Spending 30 minutes preparing before our crew arrives makes a big difference in the quality of your results and the speed of the job. Here's exactly what to do — and what not to worry about.
Close All Windows and Doors — Completely
This one sounds obvious but it's the most common prep oversight we encounter. Even slightly cracked windows allow high-pressure water mist to enter your home. Check every window on all floors, including basement windows and window wells. Sliding glass doors should be fully closed and latched. Even a well-sealed window can allow minor mist infiltration during siding cleaning — the closer the window seal, the better. This is especially important on the windward side of the home during outdoor washing.
Pro Tip: If you have a whole-house fan or attic fan with external vents, close those too. Overspray can enter through fan housing openings.
Move Outdoor Furniture and Decorations
Clear the areas to be cleaned of outdoor furniture, potted plants, outdoor rugs, and decorative items. For a house wash, this means moving anything within 6–8 feet of the home's perimeter. For deck cleaning, the deck needs to be completely clear. Our crews work around obstacles when asked, but clearing the space ahead of time speeds up the job significantly and ensures we don't accidentally move or damage any items. It also protects your belongings from cleaning solution overspray.
Turn Off Outdoor Electrical Outlets and Lighting
Turn off power to any outdoor GFCI outlets, string lights, landscape lighting, and exterior-mounted decorative lighting before we arrive. While professional pressure washing equipment and technique is designed to minimize water intrusion into electrical fixtures, cutting power to outdoor circuits is simple risk elimination. Interior circuit breakers for outdoor outlets are typically labeled clearly in your panel. Leave your main outdoor light fixture on if needed for the crew's visibility — those are sealed units.
Cover or Move Plants and Garden Beds
Our cleaning solutions are fully biodegradable and EPA-compliant, but freshly applied cleaning agents at full strength can stress delicate plants and new growth if they receive heavy direct overspray. For house washing near garden beds, we pre-wet plants before and rinse them thoroughly after. You can help by moving any potted plants or hanging baskets away from the work area. Ground-planted gardens near siding will be protected by our pre-wetting protocol but feel free to cover extra-delicate plants with a plastic sheet.
Secure Pets Indoors
Keep pets indoors for the duration of the cleaning — typically 1–4 hours depending on project scope. Pressure washing equipment is loud and can startle animals. Cleaning solutions on outdoor surfaces should be fully rinsed before pets return to the area, which our crew completes as the final step. If you have a dog door, lock it from the inside for the duration. We'll let you know when all surfaces are fully rinsed and it's safe to bring pets back outside.
Confirm Water Spigot Location
Our crews bring their own equipment and hose, but we do connect to your outdoor water spigot. Make sure you know where your outdoor spigots are and that they're in working order. For larger properties with multiple spigots, having two available helps us work more efficiently. If you have a water softener, let us know — some softener systems perform better with a bypass during high-volume water use.
What You Don't Need to Do
A few things homeowners unnecessarily worry about: you don't need to pre-clean or scrub anything before we arrive — that's entirely our job. You don't need to be home for the entire job, though we'll need access to the water spigot. You don't need to provide any equipment, ladders, or cleaning supplies. And you don't need to worry about our cleaning solutions harming your lawn — we're careful with runoff management and use diluted, biodegradable chemistry in all residential applications.
Frequently Asked Questions
Not necessarily — most homeowners leave for work and return to a clean home. You do need to confirm water spigot access before the crew arrives and ensure all windows, doors, and outdoor outlets are secured. Your crew will let you know when the job is complete.
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BPW Columbus serves all of Central Ohio. Same-week scheduling available. Fully insured & family-owned.