What is soft washing a house?

Author: Mr. Darien Yundt  |  Last update: Wednesday, February 11, 2026

Soft washing is a cleaning technique that uses low-pressure water to safely clean the exterior surfaces of a house. This method also uses cleaning solutions to effectively kill mold, mildew, moss, bacteria, and other microorganisms.

Is soft washing a house worth it?

Stains on your siding and roof can also contribute to an array of other household problems and even shorten the lifespan of your home. While pressure washing can damage your home and lead to expensive gutter repairs, soft washing is a biodegradable option that can add value to your home.

What do you use to soft wash a house?

Step 1 – Get organised with the right equipment; we recommend:
  1. Sodium hypochlorite (household bleach). This cuts through green and black mould.
  2. A surfactant / liquid soap (Selleys Sugar Soap). It cleans more deeply. It leaves windows and paint sparkling. And, it rinses off more easily.
  3. Water.

Is soft wash better than pressure washing?

While pressure washers crush hard to get stains, soft washing is the silent destroyer of algae, mold, and other organic build-ups/stains you might see on your roof or siding. Soft washing is the beneficiary of combining cleaning chemicals and lightly spraying the surface after the surfactants do their job.

How much does it cost to soft wash a house?

The average cost to soft wash a house varies, but typically costs between $450 and $850 for a two-story home. The labor for soft-washing a house usually takes two to three hours to complete. An average cost for soft-washing a house is$450 and $850.

Ep.09 HOW TO SOFT WASH a House

How long does soft washing last?

How long does soft washing last? That depends on your location and what your surface is made of, but typically washing your surface every 2 to 3 years is a good idea. If more time goes by, the mould, mildew and algae can build up and cause possibly cause permanent damage and cause costly repairs.

How much does it cost to pressure wash a 2000 sq ft house?

The average cost to pressure wash a house ranges from $500 to $900, with most people spending around $700 to pressure wash a 2,000 sq. ft. vinyl-sided home with normal grime levels, including the cost of all labor, equipment usage, and other materials.

How often should you soft wash your house?

Residential Properties: Once a year is generally a good rule of thumb for most homes. Commercial Properties: Businesses with high traffic may need cleaning every 6 months to maintain a professional appearance. Roofs: Every 2-3 years, unless you notice significant moss or algae growth earlier.

What chemicals are used in soft washing?

Professionals use a blend of professional-grade sodium hypochlorite (12.5%) or parts of bleach mixed with water. These soft wash chemicals help kill primary organisms such as mold, lichen, algae, moss, and mildew that grow on the surface.

What is the alternative to pressure washing a house?

SoftWashing forgoes much of that pressurization in favor of chemicals. These chemicals are safe for both your home and the environment. Here are a few more ways that SoftWash is different from traditional power washing: SoftWash is not only safer for your home but also for your family and the community we live in.

Can I wash my house with Dawn dish soap?

When the exterior of your house could use a good cleaning, it's Dawn to the rescue. Create a solution using Dawn and warm water to gently clean exterior siding that's covered in dirt, moss, or mold. Pour the soapy water into a pump sprayer and spray down the siding.

How do you make homemade softwash solution?

When making your own softwash mix from sodium hypochlorite at 15% it needs to be diluted from its neat form. Block paving for example requires a 5% strength softwash mix. So to make a 5% strength softwash solution you must add 2 part water to 1 part neat sodium hypochlorite.

What do professionals use to wash a house?

Professionals use a gas-powered pressure washer, a surface cleaner attachment, and a careful selection of specialized nozzle tips, surfactants, bleaches, degreasers, and oxalic acid for pressure washing.

Can I soft wash my house myself?

You can do the soft-washing yourself, or you can hire a professional to do it. To save money, you can use a spray cleaner attached to your garden hose.

Can a soft wash damage roof?

Why Soft Washing Is Safer for Your Roof. Roofing experts prefer soft-washing roofs because it prevents damage from high amounts of pressure. High pressure can loosen the granules of your shingles, but the delicate action of soft washing cleans shingles carefully without causing any damage or forcing the shingles off.

How many gallons does it take to soft wash a house?

One gallon of softwashing solution generally covers 100 square feet. These should be the min standard and can go up or down from there. Great starting points though.

What is the best cleaner for soft washing a house?

When professionals think of soft washing roofs and siding, the top cleaning chemical used is a professional-grade 12.5% sodium hypochlorite, or bleach, mixed with water.

What is in 30 seconds outdoor cleaner?

30 Seconds Ready To Use Outdoor Cleaner is made from a combination of ingredients, with the active ingredient being Sodium Hypochlorite. What happens when you apply the product is that it works immediately on any organics by emulsifying the growth.

Does soft washing use bleach?

Soft washing is a cleaning method that uses a low pressure washing technique, along with a mixture of algaecides, bleach, surfactants and water, to safely clean exterior surfaces of organic stains, mildew and algae.

What is the average cost to soft wash a house?

To wash the siding, soffits, wood trims, window frames, eaves, and exterior of gutters, you can expect it to start at $0.35 – $0.40 per sqft. The price range to wash a house of these factors that is two stories at 2500 sqft with medium organic growth is $875 – $1000.

What is the best time to do house cleaning?

You can do this on a weekend, which is not so stressful if you don't have young children around. Sunday is the best time of year for deep cleaning your home because it's not crowded with kids. Also, if you have older children, you can ask them to help you out by helping you with the cleaning tasks.

What equipment is needed to soft wash a house?

What you will need
  • bleach tank (It is recommended to buy a 55 gallon drum locally for $20-$40)
  • 250′ of 1/2″ hose or 5/8″ hose (combing garden hoses will also work)
  • short non-collapsible hose.
  • stainless steel hose clamps.
  • soft wash gun (DIY guns are possible)
  • 12-volt on-demand chemical pump (should have Viton/FKM seals)

How do I quote a pressure washing job?

Price per square foot strategy works best if you're working on a property that requires pressure washing for multiple surfaces. You can charge anywhere from $0.10 to $0.50 per square foot depending on the scope of the job and the location of the property.

What's the difference between power washing and pressure washing?

The main difference with power washing vs. pressure washing is the heat. The jet wash in a power washing machine uses heated water, whereas the water in a pressure washer is not heated.

Does pressure washing increase water bill?

You may be surprised to learn that pressure washers actually use less money than regular garden hoses! Therefore, by hiring a professional power cleaning service instead of trying to do it yourself with your hose, you're actually saving money on your water bill.

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