Spring Pressure Washing Checklist
Walk your property with this list before you book any exterior cleaning. It will save you money, surface things the estimator needs to see, and help you spot a contractor who's cutting corners.
1. North-facing siding
Look for green or gray vertical streaks. This is the first sign of algae bloom. If you can rub it off with your thumb, it's still surface-level. If it's locked in and won't budge, it's been there more than a season and needs chemistry.
2. Under soffits and eaves
Black spots under overhangs are mildew, not dirt. Power rinse won't touch it — it needs a biocide dwell.
3. Gutter faces (the outside)
Tiger striping (black vertical streaks down white gutters) is oxidation, not dirt. This requires a specific gutter brightener chemistry. Ask about it explicitly.
4. Roof north slope
Ground check: stand 20 feet back and look up. Black streaks running from the ridge down are Gloeocapsa. Any green patches are moss starts. Both need soft-washing, not power washing.
5. Concrete driveway
Oil stains, tire marks, and rust spots each need different pre-treatments. A good contractor will ask about them before quoting. A bad one won't.
6. Walkway pavers
Efflorescence (white haze) and joint weeds need different treatments than general dirt. If you want sanded joints re-sealed, that's a separate service.
7. Deck boards
Check for fuzzy wood grain — that's UV damage, not dirt. No amount of washing will fix it. A deck wash should reveal whether you need to re-stain this year.
8. AC condenser and landscape lights
Make sure the crew plans to cover or flag them. Bleach on plants is bad; bleach in a lighting transformer is worse.
9. Window screens and storm windows
Ask whether screens are removed or rinsed in place. Good crews offer screen removal as an add-on because they know the answer makes a visible difference.
10. The written estimate
Every item above should appear as either included, excluded, or optional add-on with a price. If the estimate is one line ("wash house — $XXX"), you don't have enough information to compare quotes.