Frequently asked questions.

Soft washing uses low pressure and specialized cleaning solutions to safely remove organic growth like moss, algae, and mildew. Unlike traditional pressure washing, which relies on high pressure to blast away dirt, soft washing kills growth at the root so it doesn't come back as quickly. It's the right method for delicate surfaces like roofs, siding, and painted wood.

Our roof cleaning process uses a sodium hypochlorite-based solution that begins breaking down shortly after application. When diluted with water and exposed to sunlight, air, organic matter, and soil, sodium hypochlorite naturally degrades into simple salt compounds and water. We take care to apply our cleaning solutions responsibly and follow industry best practices to minimize runoff and protect surrounding landscaping throughout the cleaning process.

We take several steps to protect your landscaping. Plants are rinsed before, during, and after the service. Water dilutes the cleaning solution, and once diluted it drains safely into the ground. Pets should stay indoors during the service as a precaution. Once the area has been rinsed it's safe again.

Most roofs benefit from a professional cleaning every 1–3 years, depending on shade, nearby trees, and moisture exposure. Regular cleaning prevents moss from damaging shingles and can extend the life of your roof.

We recommend at least twice a year: once in late spring after the last big leaf drop, and again in late fall.

Bellingham, Ferndale, Lynden, Blaine, Birch Bay, Sudden Valley, Everson, Nooksack, Deming, and surrounding Whatcom County communities.

Two: a zinc powder treatment for preventive maintenance when there's not much active growth (apply yearly to keep moss from establishing), and a full soft wash using a professional cleaning solution when a roof has visible moss, algae, or heavy buildup. A proper soft wash typically keeps a roof moss-free for 3–5 years.

Never. High pressure damages shingles, voids warranties, and shortens roof life. We use a specialized soft washing process that safely removes moss and algae without harming the roofing material.

Every property is different, but here's what most jobs run: roof cleaning $300–$600, house washing $350–$700, gutter cleaning $200–$400, pressure washing (driveways, patios, walkways) $200–$450, and window cleaning $200–$400. Send a few photos of your property and we can usually give you an accurate number before we ever show up.

We use proper safety equipment and professional techniques: specialized footwear, ladder stabilizers, and fall protection harnesses when needed. In many cases we can treat the roof from ladders or the ground using specialized soft-washing equipment, so we're not on the roof at all.

Yes, fully licensed, bonded, and insured for both residential and commercial work in Washington.

Yes. We love working with local businesses to boost curb appeal and keep commercial properties looking sharp.

Call, text, or click "Get a quote" and fill out the form. We'll look up the property, send you an estimate as soon as possible, and schedule at your convenience.

Asphalt, metal, clay and concrete tile, slate, cedar shake, composite/synthetic shingles, and flat systems like TPO, PVC, and torch-down. Each material needs a slightly different approach. We adjust our process and solutions to clean safely without damaging the roof.

We flush water through every downspout after clearing the runs. If something's blocked deeper down we work to clear it before we leave. Stubborn underground blockages may need a plumber, but we'll tell you exactly what we found.

We focus on clearing the inside — that's where clogs form and damage happens. If you want the fascia and exterior gutter faces wiped down, just ask when you book and we'll include it.

Not when done correctly. We match the pressure and tip size to the surface. Concrete and pavers handle high pressure well — it's soft surfaces like wood siding or roofing where you need to be careful. We never use pressure washing on those.

Usually 30–60 minutes in decent weather before the surface is comfortable to walk on again. Full drying to a cured finish can take a few hours depending on sun and airflow.

Yes — we do exterior, interior, or both depending on what you need. Most customers book exterior cleaning as a standalone or add-on to a house wash. Interior work is scheduled separately so we can plan around furniture.

White mineral deposits from sprinklers or gutter overflow bond to glass and won't come off with standard cleaning. We use a glass-safe mineral remover that dissolves the deposits before we squeegee — most spots come off completely in one pass.

Once or twice a year covers most homes. If you have a lot of trees, sprinklers that hit the glass, or windows facing a busy road, twice a year keeps them looking good year-round.

Look for dark streaks — that's *gloeocapsa magma*, a cyanobacteria that eats the granule coating off asphalt shingles. Green or orange tinge from moss and lichen is the other obvious sign. If your roof is more than 5 years old and hasn't been cleaned, there's almost certainly growth establishing even if you can't see it clearly from the ground — moss roots in the PNW fast. An early clean is much cheaper than waiting until you have visible damage.

Yes — consistently. A roof replacement in Whatcom County runs $8,000–$20,000 depending on size and material. A professional soft wash every few years costs a fraction of that and can add 5–10 years to the life of your shingles by killing the moss and bacteria that break down the surface. Insurance adjusters and buyers' inspectors flag heavily mossy roofs, which can complicate claims and sales. It's one of the highest-ROI maintenance items on a home.

A professional soft wash — the right concentration of sodium hypochlorite, applied correctly and allowed to dwell — typically keeps a roof clean and moss-free for 3–5 years in the Pacific Northwest. Pairing it with an annual zinc powder treatment can push that window longer. Product-only approaches like Wet & Forget work more slowly and don't hold up as long as a professional application.

Late spring through early fall — May through September — when we have dry stretches long enough for the cleaning solution to dwell and do its job. Constant winter rain can dilute a treatment before it fully sets. That said, we work year-round and will time any off-season job around a rain-free window. If you're prepping for a sale or inspection, don't wait for the "perfect" season — call and we'll work around the weather.

The industry standard is a diluted sodium hypochlorite solution — the same active ingredient in bleach, but applied at the right concentration with a surfactant that makes it cling to the surface long enough to kill *gloeocapsa magma*, moss, algae, and lichen at the root. We never use high-pressure washing on roofing material — it dislodges the granule coating on asphalt shingles and voids most manufacturers' warranties.

Technically yes, but it's one of the higher-risk DIY jobs around a home. Working on a pitched, wet roof is dangerous — falls are the leading cause of DIY injury. Too-strong bleach damages shingles; too weak and you won't kill growth at the root. If you do attempt it: use proper fall protection, never use a pressure washer on shingles, apply from a ladder or the ground using a pump sprayer, and rinse your landscaping thoroughly before and after. For most homeowners, the cost difference between DIY and hiring a professional is smaller than expected.

Safety and insurance are the biggest cost drivers — working at height requires proper equipment (ladders, stabilizers, harnesses, fall protection) and the liability coverage to back it up. The cleaning solution itself (sodium hypochlorite, surfactants) has real materials cost, and a thorough treatment takes more time than it looks: proper application, dwell time, rinsing, and protecting your landscaping throughout. When you compare it to a roof replacement, even a premium cleaning job is a small fraction of that cost.

Wet & Forget works — but slowly. It relies on rainwater to activate and spread, and results can take 3–6 months to show. It doesn't remove existing moss and staining; it kills growth gradually over multiple rain cycles. A professional soft wash removes visible staining in a single visit and kills growth at the root the same day. For light preventive maintenance between professional cleanings, Wet & Forget is a reasonable tool. For a roof with active moss or heavy *gloeocapsa magma* staining, a professional wash is faster, more thorough, and holds up longer.

Power washing uses heated water; pressure washing uses cold water at high pressure. Most residential cleaning — including ours — is cold-water pressure washing. It's effective for driveways, patios, fences, and walkways, and the heat of a power washer isn't necessary for those surfaces. Hot water has real advantages for heavy commercial grease or industrial applications, but for typical home exteriors it's overkill and adds cost without meaningful benefit.

Asphalt shingles (damages the granule coating, voids most warranties), painted wood siding and trim (strips paint), cedar shake, stucco, older brick and mortar joints (water intrusion, crumbling), and most decorative stone. For any surface you're not certain about, low-pressure soft washing with the right cleaning solution is the safer bet. We assess the surface before starting and adjust our approach — we don't just point a pressure washer at everything.

Yes, if done wrong. Vinyl can crack or have water forced behind panels if the pressure is too high or the nozzle angle is perpendicular to the surface. Hardie board is more tolerant but still needs correct technique to avoid water intrusion at seams and edges. For both materials, we use low-to-medium pressure and work top-down at a shallow angle. When there's any doubt, a soft wash — low pressure plus cleaning solution — is safer than turning up the PSI.

Soft washing for the siding, fascia, and painted surfaces — pressure washing for the concrete and hardscapes. House siding accumulates mold, mildew, and algae on surfaces where high pressure would strip paint or force water into seams. The right process uses a low-pressure cleaning solution (soft wash) on the exterior walls, then switches to higher pressure for driveways, walkways, and patios. We adjust automatically depending on the surface — you don't need to choose one or the other upfront.

It's okay for very light mildew maintenance on siding between professional cleanings — spray it on and let rain do the rinsing over months. But it won't remove existing staining or heavy buildup, and waiting 3–6 months for slow results isn't practical when you're prepping for a sale, a paint job, or simply want the house to look right now. A professional house wash removes staining in a single visit and reaches soffits, trim, and window frames that a spray-and-forget product won't.

Done wrong: strips paint, damages soft surfaces, drives water behind siding, and cuts into older mortar. Done right, the main limitation is that pressure washing removes growth mechanically — it doesn't kill it at the root — so moss and algae come back faster than with soft washing, which uses a solution that kills the growth. High pressure is the right tool for concrete, pavers, and stone. It's the wrong tool for roofing, siding, and painted surfaces.

Spring (March–May) is the most popular window — after a wet winter that's left mold and algae on every surface, before you're hosting summer company. Fall is the second-best choice: washing before the rainy season prevents moss from establishing over winter. We work year-round, and it's worth timing a wash at least 48 hours before heavy rain so surfaces can dry and any cleaning solution can finish working. If you're preparing for sale or a paint job, don't wait for a specific season — the sooner the better.

Most single-family driveways in Bellingham and surrounding Whatcom County run $150–$350 depending on size, surface staining, and whether the driveway connects to a patio or walkway we're cleaning in the same visit. Heavy oil staining, large three-car pads, or driveways covered in thick moss run higher. Send us a photo and rough dimensions — we can usually give you an accurate number without a site visit.

Most single-family homes take 2–4 hours for a full exterior soft wash, including setup and teardown. Larger homes, homes with a lot of detail (many windows, complex rooflines, big decks), or properties with additional surfaces to clean — fences, patios, outbuildings — take longer. We'll give you a time estimate when we book so you know when to be available to move hoses or unlock gates.