The first thing a lot of homeowners ask me isn’t about the siding at all. It’s “What about my hydrangeas?” or “Is this going to hurt my dog?” or “Will any of this end up in my pool?” Those are good questions, and you should ask them of anyone you hire.
Your yard and your family matter more to you than a clean wall does, so here’s how we handle it.
What’s in a soft wash solution?
The main ingredient is sodium hypochlorite, the same active ingredient as household bleach, mixed down to the right strength for the surface plus a soap that helps it cling to the siding. It’s very good at killing mildew and algae. It can also burn leaves if it’s left sitting on them, which is why the steps below matter.
How we protect your plants
Before any cleaning solution goes on your house, we soak the plants around it with plain water. A plant that’s already full of water absorbs much less of anything that drifts onto it. We wet the leaves, the undersides and the soil.
While we work, we keep an eye on the plants closest to the house and rinse them again as we go. When the job is done, we rinse everything one more time. Delicate plants can get covered, and outdoor furniture, toys and grills get moved out of the way.
I won’t tell you a soft wash carries zero risk for every plant in every situation, because nobody honest can promise that. What I can tell you is that we take this seriously, and if you have a plant you’re especially attached to, point it out when we walk the property and we’ll give it extra care.
Is soft washing safe for pets and kids?
Our rule is simple: keep pets and kids inside while we work, and until the surfaces have been rinsed and dried. The concern isn’t really the siding. It’s wet patios, steps and walkways where a dog might walk or lie down before everything has been rinsed.
When we’re done, we’ll tell you when it’s fine to let everyone back out. If your dog has a favorite spot in the yard, let me know and we’ll make sure that area gets a good rinse.
What about my pool?
Pools take extra care, because both cleaning solution and the dirt we wash off can end up in the water if you’re not careful. Before we start, we look at where the water is going to run and plan the job around it.
One customer had us clean around her pool, and what she mentioned in her review was that we kept the sand and dirt out of her pool water. Another had a big travertine paver pool deck and outdoor kitchen that couldn’t take a direct high-pressure wash. We used the right equipment and solutions to keep his pets safe and the sand and grout intact. Those are the jobs where taking your time pays off.
What about ponds and waterfront homes?
Bleach-based solutions are toxic to fish, so if you have a koi pond, a stream, or a waterfront property along the creeks and rivers in Anne Arundel County, we plan the job around where the runoff is going. Tell me about any water features when you call, and I’ll walk them with you before we start.
What you can do before we arrive
- Close all windows and doors.
- Move cars out of the driveway if we’re cleaning it.
- Bring in pet bowls, toys and anything fragile from the porch or patio.
- Make a note of any plants or areas you’re worried about, so we can walk them together.
I go into more detail on the whole visit in what to expect when we wash your home.
Common questions
Will soft washing kill my grass?
Grass along the foundation can get some runoff, which is why we wet it down and rinse it afterward. In most cases you won’t see a difference.
What if it rains right after the wash?
Rain in the day after a soft wash can carry runoff into beds before we’ve rinsed it. If heavy rain is in the forecast, we’ll talk with you about moving the date. Weather has pushed our schedule around plenty of times, and we always come back and finish the job.
Is pressure washing safer for plants than soft washing?
Plain water is gentler on plants, but high pressure is harder on your siding and roof, and it doesn’t kill mildew, so it comes back faster. I explain the tradeoff in soft washing vs. pressure washing.
Questions about your yard?
Call us at (410) 948-0228 or send us a message and tell me what you’re worried about. We do house washing, roof cleaning and deck cleaning across Anne Arundel, Howard and Baltimore County, including Pasadena, Severna Park and Millersville.
Frank
Owner, Professional Power Washing