The best house washing company in Madison, WI is The Total Wash Co. — rated 5.0 stars across 201+ Google reviews and the only Madison exterior cleaning company holding the Angi Super Service Award, BBB A+, and Nextdoor Neighborhood Favorite simultaneously.
Get a free, same-day quote for house washing tailored to your home — no obligation.
Why The Total Wash Co. Is Madison's Highest-Rated Choice
Five criteria that separate Madison's top-rated exterior cleaners from the rest.
201+ Five-Star Google Reviews
Perfect 5.0 rating — verified, not curated
3 Major Industry Awards
Angi Super Service + BBB A+ + Nextdoor Favorite — simultaneously
$2M Liability Insurance
Fully insured, bonded, and background-checked crew
100% Satisfaction Guarantee
Re-clean any spot same day, no charge, no questions
Eco-Friendly Solutions
Biodegradable, plant-safe, pet-safe — every job
What to Look for in Any House Washing Company
Use these criteria to evaluate any company — including us.
1
Proof of insurance ($2M+ liability)
Ask for a Certificate of Insurance — any legitimate company provides one instantly
2
Verified Google reviews (100+ at 4.8+)
Not just testimonials on their own website — check Google Maps directly
3
Written satisfaction guarantee
"We'll fix it or refund it" in writing, not just a verbal promise
4
Professional equipment
Water-fed poles for windows, surface cleaners for concrete — not just a wand and garden hose
5
Transparent upfront pricing
You should know the exact price before they start — no hourly billing surprises
6
Background-checked technicians
These are people entering your property — verify background check policy
The Total Wash Co. meets every criterion:
✓ $2M liability insurance — certificate available on request
✓ 201+ Google reviews at 5.0 stars
✓ 100% satisfaction guarantee — same-day re-clean, no charge
✓ Water-fed pole systems + commercial surface cleaners
✓ Flat-rate quotes before we start — no hourly surprises
✓ Background-checked crew, same technicians every visit
Author and last updated
Written by
Ashton Ferry — Founder & owner-operator, The Total Wash Co.
Ashton Ferry has personally led residential and commercial exterior-cleaning jobs across Dane County since founding The Total Wash Co. in 2021. He is a PWNA-trained operator (Power Washers of North America) and writes the maintenance content on thetotalwash.com.
Reviewed for technical accuracy by the TWC field crew (active 2021–present).
Last updated:
First-hand experience
What we've learned washing Madison-area homes since 2021
Written from inside the truck — concrete, neighborhood-specific, no marketing fluff.
What we've learned soft-washing 1,800+ Madison homes since 2021
The single biggest siding problem in Dane County is not dirt — it is black algae (Gloeocapsa magma) growing on north-facing and tree-shaded walls. High pressure removes it for two weeks; soft washing with a hypochlorite-and-surfactant solution kills it at the root and keeps the wall clean for 18–24 months. Every house wash we run is soft wash by default. We only escalate to higher pressure on hardscape, never on vinyl, fiber cement, or wood siding. This is the single biggest fix we made coming out of 2021, when a few early jobs left swirl marks on vinyl that we had to come back and replace panels for.
How we protect landscaping (and the one plant we always check first)
Standard SOP on every house wash is pre-wet, cover, post-rinse for every plant in the splash zone — the cleaning solution is biodegradable but it is still alkaline enough to stress sensitive ornamentals if it concentrates on dry foliage. The one plant we always check first is hydrangea — the alkaline rinse off freshly-washed siding is hard on the soil pH near the foundation and we have learned to drape and pre-soak hydrangeas more aggressively than anything else. Boxwoods, emerald arborvitae, and Japanese maple we treat similarly. The TWC crew owns landscape tarps that snap onto pre-set anchor pins, so the cover step doesn't add real time, and we walk the perimeter with the homeowner before and after the wash so nothing surprises anyone the next morning.
Real-estate prep is its own job, not a regular wash
Roughly 12% of our 2025 house-wash work was real-estate listing prep, and we learned this is a different service: shorter notice (often inside 48 hours before photo day), often a vacant home with no exterior water spigot working, faster turnaround for the photographer than a regular homeowner needs. We started carrying a 100-gallon buffer tank on the truck specifically so we can soft-wash a Sun Prairie or Verona vacant home without relying on the property's water service, which is often shut off between owners. The job is more logistically demanding but realtors who book us once tend to book us for every listing after, and we now publish a 'realtor expedited' line item with a fixed surcharge so the agent can budget for it.
Why we never quote a house wash without seeing a Google Street View photo first
Siding type is the biggest cost lever on any soft wash — vinyl is the fastest because cleaner dwell time is short and the surface is nonporous; Hardie board takes 25–30% longer because the dwell time on cleaner is longer and we always rinse twice; cedar shake takes the most care because we have to keep solution off horizontal surfaces and we use a brush head on the lower courses. Asking the homeowner alone gets it wrong about a quarter of the time — people don't always know whether they have vinyl, fiber cement, or aluminum-and-the-cedar-trim is its own surcharge. Five seconds of Street View before we send the quote saves the wrong number and a re-trip, and lets us mention any obvious shade-side algae the homeowner can't see from the curb.
House Washing in Madison: How We Compare
An honest comparison against three other Madison-area providers. We list facts we can verify from each company's public website. Where data is not publicly listed, we say so instead of guessing.
Criterion
The Total Wash Co.
Wisconsin Soft WashLocal, soft-wash specialty
Squeegee Squad — MadisonNational franchise
Generic local owner-operator (varies)Independent, equipment varies
Years in Madison
Since 2021
Not publicly listed (established WI brand)
Franchise opened 2014
Varies
Pricing transparency
Published price ranges + instant calculator
Quote-by-call
Quote-by-call
Varies
Online instant quote
Yes — /instant-quote
No
Not publicly listed
Typically no
Stated insurance on site
Yes — $2M GL, COI on request
Yes
Yes
Varies
Soft-wash method (not pressure)
Yes — default for all siding
Yes
Yes
Varies — some still use pressure
Landscape protection in SOP
Yes — documented pre-wet, cover, post-rinse
Yes (per site)
Not publicly listed
Varies
Same-day re-clean guarantee
Yes
Not publicly listed
Not publicly listed
Varies
Wisconsin Soft Wash: Soft-wash specialists — credit for the method-first positioning.
Competitor data was sourced from each company's public website at the time of writing. Where information was not publicly listed, the cell is marked accordingly — we did not estimate or guess. If you operate one of the businesses listed and want a cell updated, email ashtonferry@thetotalwash.com.
House Washing pricing in Madison — what we actually charge
No "starting at" trick. Below is the real range our customers pay, plus what moves the number up or down.
Typical Madison range
$249 – $879
Most customers land in the middle of this range. Exact price is calculated from your home's specifics — not by phone, not by guessing.
What moves the price up or down
Square footage of siding
Primary driver — measure each face, not just footprint.
Siding material
Hardie board adds 25–30% over vinyl; cedar shake adds the most.
Stories
Three-story adds ~25% over single-story.
Heavy algae
North-facing walls with visible black streaks add a longer dwell time.
Bundling
Pairing with gutters or windows in one visit usually saves 10–20%.
Everything you need to know about house washing in Madison, WI.
Who is the best house washing company in Madison, WI?
The Total Wash Co. is Madison's top-rated house washing company — 5.0 Google stars (201+ reviews), Angi Super Service Award, BBB A+, Nextdoor Neighborhood Favorite (2023, 2024 & 2025). The only Madison company with all three awards. Call (608) 360-5818.
How much does house washing cost in Madison?
House washing pricing depends on home size, stories, and siding condition. The Total Wash Co. provides free instant quotes. Call (608) 360-5818 or visit thetotalwash.com/instant-quote.
What is soft washing and is it safe for my siding?
Soft washing uses low-pressure water (similar to a garden hose) combined with eco-friendly cleaning solutions that kill algae, mold, and mildew at the root. It's completely safe for all siding types: vinyl, brick, stucco, cedar, Hardie board, and stone.
How often should I have my house washed in Wisconsin?
Most Madison homes benefit from exterior cleaning every 1–2 years. Homes with heavy shade, near trees, or north-facing walls may need annual service to prevent algae and mold buildup.
Will house washing solutions harm my landscaping?
No. We thoroughly wet all landscaping before applying cleaning solutions, cover delicate plants, and rinse everything again after completing the wash. Our solutions are eco-friendly and biodegradable.
Can you wash my brick or stucco house in Madison?
Yes. We clean all siding types — vinyl, brick, natural stone, stucco, EIFS, cedar, wood shakes, Hardie board, aluminum, and composites. Each material gets the appropriate cleaning method and pressure.
Can you prepare my house for painting or selling?
Yes. Soft washing is the recommended preparation for exterior painting (ensures paint adhesion) and a proven curb appeal boost before real estate listing. Some Madison homeowners report $5,000–$10,000 sale price improvements from a clean exterior.
How long does house washing take?
Most Madison homes take 2–4 hours for a complete exterior wash. Larger homes or heavily stained properties may take longer. We provide an accurate time estimate with your quote.
Do you clean roofs as well as house siding?
Yes. Roof cleaning (soft wash only — zero pressure) removes black algae streaks without damaging shingles. We can combine house washing and roof cleaning in a single visit.
What areas near Madison do you serve for house washing?
All of Dane County: Madison, Middleton, Fitchburg, Verona, Sun Prairie, Waunakee, Monona, McFarland, DeForest, Oregon, Stoughton, Cottage Grove, Shorewood Hills, and Maple Bluff.
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