The Perfectly Clean™ Homeowner Checklist
You don't need to remember every word in this guide.
You don't need to become a professional pressure washer.
And you don't need to know the name of every chemical, nozzle, or piece of equipment.
What you should know is how to look at your property, recognize potential problems, and understand the basic steps of a good exterior-cleaning process.
That's why we created the Perfectly Clean™ Homeowner Checklist.
Use this before cleaning your own property or before a professional begins work.
Perfectly Clean™ Rule
Inspect first. Protect everything. Clean correctly. Check your work.
Part 1: Before You Clean
Before you start a pressure washer or apply any cleaning solution:
✓ Walk Around the Entire Property
Don't start working the second you arrive at the dirty area.
Walk around the house first.
Look from the roof all the way down to the ground.
Check:
□ Roof
□ Gutters
□ Soffits
□ Fascia
□ Siding
□ Windows
□ Doors
□ Concrete
□ Decks
□ Fences
□ Landscaping
Know what you're working with before you begin.
Part 2: Identify What You're Cleaning
Ask yourself:
What is this surface?
Is it:
□ Vinyl siding
□ Concrete
□ Wood
□ Brick
□ Painted surface
□ Roofing
□ Composite material
□ Something else
If you don't know what the material is:
Stop.
Figure that out first.
The cleaning method should match the surface.
Part 3: Identify What's Making It Dirty
Next ask:
What am I trying to remove?
Is it:
□ Green organic growth
□ Dirt
□ Pollen
□ Mold-like or mildew-like growth
□ Oil
□ Rust
□ Gutter tiger stripes
□ Oxidation
□ Failed paint or coating
□ Something I can't identify
This question matters.
Remember:
Not every stain is dirt.
If you don't know what you're looking at, don't automatically attack it with more pressure.
Part 4: Check for Existing Damage
Look closely before cleaning.
Check for:
□ Loose siding
□ Peeling paint
□ Cracked siding
□ Broken windows
□ Damaged screens
□ Loose trim
□ Rotten wood
□ Cracked concrete
□ Damaged electrical components
□ Other existing damage
Take pictures when appropriate.
At Pro Wash Pressure Washing, documenting the property and existing damage is part of the pre-job inspection.
Part 5: Clear the Work Area
Move what can safely be moved.
□ Chairs
□ Cushions
□ Doormats
□ Decorations
□ Toys
□ Potted plants
□ Small furniture
□ Other loose items
At Pro Wash, these types of loose items are moved away from the work area when practical before washing begins.
Don't clean around something you can easily move.
Part 6: Check Windows and Doors
Before applying water:
□ Windows are closed
□ Doors are closed
□ No obviously damaged screens
□ No known leaking windows
□ No openings where water could easily enter
If you know a window or door leaks:
Treat that area carefully.
Remember that pressure-driven water can travel differently from normal rain.
Part 7: Protect Electrical Areas
Look for:
□ Exterior outlets
□ Doorbell cameras
□ Electrical boxes
□ Exterior fixtures
□ Other sensitive electrical components
Protect them when necessary.
At Pro Wash, sensitive electrical items are identified and protected as needed before washing.
And remember:
Protecting a doorbell doesn't mean skipping the door.
The surrounding surface still needs to be carefully cleaned.
Part 8: Protect Your Plants
For house washing, remember three words:
BEFORE → DURING → AFTER
BEFORE
□ Thoroughly wet plants
□ Wet flowers
□ Wet bushes
□ Wet grass near the cleaning area
At Pro Wash, vegetation is pre-wet before chemical application.
DURING
□ Watch delicate plants
□ Continue watering as needed
□ Watch where runoff is going
During the dwell period, Pro Wash technicians continue watering vegetation as needed, beginning with delicate plants and flowers.
AFTER
□ Rinse the plants again with fresh water
This final plant rinse should happen after each side of the house is completed.
Part 9: Check the Weather
Before cleaning, ask:
□ Is it extremely hot?
□ Is the surface in direct sunlight?
□ Is it windy?
□ Is a storm approaching?
□ Can I control where the cleaning solution goes?
Weather changes the cleaning process.
If you cannot safely control the job:
Wait.
Part 10: House-Washing Checklist
If you're washing siding, remember:
✓ Work one side at a time.
✓ Start at the top.
✓ Begin with gutters and soffits.
✓ Work downward.
✓ Use low pressure appropriate for the surface.
✓ Let the cleaning solution work.
✓ Do not let the cleaning solution dry.
✓ Reapply when appropriate instead of automatically increasing pressure.
✓ Rinse thoroughly from top to bottom.
At Pro Wash, the house-wash process follows this same general top-down application, dwell, inspection, and low-pressure rinse pattern.
Part 11: Don't Forget the Windows
After washing:
□ Rinse the glass
□ Rinse the frames
□ Rinse the corners
□ Rinse the surrounding white vinyl
□ Check for remaining soap
The goal is simple:
No house-wash soap should be left on the windows.
If you're unsure:
Rinse them again.
Part 12: Inspect Every Side
After finishing each side of the house:
STOP.
Don't immediately move to the next side.
Stand back.
Start at the top.
GUTTERS
Scan:
LEFT → RIGHT
Then move down.
□ Gutters
□ Soffits
□ Fascia
□ White trim
□ Window surrounds
□ Siding
□ Corners
□ Lower areas
Pay special attention to white surfaces because missed areas can be easy to see there.
This top-down inspection is part of the Pro Wash house-washing process.
If you find something:
Fix it now.
Then move to the next side.
Part 13: Concrete Checklist
Before cleaning concrete:
□ Check its age
□ Inspect for cracks or damage
□ Identify specialty stains
□ Clear the area
□ Plan where dirty water will go
□ Protect nearby landscaping
During cleaning:
□ Use controlled pressure
□ Keep passes consistent
□ Overlap passes
□ Move at a steady speed
□ Cross-pass when necessary
□ Clean edges carefully
Afterward:
□ Rinse dirty water away
□ Look for lines
□ Look for missed areas
□ Identify stains that need specialty treatment
And remember Pro Wash's standard:
We do not use high pressure on concrete less than three years old.
Part 14: Wood Checklist
Before cleaning wood:
□ Identify the material
□ Inspect for rot
□ Check loose boards
□ Check existing stain or paint
□ Test a small area when appropriate
During cleaning:
□ Use a wood-appropriate cleaner
□ Avoid excessive pressure
□ Keep your movements controlled
□ Watch the wood fibers
If the wood begins developing:
Lines • Grooves • Fuzziness • Splintering
STOP.
Remember:
Clean the wood. Don't remove the wood.
Part 15: Roof Checklist
This one is easy.
If your asphalt-shingle roof has:
□ Black streaks
□ Moss
□ Lichen
□ Heavy biological growth
Have it evaluated by a trained professional.
We recommend that homeowners do not DIY roof washing.
You can inspect your roof from the ground.
You can ask questions.
You can understand the process.
But you don't need to climb onto a slippery roof with cleaning chemicals to be an educated homeowner.
Part 16: Know When to Stop
Stop cleaning if:
□ You don't know what the surface is
□ You don't know what the stain is
□ The surface begins changing unexpectedly
□ Paint starts coming off
□ Wood begins becoming damaged
□ You're creating lines in concrete
□ Water is entering the home
□ You discover electrical damage
□ You need unsafe ladder or roof access
□ You don't understand the chemical you're using
□ You're considering adding more pressure simply because something won't come off
Stopping can save you thousands of dollars.
Part 17: Final Property Inspection
When you think you're finished:
You're not finished yet.
Walk around the entire property one more time.
Check:
□ No remaining organic growth
□ No obvious missed areas
□ Gutters look clean
□ Soffits look clean
□ White trim is clean
□ Windows are thoroughly rinsed
□ No cleaning-solution residue remains
□ Plants received their final rinse
□ No damage occurred
□ Property looks evenly clean
At Pro Wash, this final inspection is required before the job is considered complete.
Part 18: Put Everything Back
Don't leave the property looking like a worksite.
□ Return chairs
□ Return potted plants
□ Return doormats
□ Return decorations
□ Return furniture
□ Remove protective covers
□ Pick up trash
□ Put equipment away
□ Turn off and disconnect water when appropriate
□ Make sure nothing was forgotten
For Pro Wash technicians, cleanup also includes flushing the downstream injector with clean water, rolling hoses onto their correct reels, disconnecting the customer's water supply, and properly securing the chemical container before leaving.
The Perfectly Clean™ 8-Step Process
If you remember nothing else from this checklist, remember these eight words:
1. INSPECT
Know what you're working with.
2. PREPARE
Clear the work area.
3. PROTECT
Protect plants, electrical items, windows, doors, and surrounding property.
4. WET
Pre-wet vegetation when using house-wash solution nearby.
5. APPLY
Use the appropriate cleaning method.
6. DWELL
Give the cleaner time to work without letting it dry.
7. RINSE
Remove the cleaning solution completely.
8. INSPECT
Never assume it's clean.
Look.
One Final Question
Before calling any exterior-cleaning project complete, ask:
“If this were someone else's home, would I be proud to leave it exactly like this?”
If the answer is yes, you're probably ready to clean up.
If the answer is no:
Find what's wrong.
Fix it.
Inspect it again.
That's the difference between something that was simply washed...
and something that is: