How often to wash your house in Central Texas

For most homes around here, one house wash a year keeps the siding, brick and trim looking right. Shady lots and north-facing walls are the exception. They stay damp longest, so the green film comes back sooner.

What that film actually is

The green, gray or black streaking on a house is almost always algae and mildew, with pollen and road dust stuck in it. It is living growth, which is why it returns after a quick rinse. It also holds moisture against the surface, so left alone for years it can stain brick and mortar and break down paint.

Why we soft wash a house

Soft washing uses low water pressure and a cleaning solution that kills the growth at the root, then a gentle rinse. High pressure on siding can force water behind the boards, strip paint and scar brick and mortar. A hard blast also tends to remove the color of the algae without killing it, so it greens back up in a few weeks.

How often, in practice

• Sunny, open lots: about once a year is plenty.
• Shaded sides, heavy tree cover or a sprinkler that hits the wall: those spots may want a second visit.
• Brick, stucco and painted siding: same schedule, always at low pressure.
• A house that has not been washed in years: expect the first wash to take longer, and a few stains may stay faint.

What a good house wash includes

• Plants wetted down and covered before any solution goes on, and rinsed after.
• Windows, doors, outlets and light fixtures treated with care, not sprayed straight on.
• Siding, trim, soffits and eaves cleaned from the top down, then rinsed well.
• A walk around the finished house with you before we leave.

Spring, after the heaviest pollen, and early fall are the best times to book. If you are not sure whether your house is due, send a few photos and we will tell you.

Common questions

Related: House washing (soft wash), Pressure washing vs soft washing: which one your property needs