If the side of your house has gone green, or there are dark streaks running down from the gutters, that isn't dirt and it won't come off with a hose. It's organic growth — algae, mold and mildew — and in Florida humidity it feeds on your siding year round.
We've been washing houses in Jacksonville since 2019. Here's what we do about it and why we do it the way we do.
We Soft Wash. We Don't Pressure Wash Your House.
This is the most important thing on this page, so it goes first.
A pressure washer aimed at siding does real damage. It forces water up under vinyl lap siding and behind trim, where it sits and grows mold you can't see. It strips paint. It etches stucco. It blows out window seals. Plenty of companies still do it because it's fast, and the damage doesn't show up for a year.
Soft washing uses almost no pressure at all. Instead of blasting the growth off, we apply a cleaning solution — sodium hypochlorite mixed with soap — that kills the algae, mold and mildew at the root. Then we rinse it away gently. The chemistry does the work, not the force.
Two things come out of that. Your siding doesn't get damaged, and the growth stays gone longer, because we killed it rather than knocking the top layer off.
Signs Your House Needs Washing
Green or black patches on your siding
Almost always on the north side or wherever a tree keeps the wall shaded. Shaded siding stays damp, and damp siding grows algae. It spreads outward from wherever it started.
Dark streaks running down from the gutters
Sometimes called tiger stripes. That's oxidized residue washing off the gutters and staining the fascia and siding below. Rain alone won't take it off, and neither will a hose.
Windows that look dirty right after you clean them
If you clean the glass and it still looks hazy from outside, the film is usually on the frames, the sills and the wall around them, not the glass. Washing the exterior fixes what window cleaning can't.
Spider webs and wasp nests in the eaves
Soffits and eaves collect webs, nests and dust bad enough that most people stop looking up. It comes off in the same visit.
Siding that's gone chalky and dull
Sun-faded siding often has a layer of oxidation and grime sitting on top of it. A wash usually brings back far more color than people expect — homeowners regularly tell us they thought they needed to repaint.
What's Included in a House Wash
We clean the whole exterior of the house, not just the walls you point at:
- All siding — vinyl, stucco, hardie board, brick, block
- Exterior windows
- Soffits and eaves
- Exterior gutters (the outside faces)
- Trim, fascia, shutters and exterior doors
If it's on the outside of the house, it gets washed.
What's Not Included
We'd rather be clear up front than have you surprised on the day:
- Your roof. Roof cleaning is a separate service — different setup, different job. We do it, it's just not part of a house wash.
- Screen enclosures and pool cages. Also a separate service, and also something we do.
- Interior windows. We don't go inside the house.
- Inside the gutters. Interior gutter cleaning is an add-on.
Plenty of customers bundle the house wash with a roof cleaning or a driveway, and it makes sense to do it in one visit. Just ask at the estimate.
Our Process
We walk the house first and note anything that needs attention — plants that need protecting, fixtures, anything fragile. We use your outdoor spigot for water, so nothing needs to be arranged ahead of time.
Then we apply the soft wash solution to the surface and let it dwell long enough to kill the growth. Then we rinse from top to bottom with low pressure, working around the house, and rinse down any landscaping we treated near.
Our work is backed by a 90-day craftsmanship guarantee.
Is Soft Washing Safe?
Yes — that's the whole point of it. The solution is the same family of chemistry used to sanitize a swimming pool, diluted and mixed with soap so it clings to the surface long enough to work. It's rinsed off completely when we're done.
It's safer for your house than pressure washing by a wide margin, because the damage from pressure washing siding is permanent and the damage from soft washing is nonexistent. We rinse plants and landscaping before and after as a matter of course.
How Often Should You Wash Your House?
Once a year for most Jacksonville homes. Our humidity, rain and shade mean organic growth gets a foothold fast, and a yearly wash keeps it from ever getting established.
If your house is heavily shaded, backs onto woods, or sits near water, you may notice it coming back sooner. If it's in full sun on all sides, you might stretch it further.
Areas We Serve
We wash houses in Jacksonville and about 25 miles out — St. Johns County, Ponte Vedra, Nocatee, the Beaches, Mandarin, Fleming Island, Yulee and Arlington. We work in Florida only, and we do not currently service westside or northwest Jacksonville.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will soft washing damage my siding or paint?
No. That's exactly what it's designed to avoid. Pressure washing damages siding and paint; soft washing uses almost no pressure and lets the cleaning solution do the work.
Do I need to be home?
Not for the estimate — that takes about 5 to 10 minutes and you don't need to be there. For the wash itself, it helps if we can reach an outdoor spigot, and you'll want windows closed.
Is it safe for my plants?
Yes, when it's done right. We rinse landscaping before and after so nothing sits on the leaves.
Can you do the roof at the same time?
Yes. Roof cleaning is a separate service but it's a natural pairing, and doing both in one visit saves a trip. Same with driveways, pool cages and gutters.
How long does a house wash take?
Most homes are a few hours. It depends on the size of the house and how much growth we're dealing with — we'll tell you at the estimate.
Will the green come back?
Eventually, because this is Florida. But because we kill the growth instead of just knocking it off, it takes far longer than after a pressure wash. A yearly cleaning keeps ahead of it.
Get a Free House Washing Estimate
Fill out our free estimate form or call 904-444-9190. Estimates are free, you don't have to be home, and Zach will get in touch with you about times and scheduling.
Licensed and insured, in business since 2019, with 200+ Google reviews at 4.7 stars. We take cash, check, Zelle and Venmo, and there's a 5% discount if you pay cash.