Peninsula Exterior Care
Home Services   Pressure Washing   House Washing   Roof Cleaning   Window Cleaning   Gutter Cleaning   Solar Panel Cleaning   Driveway Cleaning   Concrete & Sidewalk Cleaning   Patio & Deck Cleaning   Commercial Exterior Cleaning Service Areas   San Jose   Santa Clara   Sunnyvale   Mountain View   Los Altos   Los Altos Hills   Palo Alto   East Palo Alto   Menlo Park   Atherton   Redwood City   Woodside   Portola Valley   San Carlos   Belmont   San Mateo   Foster City   Hillsborough   Burlingame   Millbrae   San Bruno   South San Francisco   Daly City   Brisbane   San Francisco Projects Resources Reviews About Contact
Service

House Washing

Soft washing that lifts dirt, algae and buildup from your siding without the damage a pressure washer can cause.

The problem

The dark streaking under your eaves and the green tint on the shaded side of the house aren't dirt — they're organic growth, and rinsing doesn't remove them. They come back faster each year because what's left behind keeps growing. On the Peninsula, north-facing walls and anything under tree cover go first.

Why soft washing, not pressure washing

High-pressure washing can force water behind siding, strip paint, etch stucco and blow out old caulking around windows and trim. Soft washing uses low pressure and a cleaning solution that breaks down dirt, algae and mildew chemically, then rinses gently. It's more effective on organic growth and it doesn't carry the damage risk.

Every siding type is different

Stucco is porous and absorbs water. Vinyl has overlapping panels that trap water forced behind them. Wood and cedar can splinter and lose stain. Fiber cement handles more but still doesn't need blasting. We adjust pressure and solution strength by material rather than running one setting across the whole house.

What's included

All exterior siding surfaces, trim, eaves and soffits, entryways, and ground-level buildup around the foundation. Light fixtures, exterior doors and window exteriors get wiped down as part of the job — the details are usually what people notice.

How often you'll need it

Once a year for most Peninsula homes. Homes under heavy tree cover, on shaded lots, or in the fog belt closer to the coast often benefit from twice a year to stay ahead of regrowth.

Before & after

House Washing on our own jobs

Original photographs, full frame. Nothing cropped or zoomed to force the angles to match.

Common questions

Frequently asked

Will soft washing strip my paint?

No. Soft washing is specifically the method used to avoid that. Failing or already-peeling paint may come loose during any cleaning, which is worth knowing before you repaint anyway.

Is it safe for my landscaping?

Yes — we pre-wet plants before starting and rinse thoroughly afterward. Tell us about anything delicate and we'll cover it.

How long do the results last?

Typically a year on most homes. Shaded, damp and heavily wooded properties regrow faster.

Can you get rid of the black streaks under my roofline?

Usually yes. Those streaks are typically algae running off the roof, so we often recommend cleaning the roof at the same time or they come straight back.

Service area

House Washing across the Peninsula & South Bay

We are based in Atherton and cover the Peninsula, South Bay and San Francisco. Tap a city for local detail on what we see there and how we handle it.

Free, no-pressure quotes

Get a quote for house washing

Send a few details and we'll get back to you with a price — usually the same day.

Prefer to talk it through?650-444-6242

We respond within one business day. Or call 650-444-6242.

Call
Call 650-444-6242 Get a Quote