Holiday Exterior Cleaning Checklist for Hixson & Soddy-Daisy, TN Homes

7 hours ago

4 min read

Thanksgiving is Thursday, November 26 this year, and between now and New Year's a lot of us will have family pulling into the driveway, friends coming up the front walk, and maybe a cousin or two sleeping over. Before the first car door shuts, take ten minutes and walk around your house the way a guest would. This holiday exterior cleaning checklist is written for homeowners in Hixson, Soddy-Daisy, and Apison, TN (and everywhere else we work), so your home looks ready long before the turkey Dew-s.

Before and after driveway pressure washing on a brick home, holiday exterior cleaning in Hixson TN by JimmyDew

Step 1: Start at the curb

Stand at the street or the end of the driveway, right where guests park. This is the first thing everyone sees, and it's usually the dirtiest. Look for:

Dark tire tracks, oil drips, and that grey-green film on the driveway.
Red clay and leaf stains along the edges where water runs off the yard.
A mailbox or brick mailbox post with mildew on the shady side.
Fall leaf stains on concrete. Our driveway stain guide explains what usually lifts and what may only lighten.

A driveway pressure washing visit with a surface cleaner gives an even, stripe-free finish, and it makes the whole house look brighter in every holiday photo.

Step 2: Walk the path to the front door

Now follow the route your guests will walk: sidewalk, steps, porch, and entry. Hixson and Soddy-Daisy have plenty of homes on wooded, sloped lots, and shade plus fall moisture means walkways and steps turn green and slick this time of year. Keep an eye out for:

Algae or moss on concrete steps and shaded walkways, which can be slippery when wet.
Spider webs and dirt in porch corners and around the light fixture.
Mildew on brick planters, retaining walls, and the front stoop.
A welcome mat hiding a dark ring of grime underneath.

Clean, grippy steps aren't just about looks. When Grandma is carrying a pie up the walk, nobody wants a slick spot on the second step.

Before and after cleaning a mildewed brick retaining wall and concrete pad near a front entry in the Hixson TN area

Step 3: Look up at the siding and trim

Step back into the yard and look at the front of the house. Green streaks on the north side, black spots under the eaves, and grey film on white trim show up fast in our humid East Tennessee climate. Vinyl, brick, and Hardie siding all do best with a low-pressure house soft wash, which treats algae and mildew instead of blasting it. If you're curious how the surfaces differ, our siding cleaning guide breaks it down, and soft wash vs. pressure washing explains why we don't use high pressure on siding.

While you're looking up, check the outside faces of the gutters and the roofline. Our roof and gutter guide covers what we look for there.

Step 4: Check the back yard hangout spots

If there's any chance of a sunny afternoon, guests end up out back. Give these a quick look:

Deck boards and railings that have gone grey or green. See our deck cleaning guide.
A wood or vinyl fence the kids will run along. Here's our fence pressure washing page.
Patio concrete under the grill, where grease and leaf stains collect.
Outdoor furniture and planters you can rinse off yourself with a garden hose.

Step 5: Pick your timing

A few timing tips so the house is ready when the company shows up:

Book a week or two before your first guests arrive. Pre-holiday weeks tend to get busy, so calling early gives you the most choice of days.
Schedule cleaning after the leaves are mostly down, but before you hang lights and garland, so nothing is in the way.
Mild, dry fall days are great for exterior cleaning in Tennessee. We'll keep an eye on the forecast and avoid freezing temperatures.
Planning further ahead? Our winter concrete care guide and how-often guide help you plan the rest of the year.

What a holiday cleaning won't do

We'll always be honest about results. Washing removes dirt, algae, mildew, and most surface staining, but it won't fix cracked concrete, peeling paint, or rotted boards, and some deep oil or rust stains may only lighten. If we notice something that needs a repair, we'll tell you so you can decide what to do before the holidays.

JimmyDew pressure washing truck heading to a holiday exterior cleaning job in Hixson and Soddy-Daisy TN

Quick FAQ

Do I need to be home? Usually not, as long as we have access to an outdoor spigot and the cars are moved off the driveway.

Will it hurt my plants or holiday decorations? We rinse plants before and after, and it's best to put decorations up after we're done. Our quote guide explains how we plan each job.

Are you insured? Yes. JimmyDew Pressure Washing is licensed and insured.

Holiday exterior cleaning near you

JimmyDew is based in Ooltewah and helps homeowners in Hixson, Soddy-Daisy, Apison, Ooltewah, Collegedale, Harrison, East Ridge, Cleveland, and McDonald, TN. Hosting a crowd at a rental or a neighborhood clubhouse? See our landlord guide and commercial vs residential guide. Send us a few photos of the front of the house and the driveway, and we'll help you get guest-ready. Your family is coming home for the holidays, and so Dew the compliments.