If you have a house wash on the calendar, a few minutes of prep on your end helps the appointment go smoothly. You don’t need to empty the yard or move heavy furniture. Below is a short checklist of what to handle before we arrive, what our crew takes care of, and what’s worth mentioning ahead of time, followed by answers to common appointment questions.
Still deciding on service? Our house washing page explains what’s included.
Your House Wash Checklist
Save or print this list. The details for each item are below.
Before We Arrive
- Close every window and exterior door
- Turn off exterior lights in the work areas
- Move fragile or valuable items out of the way
- Unlock gates we’ll need
- Make sure the outdoor spigot is available
- Move vehicles away from the areas being cleaned
- Keep pets indoors
What TXK Handles
- Moving ordinary outdoor furniture that’s in the way
- Covering items that can be protected in place
- Rinsing and/or covering delicate plants
- A walk-around to note existing damage before we start
Tell Us Ahead of Time
- Leaky windows or doors, or spots where water has gotten in before
- Loose siding, damaged trim, or peeling paint
- Damaged light fixtures or electrical concerns
- Fragile items you can’t move
- Plants that need special care
- Gate or water-access limits
- Screens that can’t be removed from outside, if window cleaning is included
Before We Arrive
Close every window and exterior door
Please fully close all windows and exterior doors before the wash, including windows you rarely open, like those in a guest room, garage, or storage area. It’s an easy one to miss, and it matters most.
Turn off exterior lights
Switch off exterior lights in the areas we’ll be cleaning. If a fixture is cracked, loose, or damaged, or if you know of an electrical concern, let us know before your appointment so we can plan around it.
Move fragile and valuable items
Please move breakable, fragile, or valuable outdoor belongings out of the work area before we arrive. You don’t need to clear the whole patio. If a lot of items are blocking access to the house, just move what you reasonably can, and we’ll help with ordinary furniture.
Unlock gates
Unlock any gates we’ll need to reach the areas included in your service.
Make sure the outdoor spigot is available
We use your home’s water supply for the wash, so please make sure an outdoor spigot is easy to get to and available for use.
Move vehicles
Move vehicles away from the surfaces we’re cleaning and out of the immediate work area.
Keep pets inside
Please keep pets indoors while we’re cleaning. When we’re done, check with the crew before letting pets back into the work area.
A Quick Window Check Can Save a Last-Minute Scramble
During a cleaning job in Conway, we noticed a window had been left open. We covered the opening temporarily with a towel secured in place, called the customer to explain that water could get in, and kept our spraying near that window to a minimum.
That was a stopgap on our end, not something we’d suggest relying on. A towel isn’t a dependable way to keep water out of a home. It’s much easier for everyone when windows are checked before we arrive than when an open one turns up in the middle of a wash. If you’re not sure about a window, close it, or tell us about it ahead of time.
What TXK Handles
Ordinary outdoor furniture
We’re happy to help move ordinary outdoor furniture and manageable items that are in the way. We do ask you to take care of fragile belongings beforehand, and some items may be too large, heavy, or delicate for us to move.
Covering items in place
When something can be protected where it sits, we may cover it rather than move it. Not every item is a good fit for a cover, so we decide case by case.
Delicate plants
Depending on the plants and the work area, we may rinse them thoroughly before and after cleaning, cover them, or do both. That’s our standard approach to protecting landscaping, and if you have plants that need special attention, please mention them.
A pre-wash walk-around
Before we start, we walk around the house looking for existing damage or anything concerning, and we point out or photograph what we find. Some problems aren’t visible from the outside, though, so anything you can tell us in advance helps.
Tell Us Ahead of Time
A quick heads-up about any of these helps us plan the right precautions:
- Windows or exterior doors that are known to leak
- Damaged seals, or places where water has gotten in before
- Loose siding, damaged trim, peeling paint or coatings, or other existing damage
- Damaged exterior light fixtures or known electrical concerns
- Fragile belongings that can’t be moved
- Delicate plants that need special attention
- Gate or water-access restrictions
- Window screens that can’t be removed from outside, if exterior window cleaning is part of your service
If you know about a leak
Telling us in advance gives us a chance to look at the area and decide on appropriate precautions. We can’t make an opening that already leaks watertight, but knowing about it lets us plan around it instead of finding out mid-wash.
Do I Need to Be Home?
Usually, no. As long as the property is ready and we can reach the areas on your service, you don’t need to be there. The exception is when exterior window cleaning is included and some screens can’t be removed from outside. In that case, please arrange access with us beforehand.
What If the Property Isn’t Ready or Access Is Blocked?
If something is blocking access when we arrive, we’ll call and text you. If we can’t reach you, we may clean the areas we can safely access. We may have other appointments scheduled after yours, so we can’t wait indefinitely. A few minutes of prep beforehand usually keeps this from coming up at all.
What If the Weather Is Unsafe?
If lightning, high winds, or other unsafe conditions keep us from cleaning, we’ll contact you to discuss rescheduling. We aim to reschedule within the same week, weather and availability permitting.
After the Wash: A Quick Look Inside
Once we’re finished, take a moment to check inside around your windows and exterior doors, especially beneath door thresholds, for any unexpected moisture. If you notice water anywhere it shouldn’t be, let us know promptly so we can take a look. Think of it as one more precaution on top of the care we take during the wash.
Before and After a House Wash
Before
After
Have a question about your appointment, or ready to schedule? Call or text (501) 402-0196, or request a house washing quote below.