Particularly in the South Carolina Lowcountry, October is simply a magical time of year. It’s a time when the temperatures are neither too warm nor too cold, football is in the air, and to cap it all off, everyone gets to dress up in costumes and eat candy until they get sick on Halloween. What could be better?

But among the many things about October that make it such a unique month is the fact that it’s actually the perfect opportunity to do a little house cleaning- and by house cleaning, we mean both the interior and the exterior. Power washing is not something that’s equally optimal all twelve months of the year, and as it turns out, October is among the best times to do it.

Here are three reasons why.

The temperature is ideal

Power washing your home in cold temperatures is extremely tricky, and in some cases, simply not doable. Whenever the temperature dips below 40 degrees Fahrenheit, there’s always a risk of a possible wind chill dropping the external temperature to the critical point of 32 degrees- the official freezing point of water. If it’s in the high 30’s, even the slightest amount of wind could turn any pressure washing solution into ice, which, needless to say, is not good. Of course, different parts of the country have different climates, but it can get a bit chilly in South Carolina in the winter. Thus, October is an excellent time to have your house power washed so that you don’t have to worry about ensuring that your house is clean through the winter.

Holidays- and potentially guests- are coming

With Thanksgiving just around the corner, and Christmas and New Year’s not too far behind, you just might be a few weeks away from hosting large family gatherings. Why not make sure your house looks as fresh as can be when they arrive? Even if you’re not hosting friends or relatives for the holidays, you’re going to want to ensure that your house looks presentable when the time comes to hang Christmas decorations and lights. Even if passing cars or joggers don’t notice the grime on the sides of your house, you very well might when it comes time to take those decorations down- and now you have to clean those decorations, too.

Wash away the rain (and mud)

Especially if you live in the southeastern coasts of the United States, October is usually when hurricane season subsides and the rainfall tapers off. But while you may think rain is a good thing in terms of cleaning your house- and by itself, it would be- the truth is that violent rainstorms have a tendency to kick up dirt and mud, and splatter it over the sides of your house. Power washing your house at the end of the traditional rainy season is always a good idea, as it minimizes the chances that Mother Nature will apply more filth to it in the foreseeable future.