How to Prepare Your Home for Pressure Washing (Homeowner Checklist)
A simple homeowner checklist to prep for pressure washing or a house wash day — windows, plants, outlets, pets, vehicles — plus what the crew handles and what not to do.
Prepping for a wash takes about fifteen minutes and makes the whole day go smoother — faster work, a better result, and nothing of yours in the splash zone. Here’s the checklist we send customers before a house wash or pressure washing visit.
The homeowner checklist
Close all windows and doors — tightly. Check the ones you never open, especially older single-hung windows and basement windows. Latch them. If a screen is loose or torn, take it out.
Move vehicles. Pull cars, the boat and the trailer out of the driveway and away from the work area — a car length of clearance from the house is plenty. Overspray with detergent is easy to rinse off immediately but annoying if it dries.
Clear the perimeter. Move patio furniture, grills, planters, door mats, garden tools, kids’ toys, hoses and décor away from the walls and off the driveway. We’ll move lightweight stuff if needed, but it’s faster if it’s already clear.
Point out your plants. We pre-wet and protect landscaping as standard, but tell us about anything you’re precious about — a new transplant, a vegetable bed, a specimen shrub — and we’ll give it extra cover and rinsing.
Secure pets. Keep dogs and cats inside during the wash and off any treated surface until it’s fully dry. Pick up the yard beforehand so nothing gets in the way.
Cap or cover exterior outlets and fixtures. Modern exterior outlets are weather-rated, but for older homes it doesn’t hurt to shut off power to exterior outlets at the breaker and tape covers on. Point out any low-voltage landscape lighting, security cameras or a doorbell camera.
Note problem spots. Wasp nests, a soft piece of trim, a window that leaks, a section of failing paint, a dryer vent that’s come loose — a two-minute heads-up saves trouble.
Provide water access. Make sure the outdoor spigot is on and working. If it’s winterized or low-pressure, let us know so we can plan.
Move indoor items away from washed walls. On interior wall cavities that are known to leak (rare, but it happens on old houses), move framed photos or electronics on the other side of that wall as a precaution.
What the crew handles
- Pre-wetting and covering landscaping
- Moving lightweight furniture and putting it back
- Protecting downspout outlets and light fixtures as needed
- Choosing the right method and pressure for each surface — soft wash for siding and painted surfaces, controlled pressure for concrete
- Containing and directing runoff away from storm drains, per Washington Department of Ecology guidance
- A full rinse and a walkthrough with you at the end
What NOT to do
- Don’t leave windows cracked “for air.” One open window is a wet windowsill.
- Don’t pressure wash the areas yourself first. It doesn’t save time and it can drive water into places that then take days to dry.
- Don’t run sprinklers the morning of — wet, muddy beds make plant protection harder.
- Don’t stand in the work zone. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission logs thousands of pressure-washer injuries a year; the spray will cut skin. Watch from a window.
- Don’t repaint or seal right before. Let us clean first — fresh paint or sealer can be damaged, and clean, dry substrate is what you want under a new coat anyway.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to be home? No, as long as we have water access and know the gate code and where the pets are. Most customers leave for the day. We’ll text before and after.
How long does it take? A driveway is under two hours. A full house wash is two to four hours depending on size and stories.
Will water get inside? Not with windows properly closed and the right method for each surface. Soft washing siding uses garden-hose pressure — it’s gentler than a rainstorm.
What about my garden right against the house? Tell us where it is. Pre-wet, covered, rinsed — we do this on every job.
Can you do the roof and gutters the same day? Yes — roof cleaning and gutter cleaning bundle well with a house wash and cost less together.
Book your wash
Call or text (425) 446-0547 or request a quote online. We’ll send this checklist with your confirmation.
