When you're choosing a company to wash the exterior of your home , the options can feel overwhelming. Every company claims to be professional. Every website has five-star reviews and before-and-after photos. So how do you actually tell the difference between someone who knows what they're doing and someone who learned on YouTube last month? That's exactly what this article is about.
What Is the Power Washers of North America — and Why Does It Matter?
The Power Washers of North America (PWNA) is the exterior cleaning industry's most recognized non-profit organization. Its entire mission is built around raising the standard of professionalism in the power washing and soft washing industry through continuing education, ethical business practices, safety training, and environmental responsibility.
In an industry that has very low barriers to entry — someone can buy a pressure washer and call themselves a contractor tomorrow — the PWNA exists to create a meaningful distinction between trained professionals and people with equipment. Earning a PWNA certification requires actual coursework, testing, and demonstrated competency. It's not a membership you buy. It's a credential you earn.
A Note on Industry Leadership
Ryan McGowan serves on the PWNA Board of Directors — which means he's not just a certified contractor, he's actively involved in shaping the standards that certified contractors are held to. That level of engagement with the industry translates directly to the quality of work performed on your property. When you hire Simple Clean LLC, you're hiring someone who helped write the playbook.
What Certification Actually Means on the Job
Certification isn't a framed certificate on the wall. It shows up in the decisions made on your property from the moment the truck pulls up to the moment it drives away. Here's what that looks like in practice.
🏠 Surface Knowledge — Knowing What Each Material Can Handle
Vinyl siding, stucco, brick, wood decking, asphalt shingles — each of these surfaces has a very different tolerance for pressure and chemistry. A PWNA-certified contractor has been trained specifically on how to assess a surface before touching it. That means knowing when to use low-pressure soft washing , when a higher-pressure rinse is appropriate, and when a surface needs to be flagged because it has pre-existing damage that needs to be addressed first.
An uncertified contractor doesn't have that framework. They're making judgment calls based on guesswork — and your home is where those guesses play out.
🧪 Chemical Knowledge — The Right Solution, the Right Concentration
Professional power washing involves applying cleaning solutions — typically sodium hypochlorite-based — to exterior surfaces. Used correctly, these solutions eliminate mold, mildew, algae, and bacteria at the root. Used incorrectly, they can burn landscaping, damage metals, stain surfaces, and leave residue that causes ongoing problems long after the truck is gone.
PWNA certification covers the proper concentration ratios for different surfaces, appropriate dwell times, pre-wetting and neutralizing procedures, and how to recognize when a solution is working versus when it's being misapplied. This isn't the kind of knowledge that comes from watching a few videos. It comes from structured training — and it makes a real difference in the safety of your property.
We pre-wet all landscaping before any solution is applied. We apply our sodium hypochlorite solution at the correct concentration for each surface type. We give it the dwell time it needs to work properly. Then we finish with a neutralizing soap that eliminates residual salt content from cleaned surfaces — protecting your metals, trim, and landscaping long after we leave.
Beyond the PWNA — Compliance Training That Sets a Higher Bar
PWNA certification is the industry credential. But at Simple Clean LLC, we've gone further with additional compliance training that governs how we operate on every job.
Workplace Safety Standards
Comprehensive training in identifying and managing workplace hazards — including ladder safety, chemical handling, and safe equipment operation around occupied homes.
Environmental Compliance
Trained in environmental regulations governing the application and runoff of cleaning solutions — including how to prevent water resource contamination during exterior cleaning.
Chemical Communication Standard
Formal training in the global system for classifying and communicating chemical hazards — ensuring every solution we use is handled, stored, and applied according to its proper safety standards.
Transportation Compliance
Department of Transportation compliance for the safe transportation of cleaning chemicals and equipment to and from job sites — because responsible operation starts before we arrive.
Most homeowners never think to ask about chemical compliance or environmental training when hiring a pressure washing company. But these certifications are what separate contractors who operate professionally and responsibly from those who are cutting corners in ways you'll never see — until something goes wrong.
🤝 The PWNA Code of Ethics — And What It Looks Like in Practice
As a PWNA member and board participant, Simple Clean LLC operates under the organization's formal code of ethics. These aren't aspirational talking points — they're standards we're held accountable to within our professional community. Here's what they mean in plain language.
- We represent our services accurately. We don't promise results we can't deliver. If a stain may not fully come out, we tell you before the job starts — not after.
- We do what we say we're going to do. Our estimates are detailed, our terms of service are clear, and we show up prepared to do exactly what we were hired for.
- We compete fairly. We don't talk down competitors or use misleading pricing tactics. We let our work and our credentials speak for themselves.
- We advance the industry. Ryan's role on the PWNA Board means actively contributing to the standards and education that raise the level of professionalism across the entire industry — not just within Simple Clean LLC.
- We comply with all applicable laws. Health, safety, and environmental regulations are built into how we operate — not treated as obstacles to work around.
🔍 Questions Every Homeowner Should Ask Before Hiring a Power Washing Company
Whether you're considering hiring us or someone else, here are the questions worth asking before anyone starts work on your home. A legitimate, certified contractor will have clear answers to all of them.
- Are you PWNA certified, and in which specific areas? Can you show documentation?
- Do you carry proper insurance — including coverage specifically for exterior cleaning surfaces, not just a general liability policy?
- What cleaning solutions do you use, and what's your process for protecting my landscaping from chemical runoff?
- Do you pre-wet surfaces before applying cleaning solutions? Do you use a neutralizing rinse afterward?
- What's your process for surfaces that may not fully clean — like oxidized siding or artillery fungus — and do you identify those before you start?
- Are you OSHA and EPA compliant in your chemical handling and application?
- Is the estimate in writing, and does it come with a certificate of insurance and terms of service?
If a contractor can't answer these questions clearly and confidently, that's your answer. Experience and certification show up in preparation, process, and transparency — not just in the final result.
