House Washing
in Oakland County, MI
Soft Washing That Clears Algae and Grime From Oakland County Homes
Cold, wet Michigan weather is hard on a home’s exterior. Snowy winters, humid summers, and the constant freeze and thaw feed algae, moss, and organic staining on siding, and it shows up worst on the shaded, north-facing walls. Over a season or two, that green-black film and general road-and-yard grime settle into the surface and dull the whole house.
We clear it with a soft wash rather than a high-pressure blast. Low pressure lets the cleaning solution do the work, lifting the growth and dirt without forcing water up behind the siding or roughing up the finish. At Crystal Clear Window Care, we’ve washed homes across the area’s lakes region this way for years, using a method gentle enough to protect the house while still getting the exterior fully clean.
If your siding has gone green, dull, or streaky, we’re happy to take a look and tell you what it needs. Call us at (248) 736-9537 to get started.
The Siding Types We Wash in Oakland County
We match the strength of the wash and the way we apply it to the material in front of us, so every surface gets cleaned safely without a one-size-fits-all approach.
Aluminum
Aluminum takes the standard soft wash well. Our solution is downstreamed to a safe dilution, applied to the surface, allowed to work, and rinsed clean. We keep it to low pressure only, with nothing forceful enough to dent the panels or dull the finish.
Vinyl
Vinyl gets the standard soft wash too: the solution goes on at a safe dilution, dwells long enough to break down the growth, then gets rinsed off thoroughly. It’s the most common siding on single-family homes around here, and it responds nicely to the low-pressure method.
Wood
Wood is more porous, so it often needs a stronger solution concentration applied with a pump sprayer, followed by extra rinsing to clear it. The same care applies to a wood deck, which is why our deck cleaning follows the same low-pressure, material-matched approach. If the wood is painted or otherwise sensitive, we may switch to a wood-cleaner alternative instead of our standard solution, and the crew makes that call on site once they can see the surface.
Stucco
Stucco is porous like wood, so we treat it with a higher concentration through a pump sprayer and rinse it more heavily. That combination pulls the algae and dirt out of the texture while keeping the surface from getting saturated.
Brick
Brick gets soft washed to lift algae, dirt, and organic staining out of the surface, with low pressure and careful, thorough rinsing that keep the mortar joints intact while the face of the brick comes clean. If your property also has a weathered wood or vinyl fence, our fence cleaning brings it back the same gentle way.
Why Oakland County Homeowners Choose Us for House Washing
Beyond the wash itself, a few things set us apart for a job like this.
You Don't Lift a Finger, We Move and Protect Everything
You don’t have to lift a finger. We move your furniture, protect your valuables, and handle every detail, because you hired us to save you the time, not create more work. For a house wash that means the patio furniture, the grill, the covers, and anything sitting up against the wall get moved or protected before we start, and put back where they belong once we’re done.
Properly Insured, Including Work at Height
We carry the right insurance to do this work safely, including the extra coverage that lets our crews go up on roofs and above 25 feet. Many window cleaning companies think they’re covered for that, and they’re not. In Oakland County, that means the job gets done right and you’re protected. On the two- and three-story homes common around the lakes, that coverage is what lets us reach the high gables and upper walls and clean every part of the exterior.
We Rinse Before, During, and After to Protect Your Landscaping
Your yard gets as much attention as your siding, the same way a house wash pairs naturally with clean glass when homeowners add residential window cleaning to finish the exterior. We rinse the beds, grass, and shrubs around the house before we apply anything, keep them wet while we work, and rinse everything again once the wash is finished. That way the solution never has a chance to sit on your landscaping.
How Our House Washing Process Works
From your first call to the final walkthrough, here’s exactly how a house wash goes.
1
Your Free Estimate
Call, text, or fill out the form on our site, and our office will get right back to you during business hours. Simpler homes we can quote over the phone by square footage; larger or more complex houses get an in-person look so the number is accurate. Either way the estimate is free and usually comes back within about a day.
2
Scheduling and the Heads-Up
Once you approve the estimate and a deposit reserves your date, the job is on the books. You’ll get a confirmation, reminders as the day approaches, and an “on our way” text on service day so you’re never left guessing.
3
Walkthrough and Plant Protection
Before any solution comes out, the crew walks the property to spot hazards like power lines. Pets and people stay inside while we wash. Then we pre-rinse the beds, grass, and surrounding surfaces and move or cover the furniture and anything sitting near the house.
4
The Test Spot
We run a small test spot first to confirm the solution strength and dwell time are right for your particular siding before we treat the whole house. It’s a quick check that keeps the full wash predictable.
5
Soft Wash Application
The cleaning solution is sodium hypochlorite, the same type of chlorine used to keep a pool safe, downstreamed to a safe dilution of about 1.25% on siding. We apply it at low pressure through our soft wash and downstream system, running a roughly 4 GPM machine so the chemistry lifts the growth gently rather than blasting it off. Porous wood and stucco get a higher concentration applied by pump sprayer. The wash covers the soffit, the fascia, and the exterior of the gutters along with your siding. The roof itself is not part of a house wash.
6
Rinse and Dilute
We rinse the siding and then re-rinse it to dilute the solution as it comes off. Porous wood and stucco get extra rinsing, and the landscaping gets one more pass so nothing is left sitting on your plants.
7
Final Walkthrough
When the house is done, the crew walks it with you to make sure every wall looks the way it should before we pack up. If something isn’t right, we want to hear about it then and there so we can take care of it.
What House Washing Costs in Oakland County
Most homes fall inside the range below, and the final figure comes down to how big and how complex the house is. Here’s what to expect.
- Roughly $450 to $3,000 for a typical home. Pricing is based on square footage and can be phoned in for simpler homes. What moves the number is total square footage, the number of stories and levels, additions and complex rooflines, and the siding material, since porous wood and stucco take more product and more rinsing. This is for single-family homes only.
A few ways to bring the cost down:
- Multi-service bundle: save 5% on two services, 10% on three, and 15% on four, which applies when you book house washing alongside other work like windows, gutters, or concrete and driveway cleaning. Just ask when you get your estimate.
- Recurring discount: 5% for quarterly service and 10% for monthly, for homeowners who’d rather keep the house clean on a schedule.
- Referral credit: a $25 account credit when a friend or family member you refer completes a job.
Our House Washing Guarantee
100% Satisfaction Guarantee
If you’re not happy with the result, we’ll come back out and make it right, that’s our 100% satisfaction guarantee. It applies across every service we offer, house washing included.
7-Day Re-Clean Guarantee
If you’re not satisfied within seven days of your service, give us a call and we’ll come back out to re-clean at no charge. That covers the post-rain concerns homeowners sometimes have in the days right after a wash.
House Washing FAQs
Will the cleaning solution hurt my plants, pets, or family?
No, it’s safe once the job is done, because the solution is diluted heavily and rinsed away thoroughly. The solution we use is the same type of chlorine that keeps a swimming pool safe. We rinse and dilute before, during, and after so it’s safe for your plants, your pets, and your family once we’re done, and if we ever damage a plant, we’ll replace it.
Do I need to be home when you wash my house?
No, you don’t need to be home for a house wash, as long as we have access to a working outdoor water spigot and any gate codes. We run everything off your home’s water supply on site, so once you’ve set that access up, the crew can handle the rest while you go about your day.
Does a house wash clean my roof too?
No, a house wash cleans the siding, soffit, fascia, and the exterior of the gutters, but the roof itself is not part of a house wash. Roof cleaning is a separate soft-wash service we also offer, so if your roof needs attention too, just let us know and we can include it.
Get Your Free House Washing Quote in Oakland County
Ready to see your home clean again? Tell us about your house and we’ll get you a free, no-obligation estimate with no pressure to book. We work with Oakland County homeowners across the lakes region and would be glad to add yours to the schedule. Call Crystal Clear Window Care at (248) 736-9537 and we’ll take it from there.