Before the visit: the quote and the scope
It starts with information. Photos of each elevation, a note of the wall finishes and any problem areas let a cleaner judge the method and the access. OOR External provides free written quotes, and a written scope matters because house washing means different things to different firms. One may mean walls only, another walls and gutters, another everything down to the patio.
A clear scope lists each surface and the method for it. If you want the conservatory, the garage or the side passage included, say so at this stage so nothing is left as an extra on the day.
Preparing your home
A little preparation helps the day run smoothly. Close every window and roof light, and move cars off the drive if paving is being cleaned. Bring in garden furniture, cushions, bins and plant pots from beside the walls. Let the team know where the outside tap is, and mention pets so gates can be kept shut.
It also helps to tell your neighbours, particularly on a terrace or semi where spray and rinse water can drift near a shared boundary. A careful operator will cover or rinse nearby surfaces, but a quick word avoids surprises.
On the day: the usual order of work
Most house washes work from the top down, so dirt rinsed from above does not land on a surface already finished. The typical order is below, although it changes with the property.
- Roofline first: gutters cleared, then fascias and soffits washed
- Walls next: a cleaning solution applied at low pressure and left to work
- Gentle rinse: the walls rinsed so loosened growth and dirt run off
- Ground level last: paths, steps, patio or drive cleaned
- Final rinse and tidy: windows, doors and sills rinsed down and debris cleared
Why walls are soft washed
Painted masonry, through coloured render and older brick can all be damaged by aggressive pressure. It can strip paint, open up hairline cracks and drive water into the wall. Soft washing lets a cleaning solution break down algae and lichen, then rinses it away gently, which also deals with the organic growth at its root so it takes longer to return.
Some staining, such as rust from fixings or old paint splashes, will not respond to a standard wash and may need separate treatment. A good cleaner will point these out at the quote stage rather than leave you guessing.
Checking the finish
When the team has finished, take a walk round the house. The walls should be an even colour, not blotchy with cleaner and dirtier patches, and there should be no lance marks or bare patches in paint. Gutters should be empty and the roofline bright. Windows, doors and cars nearby should be free of splash back, and drains and flower beds free of slurry.
Some algae staining can keep fading for a few days after a soft wash as the treatment finishes working, so a slightly uneven wall on the day can improve over the following week. Ask the cleaner if that applies to your walls.
Keeping the house clean for longer
Clear gutters stop water sheeting down one spot and staining the render beneath. Cutting back shrubs and climbers lets walls dry out after rain, which slows green growth. North facing and shaded walls will always need attention sooner than sunny ones.
OOR External cleans homes and commercial buildings across Kent from Dover, and the homepage gallery shows real before and after results. Ask for a free written quote that lists every surface you would like included.