EverGlow Exteriors · Ankeny House Washing · (515) 642-1986
House Washing in Ankeny, IA
EverGlow Exteriors soft washes houses all over Ankeny, from Prairie Trail to the newer subdivisions on the north side. We kill the green and black algae growing on your vinyl siding without blasting it with pressure. Most Ankeny homes run $250 to $500, and the job usually takes two to three hours.
We’re a fully insured local crew based in Urbandale, about 20 minutes down I-35. We’re open 24/7 and we hold a 5.0-star rating across 19 Google reviews. Want to pair it with a window cleaning? See our Ankeny window cleaning page.
What is soft washing?
Soft washing is a low-pressure cleaning method that uses a detergent mix to kill algae, mold, and mildew on siding, then rinses it away with about the same pressure as a garden hose. It cleans vinyl, hardboard, and painted surfaces without forcing water behind the panels or stripping the finish.
That last part matters. High pressure on vinyl siding can crack panels, blow out caulk lines, and push water into your walls. The green stuff on your house isn’t dirt anyway. It’s a living organism called gloeocapsa magma, and pressure alone doesn’t kill it. It just smears it around and it grows right back. Our soft wash mix kills it at the root, so your siding stays clean far longer.
Why does the north side of Ankeny houses turn green?
The north side of your house gets the least sunlight, so it stays damp longer after rain and morning dew. Algae loves damp, shaded vinyl. Add a humid Iowa July and the north wall of an Ankeny home can go from clean to green in a single season.
We see it constantly in Ankeny’s newer neighborhoods. Prairie Trail, the subdivisions off NW Irvinedale Drive, the new builds pushing north toward Highway 415 — most of them are wrapped in light-colored vinyl, and light vinyl shows algae fast. Homes backing up to ponds or tree lines get hit even harder because the air around them holds more moisture. We wrote a full guide on this: why the north side of your house turns green.
“Ankeny is almost all vinyl, and vinyl is the easiest siding there is to soft wash. Most of these houses look brand new again in one afternoon.” — the EverGlow Exteriors crew
How much does house washing cost in Ankeny?
House washing in Ankeny costs $250 to $500 for most homes. A single-story ranch with light algae sits near the low end. A big two-story in Prairie Trail with heavy growth on the north and east walls lands closer to $500. We quote a firm price before we start, and the price we quote is the price you pay.
Three things move the price: the size of the house, how many stories it has, and how heavy the algae growth is. Full details on the service are on our house washing page for the Des Moines metro.
What’s included in an Ankeny house wash
Every house wash covers all four walls of siding, the soffits, the gutters’ outside faces, and the trim. We pre-wet your plants and rinse them again after, so your landscaping stays safe. We hand-scrub stubborn spots the detergent doesn’t lift on its own.
- All siding, soft washed and rinsed
- Soffits, fascia, and exterior gutter faces
- Trim, shutters, and porch ceilings
- Plant and landscaping protection before and after
Ankeny house washing FAQs
Will soft washing hurt my vinyl siding?
No. Soft washing uses less pressure than a garden hose, so it can’t crack panels or force water behind them. The detergent does the cleaning, not the pressure. It’s the method siding manufacturers themselves recommend for algae removal.
How long does a house wash keep the algae away?
Most Ankeny homes stay clean for one to two years. Because our mix kills the algae instead of smearing it, it takes much longer to grow back than it would after a plain pressure rinse. Shaded north walls near ponds or trees may need a wash a bit sooner.
Is the detergent safe for my plants and pets?
Yes, when it’s handled right. We pre-soak your plants with fresh water, keep the mix off them while we work, and rinse everything again when we’re done. Keep pets inside during the wash and they can go back out as soon as we leave.
Do I need to be home during the wash?
No. We just need your outside water spigot turned on and your windows closed. Most Ankeny customers are at work while we wash. We text you before we start and send photos when we finish.
Can you wash my windows at the same time?
Yes, and most Ankeny customers bundle the two. A house wash rinses siding, but windows need their own squeegee-and-scrub cleaning to come out streak-free. Booking both in one visit saves you a second trip charge.
Get your Ankeny house wash quote
Send us your address and a couple photos of the green spots, and we’ll text back a firm quote, usually within the hour. We’re open 24/7, we’re fully insured, and we show up when we say we will. Ankeny is a quick run up I-35 for us, so we can often fit you in the same week.