a clear time window when we quote the job. If something on site changes it, we tell you. Weather can move a start time too. We would rather reschedule than work through a storm.
Plants and runoff
Protecting plants is part of every job. We wet the beds near the work area before we start. We cover delicate plants where it makes sense. Then we rinse everything again at the end. We guide the runoff away from beds and toward hard surfaces.
Do you have a vegetable garden, a koi pond, or new grass seed? Tell us before the day. We can almost always plan around it. It is easier to plan ahead than to change things once the crew has set up.
The final walk around and what comes next
When the work is done, the crew walks the property one last time. They pack up and put back anything they moved. If you are home, walk with them. Look at the shady side and the spots that made you call us.
Then you get photos. We send them on every job, whether you are home or not. That way you have a record of the work. Does something look off in a photo? Or do you spot something a day later once it is dry? Call or text us, and we will come back and look. That is what our 100% satisfaction guarantee is for. We are licensed and $2 million insured. We have a 5.0 from 54 Google reviews, because we would rather come back than leave someone unhappy.
Cleaning day FAQ
- Do I need to be home while the work is done?
- No. We just need an outside spigot and a way through any gates. Then we can do the job while you are at work or out of town. We send photos of every side when the job is done. Lots of customers never meet the crew.
- How long does an exterior cleaning take?
- Most homes are done in one day. The exact time depends on the size and height of the home, how many surfaces we clean, and how dirty it is. We give you a clear time window when we quote the job. If anything on site changes it, we tell you.
- What do I need to do before the crew arrives?
- Close windows and storm windows. Move cars out of the way. Bring in cushions and soft items, and keep pets inside. Turn on an outside spigot and clear a path to it. Send us any gate or alarm codes ahead of time. Point out plants you love, and we will take extra care around them.
- Will the cleaning hurt my landscaping?
- Protecting plants is part of every job. We wet the beds near the work area first. We cover delicate plants where needed. Then we rinse everything again at the end. Tell us about any plants you care about most, and we will plan around them.
- Is it loud, and how much water ends up on the ground?
- It is about as loud as yard work. You will hear a machine, water on the walls, and the crew talking. We clean siding at low pressure, so it sounds more like heavy rain. The ground gets wet, and we guide the runoff away from your beds as we go.
- What if I notice something after the crew leaves?
- Call or text us, and we will come back and look. Our work has a 100% satisfaction guarantee. We are licensed and $2 million insured. It is normal to notice something a day later, and we are glad when you tell us.
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