Do You Need to Be Home During Pressure Washing?

The short answer

For exterior cleaning, you rarely need to be home the whole time. Driveways, walkways, patios, fences, walls and roofs are all outside. If the crew can get to them, reach a water spigot and work without cars, pets or furniture in the way, the job can go ahead without you.

Where being present helps most is at the start, to confirm what is being cleaned, and at the end, for the final walkthrough. If you can only manage one, choose the end.

Interior cleaning is a different story, but pressure washing almost never involves going inside. If a job ever does require entry, that should be discussed and agreed in advance.

Access: gates, locks and side yards

Most delays on cleaning day come from access. A locked side gate, a backyard behind a key-coded door or a patio only reachable through the house can stop work. Unlock gates the night before or leave a code if you are comfortable sharing it.

Mention anything unusual when you book: a gate that sticks, a steep hillside stair, a shared driveway or a building with restricted entry. For apartments and commercial properties, let the manager or front desk know a crew is coming.

For commercial properties, think about timing as well as access. Cleaning a storefront sidewalk or parking lot is easiest when foot traffic and parked cars are lowest. Office hours are Monday to Saturday, 7am to 6pm, so ask about scheduling around your business when you book.

Water and power

Pressure washing needs water. An outdoor spigot with good flow, close to the work, is ideal. If your spigot is behind a locked gate or turned off at a valve, sort that out ahead of time. Make sure it is not leaking or broken.

Ask whether the crew needs anything from you for power. Many professional machines are self-contained, but it is better to ask than to find out on the day.

If the property has more than one spigot, say which one works best. A spigot at the front and another in the backyard can save running long hoses through gates and across the lawn.

Pets, cars and things on the ground

Pets should be indoors or away from the work area. Moving hoses, noise, cleaning solution and wet surfaces are a bad mix for curious dogs and cats, and an open gate is an easy escape route. If you will not be home, make sure they are secured before you leave.

Move cars off the driveway, or out of the garage if the garage floor is being cleaned. Bring in doormats, potted plants you want to protect, kids' toys and patio cushions. Close windows and doors near the work. Anything left in place may be worked around, which can leave visible lines.

If you have a cat that hides outside or a dog that barks at strangers through a fence, mention it. It helps the crew plan which gates to leave closed and where to start.

What to do before you leave

Walk the areas once and note anything delicate: a cracked step, loose tile, a freshly painted wall, a fragile plant. Share those notes when you book or leave them where the crew will see them. Clear communication matters more than being there in person.

Because the flat price is confirmed with you before work begins, there should be no surprise charges while you are away. If something unexpected comes up, such as a stain that will only lighten, a good crew reaches out rather than guessing.

Leave a phone number where you can actually be reached during the job. A quick call to confirm a detail is much better than a crew waiting or making an assumption about your property.

The walkthrough at the end

A final walkthrough is your chance to look at the work and point out any spot that needs another pass while the crew and equipment are still there. At Say Wash It we do this walkthrough with the customer at the end of every job.

If you cannot be there, ask ahead how the walkthrough will be handled. Some people have a family member, neighbor, tenant or property manager stand in. Pricing in the instant quote on this page is current as of October 2026.