ELEVATION EXTERIORS 616.254.9465

Service · From $295

Soft-wash house washing, Grand Rapids.

House washing in Grand Rapids costs from $295 flat-rate for a typical single-family home. We soft-wash — low pressure (under 100 PSI, less than a garden hose) with biodegradable surfactants — on all vertical exteriors: vinyl, painted wood, fiber cement, brick. Plant-safe surfactants, pre-rinse and post-rinse landscaping, no straight-bleach mixes. Most jobs take 2-4 hours. Text 616-254-9465 with photos for a same-day quote.

What we actually do on a house wash

  1. Arrival walk-around. Confirm scope, identify any sensitive landscaping or surfaces, flag any pre-existing damage so it's documented before the wash.
  2. Pre-rinse landscaping. Saturate any beds adjacent to the house with plain water. Dilutes any surfactant runoff into harmless concentrations.
  3. Apply surfactant. Low-pressure spray of buffered surfactant solution from bottom up. Foaming version stays in place longer on vertical surfaces. Dwell time: 5-15 minutes depending on algae load.
  4. Spot-treat heavy stains. Stubborn mildew or organic staining gets a second pass with higher concentration.
  5. Rinse from top down. Clean water rinse at low pressure. Top to bottom so we don't drive dirt back over already-cleaned siding.
  6. Post-rinse landscaping. Another full water rinse over any beds adjacent to the wash zone.
  7. Walk-around with you. Before/after photos texted to your phone. Any spots that need a second pass get addressed before we leave.

What surfaces we wash

SurfaceMethodNotes
Vinyl sidingSoft-washMost common; excellent results
Painted woodSoft-wash (lower concentration)Watch for chalking on older paint
Fiber cement (Hardie)Soft-washVery durable; standard pass works
BrickSoft-wash + spot pressure on stubborn stainsMortar lines need gentleness
Stucco / EIFSSoft-wash (specialty mix)Some surface dye risk; quoted carefully
Cedar shakeSoft-wash, careful dwellDon't over-clean — graying is character
Aluminum sidingSoft-washWatch for oxidation pulling chalky white

What we don't wash with high pressure

Anything painted or sided. Period. Pressure on siding is what produces the "before-and-after where the after looks worse in 6 months" — paint stripped, caulk blown out, water under the siding, premature siding replacement. Operators who pressure-wash siding either don't know better or don't care about what they leave behind.

Why annual is the West Michigan rhythm

Lake-effect humidity feeds algae growth. North-facing siding in Grand Rapids will grow visible mildew within 12-18 months of cleaning. South and west sides hold off longer. Most customers settle into an annual rhythm — late spring or early summer wash, surfaces stay clean for 10-11 months, repeat.

Some homes (heavily shaded lots, dense tree cover, north-side-dominant orientation) benefit from a mid-season touch-up wash on the worst side only. We can quote that separately at a reduced rate since the equipment is already calibrated.

The cheapest way to wash a house is to do it before the mildew gets to the visible-from-the-curb stage. Annual maintenance washes are $195-$295 vs. heavy first-time washes at $395-$595.

Service area

Same 18-city Grand Rapids metro: Grand Rapids · Wyoming · Kentwood · Grandville · Walker · Forest Hills · Cascade · Caledonia · Hudsonville · Jenison · Byron Center · Rockford · Comstock Park · Cutlerville · East Grand Rapids · Ada · Allendale · Belmont.

Book a house wash

Text 616.254.9465 with 4-6 photos of the house exteriors. We'll quote same-day. Or call if you want to walk through it.

FAQ

Common questions

How much does house washing cost in Grand Rapids?
From $295 flat-rate for a small single-family ranch; most 2,000-2,800 sq ft Grand Rapids homes are $395-$495; larger homes (3,000+ sq ft, multiple stories, complex roof lines) run $495-$695. Text 4-6 photos to 616-254-9465 and we'll lock in the exact number.
What's the difference between soft-wash and pressure washing?
Soft-wash uses low pressure (under 100 PSI) plus biodegradable surfactants that dissolve algae and mildew at the molecular level. Best for vinyl, painted wood, fiber cement, brick, and roofs. Pressure washing uses high PSI (1500-3000+) and is appropriate for concrete, brick walkways, pavers, and unpainted hardscape. Using pressure on siding strips paint, blows out caulk lines, and pushes water under the siding — soft-wash is the right method.
How long does the soft-wash treatment last?
2-4 years before re-cleaning is needed for most West Michigan exteriors. North-facing surfaces and heavily-shaded sides re-grow algae faster — sometimes annual cleaning makes sense for those alone. Annual maintenance washes are about $195-$295 once the heavy first pass is done.
Will it kill my plants?
No — that's the whole point of using buffered surfactants instead of straight bleach. Standard process: water-rinse landscaping before the wash to saturate the soil, perform the wash, immediately water-rinse landscaping after to dilute any runoff. Surfactant chemistry breaks down to inert components within days. We've never killed a plant doing it this way.
What about my pets?
Keep pets inside during the wash; let them out after the final rinse + 2 hours of drying. Cats and dogs aren't sensitive to the residue once dry, but we recommend keeping them off freshly-washed siding until everything is fully dry just to be safe.
Do you wash windows too?
Light surface dirt and pollen comes off windows during a normal house wash. For a streak-free window finish, we coordinate with a window-cleaning specialist — they typically come the day after the wash. We can introduce; standalone window service is not in our scope.
Can you reach the second story?
Yes — soft-wash uses a long-reach gun and ladders. Three-story homes and very steep terrain may require a boom lift; we'll quote that separately if needed.
Should I do anything before you arrive?
Close all windows; move outdoor furniture, planters, grills 5 feet away from the house; flag any plants you want extra-protected. We'll handle the rest.
What if it rains right after the wash?
No problem — soft-wash surfactant dwell time is already done by the rinse step; rain after that is just more rinse water. We schedule around major storms when forecasts are clear; light rain doesn't move us.
When's the best time to wash a Michigan house?
May through October. Soft-wash needs surface temps above 50°F. Late spring (June) catches winter mildew bloom; early fall (September) cleans summer pollen + bug debris. Avoid washing right before a hard frost.

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Plant-safe surfactants · Soft-wash standard · Flat-rate quote