House washing: a guide for pros

What customers ask, how to win the job, and what to put on your profile.

Offering house washing

House washing is a soft-wash job where the cleaner, the dwell time and the plant protection decide whether the house comes out clean and undamaged. Your win is matching the cleaner to the siding and giving the homeowner a clear protection plan.

What customers ask

  • Will the wash damage my siding or paint?
  • What chemicals are you using, and are my plants and pets safe?
  • Will the mildew come back?
  • Do you clean the windows and the soffits too?
  • How do you get to the upper stories safely?
  • Can you do the house and the driveway on the same day?

How to win the job

  • On the first call, ask for the siding material, the number of stories, the shade exposure and the growth they see, so you bring the right cleaner and plan.
  • Bring your cleaner and rinse equipment to the visit, and explain the soft-wash method in plain words.
  • Walk the house on the site visit to note loose siding, failed caulk and stains, and photograph them before the wash.
  • Put each surface, the cleaner, the protection steps and any inhibitor in the quote as separate lines.
  • Explain how you will wet down and cover plants before you start, and show the homeowner the rinse path.
  • Tell the homeowner in writing what you do on the upper stories and what you need from them, such as moving vehicles.
  • Send a closeout photo log with before and after shots of each elevation, and note any stain that did not lift.

What to put on your profile

  • Before and after photos of house washes that show each elevation, the trim and the windows
  • Siding materials you clean, with the cleaner method for each
  • Equipment you use for upper stories and access, if the photos show it
  • Service area and whether you do window cleaning and gutter cleaning in the same visit

Follow-up that helps the customer

  • Offer an algae inhibitor or protective coat for the north and shaded sides, where growth returns fastest.
  • Suggest a gutter clean in the same visit, since washed debris can run into the gutters.
  • Recommend a repaint or caulk check if the wash revealed failing paint or joints.

Licenses and permits

House washing is often offered by general exterior cleaning companies, and rules vary by place. Check your state and local licensing requirements, and check the rules for chemicals and runoff where you work.

Questions

Can I use a pressure washer on siding?

Not at the pressures used for hard surfaces. High pressure can drive water behind siding and damage it. Use a soft-wash method with a low-pressure rinse instead.

How do I handle plant damage claims?

Protect and rinse the plants before and after the wash, and photograph the protection before you start. Put the protection steps in the quote so the homeowner knows what you did.

Should I carry insurance for house washing?

Customers often ask for proof of insurance. Ask your insurer what is covered for water damage and for work at height, and keep the certificate current.

About this guide

This national guide is written and checked by infinibell. Rules and conditions differ by place, so local pros are credited on guides for the cities they serve, not on national ones.

Edit history

More roofs and exterior guides for pros

Start here

About this guide

Get house washing requests

Customers pick you by name. Signup is free, and you pay only for leads you accept.

Join as a pro
Sign up free