Garden & OME GUIDE|2023 Regular cleaning regime increases residential curb appeal

A soft touch is best when it comes to exterior maintenance

BY TIM HENNAGIR STAFF WRITER

Hiring a professional exterior cleaning company is one of the best ways to eliminate troublesome dirt, debris and stains from the outside of a home.

However, many homeowners do not know the difference between pressure washing, power washing and soft washing, making it difficult to decide the proper service for their homes.

Homeowners should have an exterior cleaning done annually to remove accumulated dirt, mold, mildew and stains, said Andy McGeary, owner of Sauk Rapids-based Unique Exteriors of Minnesota.

“Once the weather starts to change, people get outside and start doing yard clean-up,” McGeary said. “That’s when they start noticing how dirty the gutters are, or in general, the house.”

Exterior grime can come from several places. Homes that are nearest to residential streets and those on corner lots can pick up salt and spray from snowplows over winter months.

Trees that hold their leaves longer in the fall also create problems, McGeary said.

“Low hanging branches over the roof will shade one side of the house,” he said. “That will actually hold moisture. The same is true with shrubs that are located too close to the house. If there isn’t enough airflow, the moisture gets trapped.”

Soft washing typically makes a better choice for washing homes because it is safer and will not damage the residence’s siding.

A washer using highpressure water can warp or distort delicate side panels much easier than a soft wash, making pressure washing less preferable.

Using a soft washing system or pressure washer without the necessary experience increases the risk of damaging a home.

“Typically, with a soft wash, it will take about an hour to set everything up,” McGeary said. “It can take anywhere from two to four hours for a general wash.”

More time is required onsite if a roof wash or gutter cleaning and soffit brightening is requested.

“We get calls from people who have tried their hand at pressure washing, and when we pull up, you can see where they’ve removed the oxidation but only in certain areas,” McGeary said. “You can see the lines where they have used a washer. When we see that, we have to remove the rest of the oxidation.”

Oxidation is the white, chalky coating that builds up on siding. A soft wash with detergent breaks down the oxidation. That process does not bring back the siding color, but it vastly improves appearance.

“With a south facing residence, you are going to see more oxidation just because the sun is going to break down the siding and the coloring faster on the south side,” McGeary said. “On the north side, there’s more moss or mold, and that’s due to the moisture. It just doesn’t dry out over the summer.”

There are different types of detergents that can be used on metal or steel siding products, McGeary said. It is important to do a test on a small area of siding to make sure the correct detergents are selected.

“Soffits are the most difficult part of the cleaning process,” McGeary said. “That’s because you have to be very careful with not getting water up and inside the soffit. And, they are just delicate Typically, there’s only one or two nails or staples. If you use too much pressure, you can actually pull it away.”

Noel and Cindy Johnson, of Sartell, had two homes soft washed by Unique Exteriors. The dingy and dirty exteriors became bright and looked new after the work was completed, the couple said.

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