What house washing covers
House washing is the exterior cleaning of siding, brick, stucco, trim, soffits, and gutters to remove mold, mildew, algae streaks, pollen film, and general grime buildup. In Irmo's humid summers and shaded lots near Lake Murray, algae and mildew show up fast on north-facing walls and anything under tree cover. Most jobs use a soft wash method: a low-pressure application of a cleaning solution (usually a diluted bleach or surfactant mix) that kills spores at the root, followed by a gentle rinse. This is different from blasting siding with a pressure washer wand, which can force water behind panels, strip paint, or crack vinyl if the operator isn't careful with pressure and distance.
What to look for before you hire
- Soft wash equipment and know-how, not just a pressure washer turned down low. Vinyl, wood, and painted surfaces need different chemical ratios and dwell times.
- Plant and landscaping protection: pre-wetting shrubs, rinsing beds after, and using cleaners that won't scorch grass.
- Insurance in case a window seal, screen, or light fixture gets damaged.
- Clear scope covering whether gutters, fascia, and driveway or walkway rinsing are included or billed separately.
How we score the 5 Irmo businesses
Our ranking weighs review consistency, how specific and verifiable customer feedback is, responsiveness, and evidence of correct technique (soft wash mentions, care around landscaping, before/after results) rather than just star averages. See the full breakdown and every business ranked side by side in our best pressure washers in Irmo guide. If you want the mechanics of how we score and weight each factor, that's laid out on the methodology page.