Soft washing in Old Naples.

The mature canopy that makes Old Naples what it is — the banyans and royal palms shading the lanes off Third Street South and Fifth Avenue South — is also why the north and east walls of these homes go green. Shade plus Gulf humidity means a wall that never fully dries, and organic growth takes hold on painted wood siding, stucco, and the deep soffits and porch ceilings the older cottages are known for.

That is exactly the wrong place for a pressure washer. Historic painted siding, lime-based stucco, and original woodwork will not survive high pressure — it drives water behind the paint, lifts the finish, and etches the surface. Our soft washing applies a cleaning solution that kills the growth at the root, lets it dwell, then rinses everything away at a pressure closer to a garden hose than a pressure washer.

On lots this tight, the landscaping is part of the value, so beds get pre-wet and rinsed down behind us and pets stay inside until the surfaces are dry. Most Old Naples homes fold the exterior wash into the same recurring plan that keeps the windows clear, since the same shade and damp that green the walls are working on the glass too. More on the area in Old Naples.