Proper home maintenance includes keeping the exterior clean. Soft washing is one method that homeowners can use to clean delicate surfaces, such as windows and rooftops. Keep an old home looking new by annually soft washing it with the following helpful tips.

What is soft washing?

Algae, bacteria, and organic material can collect on a home’s roof, siding, and windows. Building materials used for these parts of the home are unable to withstand the pressure and heat discharged by power washing. A safer alternative is to clean the exterior of the home by soft washing it.

Soft washing is a cleaning method that releases a lower pressure of water. The technique involves cleaning with a special cleaning solution, such as one containing water, algaecides, surfactants, and bleach. Chemicals in the cleaner eliminate algae, mildew, fungus, bacteria, and moss from surfaces.

The soft washing method was originally developed to clean algae off rooftops safely. Today, soft washing should be used on surfaces that are difficult to clean with high pressure or that are fragile, such as windows, roof shingles, screens, and exterior siding.

What are the differences between pressure and soft washing?

While homeowners may be familiar with pressure washing, which releases a much higher pressure of water and utilizes significantly hotter water, this technique is not recommended for windows, roof shingles, screens, and wood paneling that can become easily damaged through the process.

Instead, soft washing is a gentler cleaning technique, one that offers numerous benefits. In addition to reducing the likelihood of damage, regular soft washing lengthens the lifespan of the roof. Lichen, fungi, and algae growing on the roof can shorten its lifespan. Soft washing cleans the buildup at the root.

The hot water and high PSI from a pressure washer can damage not only building materials, but the landscape surrounding it. Soft washing, on the other hand, reduces the risk of damage to landscaping and thereby protects the homeowner’s investment of time and money in the lawn.

Soft washing cleaners are eco-friendly, since they consist of biodegradable solutions. The cleaners used in pressure washing, however, are made up of harsh chemicals that can destroy plant life around the property; plus, pressure washing requires scraping surfaces, which causes more damage.

How does a homeowner soft wash the home?

Prior to soft washing the home, cover all surrounding plant life with plastic. Grass, bushes, and shrubs must be rinsed with water before, during, and after the cleaning. Obtain the right equipment: a soft wash system with a nozzle that can deliver the desired pressure.

Obtain the right chemical solution to apply along all surfaces to be cleaned. The cleaning product should contain bleach, which kills mildew and mold spores at the root, along with algae, moss, and fungi growing on the roof. The chemical is effective in preventing the return of growth.

While bleach is the primary agent in the cleaning solution, it should also contain a surfactant. A cleaning surfactant contains chemicals that allow it to dislodge debris, such as dirt, plants, and fungi, on the roof. Water is then better able to wash away the unwanted gunk.

Add the solution to an agricultural sprayer. Start spraying the exterior surfaces intended to be cleaned; aim to spray 10-foot sections at a time, working from the bottom up. After the algae and other accumulations have been cleaned off the roof, allow the solution to sit.

The soft washing method consists of a higher concentration of cleaners for the rooftop. Leaving the cleaner on the surface of the roof gives it the opportunity to penetrate deeply into the roof material and kill the mold, algae, and other organic materials down to the root.

When cleaning siding via the soft wash technique, a rinse is needed. A sufficient rinse can be achieved with the soft washer system’s black 65-degree nozzle or a garden hose. Repeat the process over the entire surface of the siding. The contents of the cleaning solution should make rinsing easy.

When should a home be soft washed?

Soft washing is generally recommended once a year. However, the frequency depends on the geographic area in which the home is located. A home along a dirt road may require cleanings every two to three months. A home near trees with lots of buildup will need to be cleaned often.

Houses that are subject to frequent bouts of heat and humidity are vulnerable to mold, mildew, and algae. Such organisms thrive in hot, damp conditions, necessitating more frequent soft washes. Major storms can unleash spores; so, it’s advisable to soft wash after the event.

Soft washing a residential home requires wearing personal protective equipment, ensuring the ladder is in good condition and handling chemical cleaners safely. Homeowners who hesitate to handle the task via a DIY route are advised to consult a professional soft wash roof cleaning company.

Allowing a rooftop to accumulate layers of algae, mold, moss, mildew and bacteria is destructive. Soft washing will eliminate the debris and prevent damage to the rooftop shingles. When you need professional soft wash roof cleaning, consult the experts that provide these services.

Crews of trained specialists use safe and effective soft wash cleaning methods and eco-friendly biodegradable cleaning products to eliminate all contaminants and sanitize the rooftop surfaces. The original appearance of your rooftop will be restored upon the completion of the soft wash.

Professional technicians are capable of effectively soft washing rooftops as well as other outside parts of the home. Areas of expertise include soft washing decks, patios, driveways and building exteriors. Residential homeowners choose us for our high-quality, comprehensive services.

About Vince Sandri

Vince Sandri is a content writer and blogger with more than 12 years of experience. His expertise is in creating content related to disaster restoration, including information about preventing and reacting to natural disasters like flooding, water damage, fire and smoke damage, mold growth, storm damage and more.
Vince has been the main contributor to RestorationMasterFinder.com since 2014. Over that time, he has written numerous service pages and blogs for disaster restoration providers featured on RestorationMasterFinder.com. Vince has done extensive research and covered a wide range of topics relating to disaster restoration to help homeowners, business owners, and property managers better protect their property. He understands the problems that disasters like flooding, fire, smoke, and mold can cause as well as the best ways to respond to these issues to limit the damage.
Vince completed his Bachelor of Arts degree at Aurora University and his master’s degree at DePaul University. He has been writing SEO website pages, blogs, and press releases since 2012. Vince is also a musician and can be seen playing in the Chicago, IL area.