Getting your yard ready before a house washing crew shows up in Wasilla protects your landscaping, keeps runoff where it belongs, and saves the technician from working around lawn chairs and garden hoses.
- Clear a 10-foot perimeter around the house before house washing to protect plants and give crews room to work.
- Cover sensitive plants with a 6-mil poly tarp; soft wash runoff at under 100 psi still carries cleaning solution.
- Move vehicles, patio furniture, and toys off the driveway and lawn the morning of your 2026 appointment.
- Alaska Moss Doctor recommends watering plants the day before, not the day of, a scheduled cleaning.
Why this matters
Soft washing removes moss, algae, and black streaks with a low-pressure application and a cleaning solution, not a pressure washer blasting bare wood or shingles. The soft wash pressure settings used for delicate siding run well under what a rental pressure washer puts out, but the solution itself still drains off the roof and siding onto whatever sits below.
If that's your rhododendrons, a wood deck, or a parked car, an unprepared yard turns a clean roof into a damaged flower bed. Ten minutes of yard prep the morning of your appointment in Wasilla prevents most of the callback complaints homeowners run into after a house washing.
What You'll Need
- Garden hose with a spray nozzle, for pre-rinsing plants
- 6-mil poly tarps or drop cloths (2-4, depending on landscaping density)
- Painter's tape or bungee cords to secure tarps in wind
- A wheelbarrow or bin for moving potted plants
- 30 minutes of lead time before the crew arrives
- Access to your gutters and downspouts (clear of debris beforehand helps runoff drain properly)
The Steps
1. Walk the perimeter and map problem zones
Start at the foundation and walk the full perimeter of the house, noting anything within 10 feet of the walls: flower beds, young trees, air conditioning units, and outdoor electronics. This step accomplishes the same thing a site survey does for the crew, minus the extra visit.
Most missed damage happens in the zones nobody thinks to check, like a hose bib cover or a low-hanging shrub tucked against the siding. Common mistake: homeowners protect the obvious flower beds out front and forget the side yard where the crew accesses gutters.
2. Water sensitive plants the day before, not the day of
Dry, stressed plants absorb more of any runoff that reaches them, so give your landscaping a deep watering 24 hours ahead of the scheduled cleaning. This dilutes any residual concentration in the soil and reduces leaf uptake.
Don't water the morning of the appointment. Wet foliage combined with fresh cleaning solution runoff is a worse combination than dry leaves that get a light rinse afterward. Common mistake: watering right before the crew arrives, which soaks the root zone right when it's most exposed.
3. Cover or relocate plants within the splash zone
Anything within roughly 3-5 feet of the exterior wall gets a 6-mil poly tarp, taped or weighted at the base so wind doesn't lift it mid-service. Potted plants get moved to the driveway, garage, or a spot 15 feet or farther from the house.
This single step prevents most of the plant damage complaints tied to house washing. Common mistake: using thin painter's plastic that tears in wind gusts, which are common in the Mat-Su Valley even on calm-looking mornings.
4. Clear the driveway and walkways
Move cars, bikes, and any equipment off the driveway and the pathways leading to your entrances. The crew needs clear access to ladders, hoses, and equipment staging, and a blocked driveway adds time to the job.
If your driveway or walkway also has moss buildup, mention it when scheduling. Many homeowners bundle a driveway rinse with roof and siding work rather than scheduling it separately. Common mistake: leaving a car in the driveway assuming the crew will just work around it.
5. Close windows and secure outdoor electronics
Check that all windows and vents are latched shut, especially upper-floor windows a ladder might pass near. Unplug or cover any exterior electronics, security cameras, or speakers mounted on the walls being cleaned.
This step matters more on older Alaska homes with looser window seals. Common mistake: assuming closed windows are sealed tight enough; a cracked-open window on a breezy day lets mist in.
6. Bring in patio furniture, toys, and décor
Anything loose on the deck, patio, or lawn, including cushions, planters, garden gnomes, and kids' toys, should come inside or move to a covered area. This isn't just about avoiding wet furniture; it's about giving the crew a clear line of sight and movement space around the house.
Common mistake: leaving cushions on outdoor furniture, which soak through and take days to dry in Alaska's humidity.
7. Keep pets inside for the service window
Dogs and cats should stay indoors while the crew works, both for their safety around ladders and hoses and to keep them away from wet surfaces treated with cleaning solution. Most house washing appointments run 1-3 hours depending on the size of the home and whether gutters or windows are bundled in.
Common mistake: letting a dog out mid-service because it seems done; wait until the crew confirms the job is complete and surfaces have had time to rinse.
8. Confirm gutter and downspout access
If you're bundling gutter cleaning with your roof washing, make sure downspout extensions and splash blocks aren't buried under mulch or leaves. Clear gutter access speeds up the job and helps runoff drain away from your foundation instead of pooling.
Common mistake: forgetting that downspouts discharge somewhere specific, like a rain barrel or garden bed, that also needs protecting.
Troubleshooting
Problem: A plant got some overspray despite covering it. Rinse the affected foliage with plain water from a garden hose within an hour of exposure. Most soft wash solutions are formulated to biodegrade and won't cause lasting damage if rinsed promptly.
Problem: It's raining the morning of the appointment. Most soft wash crews in the Wasilla area can still work in light rain since the process relies on cleaning solution dwell time, not dry conditions. Heavy rain or high wind is a different story and typically triggers a reschedule call from the crew.
Problem: I forgot to move my car and the crew already arrived. Ask the technician if they can work around it or if you have time to move it before they start on that side of the house. A five-minute delay beats working around a car for the entire job.
Problem: My yard has a lot of moss or algae buildup too, not just the roof. Mention it during scheduling. Driveway, walkway, and deck cleaning are often bundled into the same visit rather than scheduled as a separate trip.
Problem: I have a sprinkler system and I'm not sure whether to run it. Turn sprinklers off the morning of the appointment. Resume your normal watering schedule the following day once surfaces have dried and rinsed.
Tools and Resources
- 6-mil poly tarps for plant coverage (available at most Wasilla hardware stores)
- A garden hose with adjustable nozzle for rinsing foliage
- If your siding is vinyl, stucco, or cedar, the cleaning approach and yard prep both shift slightly depending on material
- If you're prepping for a home sale, exterior cleaning timing matters as much as yard prep
- Gutter clips or extensions to keep downspouts clear before the crew arrives
What to Do Next
Once your yard is prepped, the next decision is timing. Alaska's moss and algae growth follows seasonal patterns, and scheduling around them affects how long results last. Review the guidance on the vinyl siding house washing process if you're unsure how your exterior material changes the cleaning approach, or check the bundled gutter and window cleaning option if your gutters need attention at the same time.
FAQ
What's the best way to protect plants before a house washing?
Cover plants within 3-5 feet of the exterior wall with a 6-mil poly tarp secured with tape or weights, and move potted plants at least 15 feet away. Water plants 24 hours ahead of the appointment, not the morning of.
Is it safe to leave the sprinkler system on during house washing?
No, sprinklers should be turned off the morning of the appointment in 2026 to avoid adding water to areas already receiving cleaning solution runoff. Resume normal watering the following day.
Should I mow the lawn before a house washing?
Mowing isn't required, but a freshly cut lawn makes it easier to spot and move small items like sprinkler heads, hoses, and toys before the crew arrives. It also gives the crew clearer footing around the perimeter.
How long before a house washing should I clear the yard?
Plan for 30 minutes of prep time the morning of the appointment to move vehicles, furniture, and loose items. Cover sensitive plants the night before if you're worried about morning time pressure.
Can pets stay outside during a soft wash?
Pets should stay inside for the full service window, which typically runs 1-3 hours depending on home size. Ladders, hoses, and wet surfaces treated with cleaning solution are safety hazards for animals.
Do I need to move my car before a house washing?
Yes, move vehicles off the driveway and away from the house before the crew arrives. A clear driveway speeds up equipment staging and prevents overspray on paint or windshields.
Is soft wash safe for landscaping in Alaska's climate?
Soft wash solutions are formulated to biodegrade and generally don't cause lasting plant damage when yard prep steps like covering and pre-watering are followed. Prompt rinsing with plain water handles any accidental overspray.
What happens if it rains on the day of my house washing?
Light rain usually doesn't stop a soft wash service since the process depends on solution dwell time rather than dry weather. Heavy rain or high wind typically leads to a reschedule call from the crew.
One Last Thing
The detail most homeowners miss isn't the flower bed out front, it's the side yard air conditioning unit or the hose bib tucked against the foundation. Walk the full perimeter, not just the parts visible from the street, and you'll catch the spots that actually cause callback complaints.