The best time of year to pressure wash in Central Texas

You can wash a house or driveway in any month, but timing changes how long the result lasts. Central Texas has three heavy pollen seasons and long, hot summers, and each one affects the best time to book.

Winter: cedar season

Mountain cedar, which is really Ashe juniper, releases enormous amounts of pollen from roughly mid-December through February, peaking around mid-January. It is heaviest in the Hill Country west of I-35 but blows for miles. Washing in the middle of it usually means a fresh coat of pollen within days, so unless you are selling the house or hosting an event, it is usually better to wait.

Spring: oak and elm

Elm and ash pollen follow cedar in late winter, and oak pollen runs from mid-February into May, peaking in late March and early April. The best window for most homes opens once the heaviest oak drop is behind us, from about mid-April into May, when temperatures are still mild.

Summer: heat and drought

Washing still works in summer, but heat shortens the time a cleaning solution can dwell before it dries, so we start early in the day. Summer is also a good time for concrete, since it dries fast. Wood is different: it should be dry before any stain goes on, and a forecast with no rain for a couple of days matters more than the calendar.

Fall: leaves and a second window

From September to November there is a second good window. Cleaning in the fall gets the exterior ready before the holidays, and it is the time to clear gutters after the leaves come down and before cedar season begins.

How to plan it

• House wash: once a year, in the spring window or in early fall.
• Driveways and concrete: any dry stretch, with the best results when it will not rain for a day.
• Gutters: late spring after the pollen and seed drop, and late fall after the leaves.
• Fences and decks: clean and let them dry fully, then stain on a dry, mild stretch, not in the heat of a summer afternoon.

If you are not sure when your property is due, send a few photos and we will tell you whether to book now or wait for the next window.

Common questions

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