House Washing in Melbourne

What house washing covers

House exterior cleaning takes off the dirt, dust, cobwebs, mould and mildew that build up on external walls over time. It's usually combined with the window sills, frames, front porch and any fences close to the house, so everything that's visible from the street ends up clean together.

A clean exterior makes a house look better maintained, and it's the right first step before any repainting.

Weatherboard cleaning needs a gentle touch

Weatherboards are painted timber or composite, and high pressure up close can lift paint, force water behind the boards or damage the timber. Weatherboard cleaning is done at a lower pressure and from further back, letting the water and a suitable cleaner do the work rather than brute force.

If the paint is already flaking, washing will loosen some of it — which is exactly what you want before repainting, but worth knowing if you're not planning to paint.

Brick cleaning and rendered walls

Brick handles washing well, but the mortar between bricks is softer than the bricks themselves, especially on older homes. Brick cleaning is done at a pressure that cleans the face without eroding the mortar joints. White powdery marks on brick (efflorescence) are salts coming out of the masonry; they often lift with cleaning but can reappear while the wall is still drying out.

Render and painted masonry need the same care as weatherboards — enough pressure to clean, not enough to mark the surface.

Mould removal on shady walls

South-facing walls, and walls shaded by fences or trees, stay damp through Melbourne's winter and are where green and black growth appears first. Mould removal on these walls takes cleaning plus treatment, because simply blasting the growth off the surface leaves spores behind that regrow quickly.

Improving airflow and cutting back plants that touch the walls helps keep them clean for longer.

Before painting, selling or leasing

Painters need a clean surface for new paint to bond properly, so a house wash is a common first step before a repaint. Before selling or leasing, it's one of the fastest ways to make a house look cared for in listing photos and at inspections.

What affects the price

House washing quotes depend on the size of the house, whether it's single or double storey, the wall surfaces, how much mould there is, and access around the sides. Photos of each side of the house make for a quick, accurate quote.