Why Regular Exterior Cleaning Matters - And Saves You Money!

Last year, I pulled up to a house in Snohomish that really stuck with me. The homeowners (sweet proud grandparents, retired and living their best life) had called because their siding was covered in green and black streaks, and their driveway looked like a full-on science project with all the moss growing on it. It obviously hadn’t been cleaned in a long time. They were embarrassed about how the place looked and just wanted it to “look decent again.”

When I started soft washing, the difference was amazing and fun to watch. The siding went from a dark, green mess to bright and fresh, and the driveway looked like well...a driveway again! But here’s the part that hit me. Under all that dirtiness, I found spots where algae and mildew had actually started to eat into the paint. In some areas, the algae had basically become part of the paint, which made it impossible to remove without stripping the paint itself. The damage wasn’t horrific yet, but it was on its way to forcing a full repaint of the siding. The homeowners told me they wished they had called sooner, because now some of that siding may need repair.

That job reminded me of something I see all the time: waiting until things look really bad ends up costing more money in the long run. A yearly soft wash, or at the very least, every other year, would’ve kept their siding safe, their driveway strong, and their curb appeal high. Instead, they’ll now need to think about repainting parts of their home.

The truth is, cleaning isn’t just about looks. It’s about protecting the investment you’ve made in your home. Moss, algae, and dirt don’t just sit there. They spread and cause damage. A quick clean is way cheaper (seriously, go get a quote on painting your house...you’ll be shocked at the cost) than dealing with repairs later.

So if you’re reading this and thinking, “Meh, I’ll get to it later,” let me be the reminder. Don’t wait! Keep your home looking good, but more importantly, keep it healthy, and keep more money in your pocket in the long run.