When we think of the term “house cleaning,” we tend to consider only those chores related to the inside of a house, like mopping floors, washing dishes and doing laundry. But a home’s exterior, which faces the full force of the elements 365 days a year, from driving rain to searing heat, needs regular cleaning as well. But no one is going to spend hours, days and possibly even years scrubbing the outside of a house with a rag and bucket. The tried-and-true cleaning methods we all use to clean our home’s interiors simply do not translate to the exterior.
That’s where soft washing comes in.
What is Soft Washing?
Soft washing is a highly effective cleaning technique in which a specially formulated cleanser is applied to the outer surface of a home at low pressure. The marriage of the cleanser—which is plant-safe and biodegradable—with low pressure not only makes your home look sparkling clean, but also kills the mold and mildew, moss, algae and other microorganisms that can age a house’s exterior.
Because of its combination of low pressure and high volume of water, soft washing is gentle and safe for exterior surfaces that can be surprisingly fragile. It also works on a wide variety of areas and materials. Along with a home’s exterior, soft washing can effectively clean:
- Roofing
- Patios and lanais
- Vinyl siding
- Cedar shake and wood panel siding
- Stucco
- Windows and glass doors
- Outdoor furniture
Soft Wash vs. Pressure Wash
Clues to the difference between soft wash and pressure wash can be found in their names. Where soft washing is a safe, gentle means by which to both clean and preserve your home’s exterior, pressure washing uses a high-powered stream of water to blast away dirt, mud, grime, mold and any other unwanted substances. However, pressure washing is indiscriminate—along with washing away dirt, moss and mold, the high pressure can also do real damage to paint finishes and surfaces. Pressure washing can even negate some roof warranties.
Soft washing is also superior when it comes to effectively cleaning hard-to-reach areas and areas that require more attention and detail. The particulars of the Pacific Northwest climate also make soft washing the desirable choice in that it kills the mold, moss, mildew and algae that can really take hold and flourish in cold and damp Western Washington. By contrast, pressure washing can leave embedded roots and spores behind, where they will live to flourish another day.
Benefits of Soft Washing
While we’ve detailed some of the benefits of soft washing, it has many other advantages as well. For instance:
- Soft washing, on average, can last up to 10 times longer than pressure washing
- More effective at cleaning hard-to-reach areas
- Soft washing is gentler on a home’s exterior
- The cleansers used for soft washing are biodegradable and safe for plants and pets
- The process of soft washing is less dangerous than pressure washing
- Soft washing requires less labor and less setup
Having a high standard of cleanliness isn’t just for the inside of your home. With soft washing, the outside can be sparkling clean as well. At All Serv, we are your soft washing professionals. See our soft washing service for more info—including some truly stunning before and after photos—and contact us for a free estimate when you’re ready to soft wash your home!