Before an exterior cleaning visit, close all windows and doors, move cars, furniture, grills and planters away from walls, tell the contractor where outdoor outlets and spigots are, mention pets, plants and known problem spots, and clear access to gates and gutters. You do not need to wash anything first. Text Rob a photo at (815) 451-0106 and he will say what matters for your house.
The short version
- Close and latch every window, door, vent cover and pet door so water and solution stay outside.
- Move vehicles, patio furniture, grills, planters and toys at least a few feet from the surfaces being cleaned.
- Point out water access, gates, dogs, delicate plants, loose siding, cracked glass and caulk that has failed.
- Do not pre-wash, scrub with bleach, or patch paint right before a cleaning, because it can complicate the work.
- Taking photos of existing damage before the visit protects you and makes the conversation with the contractor clearer.
What actually needs to happen before the truck pulls in
Most exterior cleaning visits go smoothly when the homeowner does a small number of things well. That is good news, because many people assume they need to spend a weekend getting ready. You do not. The contractor brings the water pressure, the hoses, the ladders and the cleaning solutions. What the house needs from you is access, closed openings, and a cleared perimeter.
Think about prep in three categories: things that get wet, things that get in the way, and things the contractor cannot know without being told. Water gets everywhere in a rinse, and wind carries mist. Items against the house, doormats, open windows and unsealed fixtures all take on water. Things in the way include cars in a driveway to be cleaned, furniture on a deck, and hoses stretched across a path. Things the contractor cannot know include a sprinkler head that leaks, a dog that gets out, a flower bed you care about, or a window that has never quite sealed.
Spend twenty minutes walking the outside of your house with a phone camera. Take pictures of anything you would like noted. This one habit does more good than any other step in this guide.
The walk-around checklist, inside and out
Start inside. Close every window and latch it. Check window screens that you leave in place and bring in any that are loose, since pressure from a hose can push a bad screen out of its frame. Close the garage door. Secure pet doors and dryer vent flaps. If you have a bathroom or kitchen exhaust that terminates on the wall, a quick look to make sure the damper closes is useful.
Outside, move what is easy to move. Grills, bikes, strollers, holiday decorations and anything made of fabric should be out of range. Planters against the wall can stay if they are heavy, but mention them so they can be moved and replaced. If your project is a deck, expect to clear it completely, and consider taking furniture off the deck and away from the area where it will be set down.
Last, think about what is on the walls themselves: hanging baskets, wreaths, wall lights, house numbers, cameras and doorbells. These are usually fine, but remove anything delicate or valuable.
- Close and latch all windows, doors, pet doors and the garage door
- Remove loose screens, wreaths, hanging baskets and decor
- Move cars out of the driveway if concrete or pavers are being cleaned
- Clear furniture, grills, toys and bikes from decks, patios and walls
- Open up gates and tell the contractor about dogs
- Check that outdoor spigots turn on and are not frozen or leaking
Water, power and access: the three things most visits stall on
A contractor usually needs an outdoor spigot, and sometimes an outlet. In northern Illinois, spigots can be shut off for winter or hidden behind shrubs. If yours is not working, say so. Hose bibbs that have been frozen can leak inside the wall when turned on, so if there is any doubt, test it yourself first with a hose and watch for drips under the faucet and inside the basement or crawlspace wall.
Well water is another thing to mention. A house on a private well may have a limited flow, and well water with iron or hardness can leave stains if it dries on glass or siding. The Why Do Windows Get Hard Water Spots, and What Helps If You Have a Well? guide explains why. Tell Rob if you are on a well so he can plan around it.
Access covers gates, fences, and ladders. Gutter and window work needs space along the house for ladders. Landscaping, grade changes, and low shrubs against the wall can all affect where a ladder can safely go. If a bed is very tight, mention it, because a contractor who knows in advance can plan the safest route instead of improvising.
Plants, pets and neighbors
Cleaning solutions used at low pressure are usually diluted and rinsed, and a good contractor wets plants before and after a job to reduce contact. You can help by cutting back shrubs that sit against siding and by pointing out anything delicate: new plantings, vegetable beds, a prized hydrangea. For the longer discussion, see Soft-Wash Cleaning Solutions: Plants, Pets and Storm Drains.
Pets deserve a plan. Dogs tend to react to hoses and ladders, and cats slip through open doors. Keep animals inside or in a fenced area away from the work, and let the contractor know where a gate leads. If your dog is friendly but loud, a note saves an awkward moment.
Neighbors rarely need to be told, but there are exceptions. If you share a driveway or fence line, or your neighbor's car is parked in range, a quick heads-up avoids a misunderstanding. On a lake or a creek lot, tell the contractor how close the water is so runoff is handled sensibly. HOA and 55-plus communities often have rules about timing or noise, and Exterior Cleaning in HOA and 55+ Communities: What to Know lists what to check.
Things not to do before a cleaning visit
The most common prep mistake is doing too much. A homeowner pours bleach on a green wall the night before, scrubs a deck with a stiff brush, or repaints a spot of trim. Each of these can complicate the visit. Bleach left on siding or decks can mix unpredictably with the contractor's solutions and can harm plants. Aggressive scrubbing can roughen soft wood and leave marks. Fresh paint or caulk needs time to cure and may lift under water.
A second mistake is hiding damage. If a window has a cracked pane, if siding has a loose section, or if a roof has a spot where shingles are lifting, say so. A cleaning will not fix these, and water can find them. A contractor who knows in advance can work around the spot or suggest a repair first.
A third mistake is pressure washing a surface yourself to get ahead. High-pressure water can gouge wood, push water behind siding, and damage window seals and mortar. If you want to learn the difference, Soft Washing vs Pressure Washing: Which Does Your Surface Need? lays out which surfaces take what.
Prep by service: what changes from job to job
House washing is mostly about closing the house and clearing the perimeter. Move vehicles, grills and furniture, and cover or move any outdoor electrical. Roof washing adds a note about gutters and downspouts, since runoff goes there, and landscaping beneath the eaves. house washing and roof washing visits typically involve ladders, so plan for access.
Windows are the simplest. Clear sills of plants and decor, open blinds or close them depending on the contractor's preference, and make sure screens are accessible. window cleaning goes faster when the interior sills are not crowded, which also helps if the contractor is cleaning screens and tracks.
Concrete and pavers need empty surfaces. Move cars, trash cans, planters and anything leaking oil. For driveway & patio cleaning, tell Rob about oil stains, rust marks and any sealer you know is on the surface. Decks need to be cleared completely and, if staining is planned, free of anything that might blow onto wet stain. deck wash & staining also depends on the forecast, so be flexible about dates.
Gutters need a clear path to the eaves and an understanding of what is in them. gutter cleaning is easier when you can say where downspouts drain, and whether any are underground. If you do not know, the contractor can find out.
What to do during and right after the visit
You do not need to supervise, but being reachable helps. Keep a phone nearby in case a question comes up, like where to move a car or whether a window was meant to stay open. Stay clear of the work area if you can, and keep children and pets inside, away from ladders and wet, slippery surfaces.
When the work is done, walk the house together if you are home. Look at the spots you photographed, look at the windows and sills, and look at the ground for debris. If something looks off, raise it right then while the contractor is still there. Give surfaces time to dry before moving furniture back, especially a deck or concrete. Stain, sealer and even rinsed wood may need a longer rest than they look like they need.
Afterward, keep it clean. Trim shrubs off the walls, keep sprinklers pointed away from siding and glass, and clear gutters on schedule. These small habits slow regrowth more than any single cleaning does.