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Exterior Cleaning · April 20, 2026 · 5 min read

The Spring Exterior Cleaning Checklist for Puget Sound Homes

Home exterior refreshed by spring cleaning

Short answer: clean top-down — roof, then gutters, then siding, then driveway — in late spring, once the wet season eases. Eight months of Puget Sound rain grows something on every exterior surface, and the right method differs by surface: gentle treatment up top, soft washing on the walls, real pressure only on the concrete.

Why spring, and why in order

By May, the region's homes wear the winter: moss establishing on shaded roof slopes, gutters loaded with a winter's needles, green film on north-facing siding, and algae-slick driveways. Spring cleaning isn't vanity — it's the reset that stops each of those from compounding through another cycle. And the order matters: work downhill, so the roof's debris lands before the gutters are cleared, and the siding's runoff rinses before the flatwork is finished.

The checklist

1. Roof: treat and clear. Moss treatment in spring kills the winter's growth at the root. Valleys and surfaces get cleared of debris — gently, never with pressure.

2. Gutters: clear and repair. A winter of needles and moss shed ends up here. Clearing, flushing downspouts, and fixing what winter loosened — sagging runs, leaking seams — while the ladders are up.

3. Siding, fences, stucco: soft wash. The green film and mildew come off with soft washing — low pressure, tailored solutions that kill the growth so it stays gone longer. No pressure washer near paint or panels.

4. Driveway, walkways, patio: pressure wash. Hard concrete gets the real thing: pre-treatment plus controlled pressure. This is also a safety fix — winter's algae film is genuinely slippery.

5. While it's all visible: inspect. Spring is the natural moment for a free roof inspection — documenting what windstorm season did while repairs are still small and schedules still open.

One crew, one visit

Every step above is method-matched to its surface, which is exactly why booking it as one coordinated visit works so well — and why we offer it that way across the Eastside and Seattle. One estimate, one crew, the whole exterior reset for the year: (425) 270-1525.

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I do exterior spring cleaning in Western Washington?

Late April through June is the sweet spot — the heavy rain has eased, surfaces dry enough to clean and treat properly, and you get ahead of summer. It's also the season to catch and fix any damage winter left behind, while contractors' schedules are still open.

What order should exterior cleaning happen in?

Top down, always: roof first (moss treatment and debris), then gutters (which catch what the roof sheds), then siding and windows, then flatwork — driveway, walkways, patio. Working downhill means each stage's runoff and debris gets cleaned up by the next, not deposited on finished work.

Why is everything green after winter?

Algae, moss, and mildew all thrive on months of moisture without drying sun. They colonize any surface that stayed damp — north-facing siding, shaded concrete, roof slopes under trees. It's cosmetic on some surfaces and damaging on others (moss lifts shingles; algae film makes walkways slippery).

Can one company handle the whole exterior?

Ours can — and it's the efficient way to book it: moss treatment and roof debris, gutter clearing and minor repairs, soft washing for siding, pressure washing for concrete, all in one coordinated visit with each surface getting the method it tolerates. Free estimates: (425) 270-1525.

Is spring also the time for a roof inspection?

Yes — winter windstorms and eight wet months leave their marks, and spring light makes damage easy to document. A free post-winter inspection catches lifted shingles, flashing wear, and drainage issues while they're still small summer repairs rather than next winter's leaks.