House washing in Cape Coral means soft washing. We apply a diluted cleaning solution to the walls, let it work on the algae and mildew for a few minutes, and rinse at about the pressure of a garden hose. A one-story home usually costs $250–$400 and takes two to three hours.
The green or gray film on a Cape home is alive. It is algae and mildew feeding on the moisture that sits on stucco after every afternoon storm. Blasting it off with high pressure removes what you can see, leaves the roots in the pores of the stucco and often takes paint with it. Killing it with the right solution is what keeps the wall clean for a year or more instead of a few months.
What a house wash covers
- All exterior walls: stucco, painted block, vinyl or fiber-cement siding
- Soffits and fascia, where wasp nests and cobwebs collect
- The outside face of the gutters (the black tiger stripes are a separate brightening add-on)
- Entry columns, garage door and the front door surround
- Lanai walls and ceilings outside the screen
- A rinse of the windows and screens on the way past
Why we do not pressure wash stucco
Most Cape Coral homes are concrete block finished in stucco and painted. Stucco is porous and full of hairline cracks, especially on homes from the 1970s and 1980s. A pressure wand pushes water into those cracks and behind the paint, which is how you end up with bubbles, peeling and damp patches inside. High pressure also leaves stripes where the wand passed closer or slower.
Soft washing avoids all of that. The solution does the cleaning, so the rinse can be gentle, and the whole wall cleans evenly. It is the same method paint manufacturers recommend before repainting.
How we protect the plants and the house
- Plants are soaked first with fresh water so they do not absorb the solution, then rinsed again when we finish.
- Outlets, lights and the AC disconnect are covered before we start.
- Windows and doors are checked for gaps, and we keep spray away from open weep holes on sliding doors.
- Runoff is kept on the lawn and away from the street drains, which empty straight into the canals.
What we can and cannot remove
Algae, mildew, dirt, cobwebs and most pollen come off in one visit. Some stains need their own treatment:
- Orange rust stains from well-water irrigation hitting the wall. These need a rust remover, priced separately ($75–$250).
- Gray streaks on white gutters are oxidation, not dirt. Gutter brightening is an add-on ($150–$300).
- Chalky, faded paint cannot be washed back to new. If your paint rubs off on your hand, we will tell you before we start, because washing will make the fading more obvious.
House washing prices
| Job | Estimated price | What moves it |
|---|---|---|
| One story, up to about 2,000 sq ft | $250–$400 | Wall area, mildew load |
| Two story | $375–$600 | Height, lanai roof access |
| Large or custom waterfront home | $500–$800 | Returns, columns, upper decks |
Booking a driveway clean or roof soft wash on the same visit lowers the total. Every service is listed on the Cape Coral price guide.
How often to wash a Cape Coral house
Once a year suits most homes. Walls that face north, sit under trees or back onto a canal often go green again within nine or ten months and may need it sooner. Many owners book in late winter, before the rainy season starts in June, so the house looks its best while family is visiting.
House washing questions
Will the cleaning solution hurt my lawn or plants?
Not the way we use it. Plants are soaked with fresh water before and after, and the solution is diluted to the strength the surface needs. You may see a little browning on the tips of very delicate plants that sit right against the wall, which grows back.
Do I need to close the windows?
Yes, please close windows and sliders before we arrive. We check them as we go, but closed windows keep rinse water out of the tracks.
Can you wash a house that is about to be painted?
Yes, and painters prefer it. A soft wash removes the mildew that would otherwise grow back through new paint. Allow a couple of dry days before painting.
How long does the house stay clean?
Usually a year or more. Because soft washing kills the growth rather than just knocking off the surface layer, it takes longer to come back than after a pressure wash.
Last reviewed October 8, 2026.