How to Prepare Your Home for House Washing Day: A Garden City Checklist
You've booked house washing in Garden City. Now what? The good news is you don't have to do much. A professional crew handles the cleaning, landscaping protection, and rinse. But about 20 minutes of prep the day before makes the wash go faster, protects your belongings, and gets you a better result.
This checklist covers everything Garden City and Southwest Kansas homeowners should do before the crew arrives, what to expect while they're working, and what to check once they're done.
The Night Before: Your Quick Prep Checklist
1. Close Every Window and Door Tightly
Walk around the house and close and lock every window, including basement windows and small bathroom windows that are easy to miss. Locking them pulls the sash tight against the seal. Close sliding patio doors and pet doors too. Soft washing uses low pressure, but water can still find its way through an open or loose window.
2. Check Window Seals and Screens
Look for cracked caulking, torn screens, or gaps around window frames. If you spot damage, point it out to the crew when they arrive so they can be careful around those areas. Worn seals are worth fixing anyway, since Southwest Kansas wind drives dust through the same gaps.
3. Move Vehicles Away From the House
Park cars, trucks, trailers, and boats on the street or at the far end of the driveway. This keeps overspray off your paint and gives the crew room to set up. If you're also getting driveway cleaning, the driveway needs to be completely clear.
4. Clear the Perimeter of the House
Move anything sitting against the siding at least a few feet away from the walls:
- Patio furniture and cushions
- Grills and grill covers
- Potted plants and hanging baskets
- Kids' toys, bikes, and sports gear
- Trash and recycling bins
- Doormats and outdoor rugs
- Decorations, wind chimes, and flags
Clearing the perimeter lets the crew reach every section of siding, and keeps your belongings dry and clean.
5. Water Your Landscaping
Give flower beds, shrubs, and the grass along your foundation a good soak the evening before. Well-watered plants handle a house wash much better, especially during dry Garden City summers. The crew will still pre-wet and rinse plants, but starting with hydrated landscaping adds an extra layer of protection. Our guide to whether soft washing is safe for plants, pets, and windows explains why this matters.
6. Close Outdoor Outlet Covers
Check that weatherproof covers on exterior outlets are closed. Unplug anything plugged into outdoor outlets, like holiday lights, fountain pumps, or extension cords. If an outlet cover is broken or missing, mention it to the crew.
7. Plan for Your Pets
Decide where your dogs and cats will be during the wash. Inside the house with windows closed is best. Bring water bowls, food dishes, beds, and toys in from the porch and patio. If you have outdoor animals like chickens or rabbits in pens near the house, let the crew know ahead of time.
8. Make Sure the Water Spigot Works
Most house washing crews connect to an outdoor spigot. Turn it on and make sure it runs well. If you've shut off outdoor water lines, turn them back on. Let the company know if your spigot is in an unusual spot or if you have low water pressure.
9. Unlock Gates
Unlock any side gates or backyard gates so the crew can reach every side of the house. If you won't be home, leave gates unlocked and confirm that with the company.
10. Tell the Crew About Problem Areas
Make a short list of anything you want the crew to know about:
- Spots with heavy black streaks or green growth
- Rust or hard water stains from sprinklers
- Loose siding, peeling paint, or damaged trim
- Prized plants or a vegetable garden near the house
- Areas under eaves, decks, or porches you want cleaned
Sprinkler rust and hard water stains are common in Garden City and need different treatment than mold. Our guide to removing hard water and sprinkler rust stains explains why.
A Few Days Ahead: Things to Consider
Turn Off Sprinklers
Turn off your irrigation system for wash day. Sprinklers spraying hard water onto fresh, clean siding can leave new spots right away.
Check the Forecast
Light rain usually isn't a problem, but strong wind and storms can be. Southwest Kansas wind can carry overspray and blow dust onto wet siding. Your crew will watch the forecast and may suggest rescheduling if conditions aren't right.
Bundle Other Exterior Services
If the crew is already at your house, it's the easiest time to add other work. Common add-ons include gutter cleaning, window cleaning, patio cleaning, and fence cleaning. Bundling saves you another appointment and usually finishes the whole exterior at once.
Let Neighbors Know
If your house sits close to a neighbor's, give them a quick heads-up so they can close windows and move their car if it's parked near the property line.
What Happens on House Washing Day
Here's what a typical soft wash visit looks like:
- Walk-around. The crew looks over the house, notes problem areas, and confirms anything you've flagged.
- Landscaping protection. Plants and grass near the house are pre-wet with clean water.
- Application. A cleaning solution is applied to the siding at low pressure, working section by section.
- Dwell time. The solution sits briefly to break down dirt, mold, and algae.
- Rinse. The siding is rinsed thoroughly from top to bottom.
- Final plant rinse. Landscaping gets rinsed again to wash away any solution that reached it.
- Final walk-around. The crew checks for missed spots before packing up.
Most single-family homes take about 1 to 3 hours, depending on size, number of stories, and how dirty the siding is.
After the Wash: What to Check
- Walk the house. Look at every side in daylight. Streaks and missed spots are easiest to see in direct sun.
- Check under eaves and soffits. These areas collect spider webs, wasp nests, and dust.
- Let pets out once things dry. Wait until the final rinse is done and surfaces have had time to dry.
- Put things back. Return furniture, grills, and plants once the siding and patio are dry.
- Turn sprinklers back on. Consider adjusting heads that spray directly onto the house.
Some deep stains, like rust, oxidation on old vinyl, or long-set hard water deposits, may need a separate treatment. A good crew will tell you up front what can and can't be fully removed.
How Often Should You Repeat This?
Most Southwest Kansas homes do best with a house wash every 12 to 18 months. Homes near fields, gravel roads, or shaded areas often need it sooner. See our full guide on how often you should wash your home in Garden City, and our pressure washing cost guide for budgeting.
Ready to Book House Washing in Garden City?
SWKS Power Washing provides licensed, insured soft wash house washing in Garden City, Holcomb, Dodge City, Scott City, Liberal, and across Southwest Kansas. We'll walk you through prep when you book, so wash day is easy.
Call 620-521-5811 or request your free estimate.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to be home for house washing?
Usually not. Close and lock all windows, move vehicles, bring pets inside, unlock gates, and make sure an outdoor water spigot is working. Confirm with the company ahead of time that you won't be home.
Does the house washing crew use my water?
Most crews connect to an outdoor spigot at your home. Make sure it's turned on and working before the appointment, and let the company know about low water pressure or an unusual spigot location.
How long does house washing take?
Most single-family homes take about 1 to 3 hours. Larger homes, two-story homes, and siding with heavy mold or algae growth can take longer.
Should I turn off my sprinklers before house washing?
Yes. Turn off your irrigation system on wash day. Sprinklers spraying hard water onto freshly cleaned siding can leave new mineral spots right away.
Can house washing be done in the rain?
Light rain usually isn't a problem. Strong wind and storms are a bigger concern in Southwest Kansas, since wind can carry overspray and blow dust onto wet siding. Your crew may reschedule if conditions aren't safe.