Exterior Cleaning Services and How to Plan a Full Clean

A full exterior clean addresses the outside surfaces of a building, from clearing gutters and washing render to cleaning windows and jet washing driveways. Many firms offer several of these jobs, so it is often worth asking whether one firm can do more than one task in the same visit. Planning the work in the right order stops dirt washing down onto surfaces you have already paid to clean.

Most domestic window cleaning is done on a round, where the same cleaner returns on a set cycle of every four, six or eight weeks. These cleaners often offer related exterior jobs alongside their regular visits. Traditional cleaning uses an applicator, squeegee and cloth to wash the glass. Alternatively, water-fed pole cleaning uses a telescopic pole with a brush head to scrub the windows with purified water.

Exterior cleaning usually covers:

• Windows and frames, including roof windows and glazed doors.
• Gutters, fascias and soffits around your roofline.
• Conservatory roofs and their supporting frames.
• Solar panels on a roof or ground mount.
• Render or exterior walls that need washing.
• Cladding on a home or commercial building.
• Decking in your garden or outdoor space.
• Driveways and patios that have gathered dirt.

Which jobs your property actually needs

You do not need to book every exterior cleaning service at once. Walk around your property and look for signs that a surface needs attention. Green or black staining on render or walls is a sign of algae, mould or pollution building up.

Look up at your roofline during heavy rain to see if overflowing gutters are spilling water down your brickwork. Dull or visibly dirty panels might mean it is time to consider cleaning your solar panels. On the ground, check for slippery paving or decking that has become a hazard in wet weather.

When hiring someone, watch out for common problems in the trade. Be wary of cold callers who claim to be your usual cleaner and ask for payment. You should also avoid paying months in advance, and be wary of cleans carried out without agreement and followed by a bill. If you book a water-fed pole clean, remember that the first visit can leave some spotting until old residue has been rinsed out, so avoid judging a pole clean entirely on the first wash.

Typical prices for each exterior job

Window cleaning is priced per visit according to the size of the property, the number and type of windows, access and frequency, rather than by the hour, and a first or one-off window clean usually costs more than a regular visit. Jobs such as render, wall and driveway cleaning are usually priced by the size of the area. London and the South East cost more.

The table below shows typical prices for individual exterior cleaning tasks.

These figures are typical published prices for 2026, and local quotes will differ depending on your property.

Different property sizes change the expected cost. A regular window clean costs £20 to £35 for a terraced house, and £35 to £60 for a detached house. Extras are priced on top, with a conservatory plus frame and gutter work costing £45 to £50, while gutter cleaning added to a window clean costs £20 to £40.

Gutter clearing on a terraced house costs £50 to £90, a detached house £90 to £180, and a bungalow £45 to £85. Three storeys or awkward access increases the price to £130 to £250. Fascias and soffits are usually cleaned in the same visit. Some cleaners include a quick wipe down in the gutter quote, while others charge a fuller fascia and soffit clean as an add-on, as in the table above.

Most pressure washing jobs cost £100 to £900, with an average of around £300 reflecting the jobs booked most often. Driveways cost about £2.50 to £5.50 per m², and a full property with multiple exterior walls costs £600 to £1,200 to wash. Solar panel cleaning typically costs £4 to £15 per panel. Cladding is usually priced per square metre after a site visit, so a firm will need to inspect your property before quoting.

Booking the work in a sensible order

When you book multiple exterior cleaning services, ask the firm to work from the top down. This sensible order stops dirt and dirty water from higher jobs landing on surfaces that have already been cleaned.

Start with the highest points by clearing the gutters, washing the fascias and cleaning the solar panels. Move down to washing the walls and render, then clean the windows and the conservatory.

Leave paving and decking until last so that run off from the house does not dirty your clean driveway. The process of soft washing is itself carried out from the top down.

Soft washing, pressure washing and pure water

A professional cleaner will use different techniques depending on the surface. Purified water and water-fed poles are used for glass, frames, fascias and solar panels. The minerals have been filtered out, meaning the water is meant to dry without marks once the glass is scrubbed, rinsed and left wet. Frames and sills are usually washed at the same time.

For a render soft wash, the cleaner uses low pressure combined with a biocide or mild detergent. High pressure can strip render and damage the coatings of thin coat renders, forcing water where it should not go. Other exterior areas such as soffits and fascias can be cleaned at the same time as the walls.

Jet washing is kept for hard paving, and you should check the method carefully before booking someone for jet washing a patio. For clearing gutters, most firms now use a pole mounted vacuum from the ground rather than ladders.

Cladding on homes and business premises

Cleaning cladding requires care because incorrect pressure or chemicals can permanently damage the surface. This leads to far higher repair costs than the price of a regular clean. The firm should explain exactly how they will access the cladding safely without resting equipment against fragile panels.

Business owners should treat cladding cleaning like commercial window cleaning, which is normally quoted per site and run as a contract with an agreed frequency. Ask the contractor for a written risk assessment and method statement before they start work. Taller commercial buildings may need powered access platforms or rope access.

Safety, access and working at height

Working at height remains one of the biggest causes of fatalities and major injuries. Common cases include falls from ladders and falls through fragile surfaces. A safe cleaner will not rest a ladder against weak upper surfaces such as glazing or plastic gutters, and they will not overreach while working.

Ladders are not banned. The Health and Safety Executive says ladders can be a sensible option for low risk, short duration work, including domestic window cleaning on lower floors. The Work at Height Regulations 2005 require work at height to be properly planned, done by competent people and avoided where reasonably practicable. This is why many cleaners now work from the ground with poles. The law asks for competence, not a formal qualification.

Water-fed poles deliver purified water through a telescopic pole and brush, allowing windows up to 24 metres high to be cleaned from the ground. Most domestic solar panels are also cleaned from the ground with this equipment. Industry guidance says water-fed poles must not be used near overhead power lines or in high winds. You should point out any overhead cable to the cleaner before they start.

Work areas in public places should be cordoned off, with warning signs displayed for trailing hoses and wet, slippery surfaces. Hoses must never be trailed across roads.

Chemicals, run off and your garden

Exterior cleaning often uses detergents or biocides that need careful handling. Any substance not found naturally in an environment could cause pollution, for example detergents. Surface water drains discharge directly to the environment, and pollution can bring an unlimited fine.

Government guidance for England says a business must make sure contaminated water from its activities goes into the foul drain with the water company's permission. Alternatively, the water must be recycled or removed by a registered waste carrier. Ask your cleaner how plants, ponds, pets and drains will be protected during the wash.

Insurance, paperwork and trade bodies

Public liability insurance is not a legal requirement, but it is the cover that pays if a cleaner damages property or injures someone. You should always ask to see a current certificate before work begins. Employers' liability insurance is compulsory for a business with employees.

The Federation of Window Cleaners, established in 1947, is a non-profit trade body with a code of practice, a safety accreditation scheme and training. Membership is voluntary, so treat it as one good sign among several. In Scotland most councils require window cleaners to hold a window cleaner's licence under the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982, and licence holders carry identification. Requirements vary by council.

Ask the firm for a written quote that is itemised per job. A quote is a fixed price, while an estimate is not. Agree exactly what is included before work starts, making sure nothing is left unsaid about frames, sills, doors or the conservatory. You need to know if the quote covers:

• Re-sanding block paving after jet washing.
• Sealing driveways or patios.
• Cleaning the inside of the window glass.
• Moving heavy garden furniture or plant pots.

Comparing quotes and your rights

Under the Consumer Rights Act 2015, a service must be carried out with reasonable care and skill. If it is not, you can ask the trader to put it right. If they cannot or will not, you can ask for a partial or full refund. Take photos as evidence, and once a refund amount is agreed it should be paid within 14 days.

A service arranged online, by phone or by mail order carries a 14-day cooling-off period. This also applies to a service agreed when the business approached you away from its premises, for example on the doorstep, that costs £42 or more.

The cooling-off period starts the day after the contract is made. If you asked for the service to start within that period, the business can keep or charge for what was provided before you cancelled.

Common questions

What are external cleaning services?

External cleaning services cover the washing of a building's exterior and its surrounding grounds. This includes clearing gutters, washing walls and cladding, cleaning windows and jet washing driveways.

How is a house wash priced?

It depends on the job. Regular window cleaning is priced per visit by the size of the property, access and frequency, while render, wall and driveway cleaning are usually priced by the size of the area, often per square metre. London and the South East cost more.

Do exterior cleaning companies supply their own water?

Firms using water-fed poles bring purified water with them in a tank in their van or on a trolley. Ask in advance whether they will need to use your outside tap for other jobs, such as jet washing.

Can a window cleaner handle cladding cleaning?

Some do. Many cleaners who use water-fed poles also offer related jobs such as gutter clearing, but cladding can be permanently damaged by the wrong pressure or chemicals, so ask how they will clean your cladding material and get a written method before they start.

Next steps for booking a clean

Before you hire a company for a full exterior clean, use this checklist to protect your property and your money.

1. Walk around your property to decide exactly which jobs need doing.
2. Ask the cleaner to quote for the work in a sensible top down order.
3. Check their public liability insurance certificate.
4. Ask how they will protect your plants, pets and drains from run off.
5. Get an itemised written quote rather than an estimate.
6. Agree exactly what is included, such as re-sanding paving or cleaning inside glass.

You can read Google reviews and find a window cleaner near you who offers full exterior cleaning services.