Soft Washing Your Home’s Exterior & Windows: A Guide

Soft Washing Your Home’s Exterior: When One Call Turned Dust into a Plan

We recently got a call from a homeowner — let’s call her Amanda — who had a very familiar question: “Do you guys do a soft wash for the exterior of the home, and how much does it cost?”

Amanda was building a new two-story home that was getting covered in construction dust, plus she had an older single-story place that needed some love too. She didn’t need an exact quote yet; she was “just calling around” to get a ballpark price and understand how the whole process works — especially whether she really needed to clean the windows afterward.

We walked her through our pricing, why we like to look at the home (or at least a satellite view), what soft washing actually is, and why skipping the windows can make your home look half-finished. We thought it would be helpful to share that same conversation here.

What Soft Washing Your Home Actually Is

On the phone, Amanda called it a “soft car wash for the exterior of the home,” and honestly, that’s not far off. Soft washing is a low-pressure cleaning method we use on siding and exterior surfaces to remove dust, dirt, spider webs, and light organic growth without blasting the surface like a pressure washer would.

Instead of relying on high pressure, we rely on:

• Specialized cleaning solutions to loosen grime and dust
• Low-pressure water to gently rinse everything away
• Proper technique to avoid driving water behind siding or into openings

This is especially important for:

• New builds covered in construction dust
• Stucco and painted exteriors that can be damaged by high pressure
• Older siding with gaps, caulking, or weathering

With Amanda’s new two-story home, soft washing was exactly the right call — enough cleaning power to deal with the desert dust, gentle enough not to damage fresh finishes.

How Pricing Works: Per Side vs. Whole House

Like Amanda, a lot of homeowners just want a ballpark number before they get serious. On our call, we explained that we can usually give a quick estimate based on the number of stories and sides, then tighten it up after we see the home in person.

Here’s how we broke it down for her:

• Single-story home: Roughly $75 per side, or about $299 for all four sides.
• Two-story home: Roughly $125 per side, or about $499 for all four sides.

Those numbers can go up or down depending on:

• The size and shape of the home
• How dirty it is (light dust vs. years of buildup)
• Accessibility (tight side yards, steep slopes, or obstacles)

For Amanda’s new build two-story, we explained that $499 was the likely range for all four sides. We also let her know that if we stopped by in person, we might be able to adjust that price down once we saw the exact size and layout.

Why We Strongly Recommend Cleaning the Windows Too

When we got into the details, we told Amanda something we tell every house washing customer: you can soft wash the siding without cleaning the windows afterward — but we really don’t recommend it.

Here’s why: during a soft wash, water and cleaning solution inevitably get on the glass. If we just rinse and walk away, those droplets dry and leave behind mineral deposits, spots, and streaks. The siding looks fresh and clean, but the windows can actually look worse than before.

That’s why we always suggest pairing a house wash with a professional window cleaning. On the call, Amanda asked if we “just hose it down” or if we squeegee. We assured her that our team absolutely uses squeegees and proper window tools — we don’t just spray and hope for the best.

How Window Pricing Works (and What “Per Pane” Means)

Another great question Amanda asked was about pricing: she had about 14 windows and wanted to know what that would cost. We explained that our pricing is $5 per pane, not per window unit.

That means:

• Each separate sheet of glass is a “pane.”
• A single window could have 1, 2, or many panes.
• 14 panes would be about $70 at $5 per pane.

During an exterior window cleaning, we:

• Wet the glass with cleaning solution
• Scrub off dust, spots, and debris
• Squeegee the glass so it dries clear and streak-free

When we’re done, the whole home — siding and glass — looks uniformly clean, not like the walls got a spa day and the windows got forgotten.

When Your Home Needs a Soft Wash

Amanda’s situation — new construction dust and an older home that hadn’t been washed in a while — is really common. We usually recommend soft washing when you notice:

• Heavy dust buildup on stucco or siding
• Spider webs and cobwebs tucked into corners and under eaves
• Dark streaks or light staining starting to appear
• Your paint looks dull even after a good rain

As a general guideline, most homes benefit from a soft wash about once a year. If you live on a busy road, near construction, or in a dusty area, every 6–12 months may make sense. For more sheltered homes, every 18–24 months can be enough.

How to Prepare for a Soft Wash Visit

Homeowners often ask what they should do before we arrive. You don’t have to do much, but a few small steps help us work safely and efficiently and protect your belongings.

Before your soft wash appointment, we recommend you:

• Move or cover outdoor items like cushions, grills, and small decor near the walls.
• Close all windows and doors fully and check that they latch properly.
• Clear access paths along the sides of the house so we can reach all four sides.
• Let us know about any leaks or problem areas (loose trim, peeling paint, etc.).

We handle the rest — mixing solutions properly, protecting sensitive areas, and making sure water flow is controlled and directed where it should go.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

After calls like Amanda’s, we sometimes hear from homeowners who tried to tackle house washing themselves and ran into trouble. A few things to watch out for:

• Using too much pressure: A pressure washer can etch stucco, strip paint, or drive water behind siding if it’s not used correctly.
• Skipping the windows: As we told Amanda, a clean house with spotted glass never looks truly clean.
• Ignoring delicate areas: Light fixtures, outlets, vents, and seals all need careful handling.
• Choosing the wrong cleaners: Harsh chemicals can damage finishes or landscaping if they’re not chosen and applied correctly.

Soft washing is as much about technique as it is about equipment. That’s why we prefer to inspect each home, even if we start with a ballpark quote over the phone.

Ready for a Clean Exterior and Clear Windows?

Amanda started off just “calling around” for prices, but by the end of our conversation she had a clear picture of what her homes needed: a gentle but thorough soft wash, plus professional window cleaning so everything looked crisp and finished.

If your siding is dusty, your new build is covered in construction film, or your windows look hazy and spotted, a soft wash with window cleaning might be exactly what your home needs. We’re always happy to give a ballpark over the phone and then fine-tune the quote once we’ve seen your place in person.

That way, you’re not just getting numbers — you’re getting a plan for a home that looks clean from the walls to the windows.