A Cleaner House, Without the Collateral Plant Damage
Your Home’s Clean — But What About Your Plants?
Exterior cleaning is about more than just brightening up your siding or roof — it’s about protecting everything around your home, too. That includes your landscaping, gardens, lawns, and even delicate shrubs or flowers you’ve worked hard to maintain.
At 3 Little Birds Exterior Cleaning, we take plant safety seriously, and we have a multi-step process designed to safeguard your landscape before, during, and after cleaning. Here’s how we do it — and why it matters.
The Risk: What Happens When Cleaning Agents Meet Your Plants?
The cleaning solutions used in professional soft washing are designed to kill organic growth — things like algae, moss, mold, and mildew. The problem is, those same solutions don’t know the difference between a patch of green mold and your favorite hydrangea bush.
If not handled correctly, runoff can cause:
Leaf burn (chemical scorching on leaves and flowers)
Root damage (if soil absorbs runoff)
Plant death (from overexposure or cumulative damage)
Soil imbalance (affecting long-term plant health)
Step 1: Pre-Wet and Pre-Treat
Before any cleaning solution touches your siding, roof, or deck, we saturate your landscaping with clean water. This pre-wetting process:
Creates a barrier that prevents plants from absorbing chemicals.
Ensures leaves and soil are already holding clean water, reducing risk of chemical uptake.
Cools plant surfaces to minimize thermal shock on hot days.
Step 2: Use Containment and Controlled Application
Whenever possible, we direct runoff away from sensitive areas, using:
Downspout covers or diversions.
Temporary berms or barriers.
Tarping for extremely delicate plants.
We also use targeted application methods, meaning we control exactly where our cleaning solutions go — no reckless spraying or uncontrolled overspray.
Step 3: Neutralize and Rinse
After the wash is complete, we apply a plant-safe neutralizer to your landscaping. This step is crucial, especially when using solutions containing sodium hypochlorite. The neutralizer:
Breaks down any lingering cleaning agents.
Restores a balanced pH to the soil and leaf surfaces.
Provides a final clean-water rinse to leave plants healthy and happy.
Step 4: Scheduling for Plant Safety
Timing matters, especially during peak growing seasons or hot weather. Whenever possible, we recommend scheduling soft washes:
In the early morning or late afternoon to avoid heat stress.
On cooler days, allowing plants time to recover.
Before heavy rains, to allow nature to assist with gentle rinsing.
We also communicate directly with homeowners to identify any especially delicate or high-value plants so we can take extra precautions where needed.
Why This Matters
If you’ve ever heard a neighbor complain that their plants died after a house wash — this is why. Most exterior cleaning companies don’t think past the surface they’re cleaning. But at 3 Little Birds, we see the whole picture — your home, your landscaping, and your environment all matter.
This is part of what we call responsible workmanship — following industry standards not just for cleaning, but for environmental stewardship.
Choosing a Responsible Exterior Cleaner
When you choose 3 Little Birds Exterior Cleaning, you’re not just getting a cleaner house. You’re getting:
A team that understands plant physiology and chemical reactions.
A commitment to following industry best practices.
Real care and attention to detail, from the roofline to the garden bed.
That’s the difference between hiring a professional and hiring someone who just owns a pump and a tank.