House Soft Washing in Lake and McHenry County

• Vinyl. The most common siding in the county. It turns green first on the north and shaded walls. Low pressure and the cleaning solution take it off without forcing water behind the laps.
• Aluminum. Older homes, Arlington Heights especially, still have it. Aluminum oxidizes and leaves a chalky film on your hand. A soft wash cleans it without stripping the finish. If the chalking is heavy, we point it out on the walk-around so you know what a wash will change.
• Cedar and painted wood. Pressure raises the grain on cedar and lifts paint off wood trim, so wood gets low pressure and a gentle rinse.
• LP SmartSide. Engineered siding with a factory paint finish. Low pressure keeps that finish intact.
• Brick. Algae and mildew settle into the mortar joints on shaded walls. The solution reaches into the joints, where a wand would only skim the face of the brick.
• Stucco. Porous and easy to crack or gouge with force. It gets the same low-pressure treatment, with extra care around windows and trim.

A pressure washer can push water behind vinyl laps and into window trim, where it sits and grows mold. It can also lift paint and etch soft wood. A soft wash runs close to garden-hose pressure and lets the cleaning solution do the work.

The solution neutralizes algae and mildew at the root. Blasting only knocks off the top layer, which is why green siding often comes back within a season after a pressure wash and stays clean much longer after a soft wash.

Everything from the gutters down is included: soffits and fascia, the outside faces of the gutters, window and door frames, a shutter rinse and the covered front porch. The roof is a separate service with its own solution.

Your instant quote starts from the footprint of your home, measured from above. A few things move it from there.

• Height. Two-story homes and walk-out basements take more ladder work than a ranch.
• How much is growing. A house that has gone five years without a wash takes longer than one washed two summers ago.
• Access. Fenced yards, steep slopes and landscaping packed against the walls slow the crew down.
• Distance. Homes in and around Lakemoor cost a little less. Homes far outside our usual area cost more, because of the drive.
• Add-ons on the same visit. Windows, gutters, the driveway or the roof each add to the price but share the trip, which is why most people pair them.

There is a $400 minimum per visit, and nothing is charged when you book. The quote page also offers packages that take a percentage off when you bundle services.

Every one to two years suits most homes here. Homes under mature trees, on the north side of a lot or close to water green up faster, sometimes within a year.

On the Chain O'Lakes and along the Fox River, spider webs and the green that comes with the damp air build up every summer, and most of those homes are washed yearly.

Washing season runs from spring into the fall. Once nights stay near freezing we stop, because water ices on the walls and the solution cannot do its work, and the crew switches to holiday lights.

We text before we arrive. The crew walks every side of the house and takes photos first, so we both know what we are working with.

Outlets are covered, and your plants are soaked with plain water before any solution goes on the house, then rinsed again at the end. Most homes take one to three hours.

When we finish, we walk around with you if you are home. You pay after you have seen it and given us the OK. If nobody will be home, we take payment ahead of time, or you can leave a check out for us.

• Close every window and door, the garage door included.
• Move cars, grills and patio furniture a few feet away from the walls.
• Keep pets inside until the surfaces are rinsed, and bring in their bowls and toys.
• Leave an outdoor spigot working. The crew needs the water.
• If you added window cleaning, take the screens off before we arrive.