Spring in Atlanta is a beautiful, frustrating, pollen-coated event. Between mid-February and early May, metro Atlanta receives one of the densest pollen blankets of any major U.S. city. Pine, oak, birch, and cedar trees all release simultaneously, painting driveways, rooftops, and siding in a layer of sticky yellow dust that traps moisture and, left long enough, promotes algae and mold growth on virtually every surface it touches.
The good news: once pollen season peaks and you get that first solid rain, your home is primed for a thorough exterior reset. This checklist walks you through exactly what needs attention, in what order, and when — so your home comes out of spring looking sharp and better protected heading into Georgia's hot, humid summer.
Why Timing Matters: Don't Clean Too Early
The most common mistake Atlanta homeowners make is pressure washing in March, then watching a fresh coat of yellow pollen settle on everything within 48 hours. Oak pollen alone can travel 50 miles on a dry, windy day. Cleaning before peak pollen drop is largely wasted money and effort.
Metro Atlanta's pollen peak typically runs from late February through mid-April. The practical window to begin exterior cleaning is after the first heavy spring rain in late April — usually between April 20 and May 10. That rain does initial rinsing work and signals that the bulk of tree pollen has dropped. You'll still see grass pollen into May and June, but it doesn't adhere to surfaces the same way pine and oak pollen do.
March: Inspection Month
March is for looking, not cleaning. Walk your property after each significant rain and note the following:
Roof Inspection
From the ground with binoculars, or from a ladder at the roofline, check for dark streaks running vertically down shingles. These are Gloeocapsa magma algae colonies that overwintered and are now growing. Check for missing granules in gutters — granule loss accelerates in spring freeze-thaw cycles and is a sign shingles are nearing end of life. Also look for lifted flashing around chimneys and vents; winter temperature swings work flashing loose, and spring rains find every gap.
If you see soft spots when you walk near the roof edge, or notice daylight around roof penetrations from the attic, document with photos and contact a roofer before cleaning. See our roof cleaning Atlanta page for what our inspection process covers.
Gutter Condition Check
Look at gutters during a rain. Are they overflowing at the middle of a run (sign of sag or clog) or only at the ends (sign of downspout blockage)? Note any sections that are pulling away from the fascia. March is also when you'll find winter storm debris — twigs, shingle tabs, and pine needles — packed into gutter channels. You're just documenting now; cleaning comes in April.
Driveway and Walkways
Check concrete and asphalt for new cracks that opened over winter. In the Stone Mountain and Decatur areas, the red clay soil shifts significantly with temperature changes, and hairline cracks from fall often become wider in spring. Document crack locations. Any crack wider than a quarter-inch in concrete, or showing vertical displacement, warrants sealing before pressure washing.
Deck and Patio
For wood decks, look for boards with checking (surface splits running with the grain), raised fasteners, or soft spots when pressed. For composite decks, check the gaps between boards — debris that packed in over winter creates the moisture traps that cause mold in composite groove textures. For stone or concrete patios, look for efflorescence (white mineral deposits) and joint sand that has washed away.
April: Prep and Early Cleaning
By mid-April, pollen is tapering. This is the time to handle prep work and begin lower-priority cleaning tasks.
Gutter Flush (First Priority)
Clean gutters before you clean anything below them. It makes no sense to wash your siding and then have a gutter tech blow debris across your freshly cleaned walls. A full gutter flush involves removing packed debris by hand or scoop, then flushing with water from the far end toward the downspout. Confirm downspouts discharge water away from the foundation — at least four feet out, ideally six. In Atlanta's clay soil, water pooling at the foundation is one of the primary drivers of basement moisture problems.
Our gutter cleaning service includes a full flush and downspout check. We also flag any fascia rot discovered during cleaning.
Roof Cleaning (If Needed)
If you identified algae streaks in March, April is the right time to treat them — before hot summer weather accelerates growth. Roof cleaning must be done with a soft wash approach: low-pressure application of a sodium hypochlorite-based solution that kills algae at the root without stripping granules. High-pressure washing on shingles is never appropriate and can void manufacturer warranties. Results are immediate and last 18–36 months in the Atlanta climate depending on tree coverage.
Deck Prep
April gives you the dry days you need to assess wood decks properly. Clean the deck first, then let it dry for 48–72 hours minimum before staining or sealing. Staining wet wood traps moisture under the finish and causes peeling within months. If your deck was last sealed two or more years ago, do a water bead test: sprinkle water on the surface. If it soaks in instead of beading, the sealant has failed and the wood needs cleaning and re-coating. For composite decks, a soft wash is all that's needed — no staining required and no high pressure, which can damage the cap layer.
May: Full Exterior Reset
May is prime time for comprehensive exterior cleaning in Atlanta. Pollen is largely finished, temperatures are ideal (60–80°F is the sweet spot for cleaning chemical effectiveness), and you still have weeks before the intense summer heat that accelerates algae regrowth.
House Washing
A full house wash addresses everything that built up since last fall: pollen residue, winter mold spikes, dirt splash-back from rain on soil, spider webs and wasp nests in soffits, and oxidation on painted surfaces. The correct method depends on your siding material:
- Vinyl siding: Soft wash only. Pressure washing can crack or warp vinyl, especially on older homes. A low-pressure surfactant application followed by a thorough rinse lifts pollen and mildew without risk. See our house washing Atlanta page for details.
- Brick: Soft wash for most residential brick. Older brick (pre-1950) and any brick with mortar pointing concerns requires extra care — see our brick pressure washing guide.
- Hardboard or fiber cement (HardiePlank): Soft wash recommended. Fiber cement is durable but the paint system is what you're protecting. Low pressure, wide fan tip, and proper technique prevent water intrusion behind panels at seams and butt joints.
- Wood siding: Low-pressure wash only, following the grain. High pressure raises wood grain and causes paint adhesion failures.
Driveway and Walkway Cleaning
Concrete driveways benefit enormously from spring pressure washing. A winter's worth of tire track residue, road salt tracked in from winter trips north, oil drips, and general organic matter all bond to concrete over time. Professional-grade surface cleaners use rotating nozzles at consistent pressure across the entire surface — no streaks, no missed lines. Pre-treating oil spots with a degreaser before washing is essential; pressure alone won't lift embedded oil.
Asphalt driveways require lower pressure (1,500–2,000 PSI maximum) and wider fan angles to avoid surface damage. If your asphalt is due for sealing, do it after washing and after the surface has dried completely — typically two to three days after cleaning in May's warmer temperatures. See our driveway cleaning Atlanta service page.
Fence and Perimeter Cleaning
Wood fences accumulate the same algae and mildew as siding, plus tannin bleed from the wood itself. A clean fence dramatically improves curb appeal and is the right time to spot-treat any boards showing early rot. Vinyl fencing is straightforward soft wash work. Aluminum and wrought iron fencing should be inspected for rust spots at welds — address rust before it spreads under the finish coat.
Window Surrounds and Soffits
Soffits trap spider webs, wasp nests, and mold because they're protected from rain rinse. A directed low-pressure rinse clears debris and reveals any soffit panels that have lifted or cracked. Window surrounds collect pollen in the horizontal channel above each window — a targeted rinse prevents that residue from staining the siding below when it rains.
Spring Cleaning Priority Order Summary
- Roof inspection and cleaning (if algae present)
- Gutter cleaning and flush
- House/siding wash (top to bottom)
- Deck cleaning and re-sealing (wood) or soft wash (composite)
- Driveway and walkway pressure washing
- Fence cleaning
- Window surround and soffit rinse
Always work top to bottom. Clean the roof and gutters before the siding. Clean the siding before the driveway. This prevents re-contaminating surfaces you've already cleaned.
Products and Approaches to Avoid
Avoid bleach concentrations above 3% on painted surfaces — it will fade color and break down paint binders. Never use a zero-degree (pencil-point) nozzle on any house surface. Avoid cleaning on windy days when temperatures are above 90°F or below 45°F, as cleaning solutions won't perform properly in either extreme. Do not pressure wash window glass directly; even moderate pressure can drive water past the glazing compound and into wall cavities.
How Long Do Spring Cleaning Results Last in Atlanta?
In Atlanta's climate — high humidity, abundant tree cover, hot summers — exterior surfaces typically stay clean for 12–18 months after a thorough professional wash. South and west-facing walls in heavy tree shade may show algae regrowth in as little as 8–10 months. Roofs in shade can show algae return in 18–24 months. An annual spring cleaning cycle, possibly supplemented by a light rinse in fall after leaf drop, is the maintenance rhythm that makes the most sense for most Atlanta homes.
Ready to tackle spring exterior cleaning? We serve Stone Mountain, Decatur, Marietta, Roswell, and the entire metro Atlanta area. Call us for a free estimate.