House washing cleans the whole exterior shell, including siding, trim, soffits and fascia, removing mildew, algae, pollen film and cobwebs. Rob, a Woodstock dad who runs his own crew of one, washes houses in Lakewood, IL, where lake humidity and shade stain walls. House washing is quote-based: text a photo to (815) 451-0106 and
Walk a Lakewood street in late summer and the siding tells a story. A south wall in the sun is pale and clean. The north wall, under a tree and a few feet from damp ground, wears a green-gray coat. Lakes, shade, sprinklers and pollen all deposit something, and the wall holds it.
House washing is the whole-surface reset. Rob matches the method to each material and does not use a single setting on everything. The sections below explain what differs between siding types, what to do before the visit, and what the process leaves behind, so you can decide whether a wash is the right move for your house. If you are not sure, a photo of the worst wall is enough for Rob to give you a straight opinion, and there is no pressure to book anything.
What kind of siding do you have? It changes everything
Vinyl is the most common and cleans well with low pressure, though its seams must not be flooded. Fiber-cement has a painted surface that tolerates gentle washing but not scouring. Painted wood and cedar are the most delicate, since soft grain and old paint peel easily. Brick and stone are tougher but have mortar to protect.
Rob identifies the siding from your photos before choosing a solution, and he asks about age and any past repainting. If the surface is chalking, flaking or loose, he tells you before starting, since cleaning can reveal how worn it is. The mold and algae on siding guide covers this in more depth.
What lake moisture and shade deposit on a wall
Algae looks green and slimy, mildew looks black or gray and speckled, and both thrive where a wall stays damp. A garden bed pressed against the siding makes it worse, since leaves and mulch hold water against the lower boards. Add a veil of pollen in spring, spider webs under every eave, and the dusty film that lingers near lakes and dry fairways in summer.
A Lakewood house under tall trees collects more of each. Shade slows drying, so growth starts earlier on the same side year after year. Washing removes it; trimming plants away from the wall and keeping gutters flowing helps prevent its return.
Before Rob arrives: a short prep list
Close windows and doors, remove wall hangings and decorations, and unplug outdoor lights and electrical items where possible. Move patio furniture and pots away from the walls. Point Rob to the outdoor spigot, and say so if the water is shut off for the season.
The home preparation guide has the full list. Also mention pets, sprinkler zones and any plants you care about, since they shape how Rob rinses and where the runoff goes.
- Close windows and doors
- Move furniture and planters
- Show Rob the water spigot
- Tell him about pets and sprinkler zones
- Point out any loose siding or damaged caulk
What washing cannot fix
A wash cannot repaint a fading wall, repair cracked siding, or reseal failed caulk. It also will not fix rot behind the surface. Sometimes cleaning reveals problems that were hidden by the grime, such as hairline cracks, or soft trim.
Rob will point those out. If paint is the real issue, a painter is the next call, and a clean wall will make their prep easier. The wash still restores the look of siding that is sound underneath.
House wash or soft wash? How the labels overlap
In practice, most siding gets the soft wash treatment, meaning a gentle spray and a cleaner that does the actual work. The page on soft washing describes the technique, while this page describes the job. Rob quotes the house as a whole and explains the method he plans to use.
No flat rate is posted for a whole house because size, height, siding type and condition all change the work. A photo from the front, and one from the side that looks worst, is enough to get started.
House Washing through the year in Lakewood
Spring
Lift off winter film and young algae once temperatures settle, ideally after the worst of the tree pollen.
Summer
Humid weather speeds algae growth. A quick look at the north wall shows whether a wash is overdue.
Early fall
A favorite slot for the full wash, ahead of leaf drop and the cool damp stretch that follows.
Winter
Not suited to washing. Use the time to photograph trouble spots and plan the spring schedule.
Getting a quote
Siding takes years of weather, and it deserves a cleaning method that does not shorten its life. If your Lakewood house has gone green, speckled or dull, text Rob a photo of the front and the worst wall at (815) 451-0106. He will name the method, flag anything that washing will not fix, and give you a quote without any pressure.