A well-maintained home exterior not only enhances curb appeal but also protects the structural integrity of your property. Soft washing, an alternative to pressure washing, is a highly effective method for cleaning and preserving the beauty of your home exterior. In this article, we will explore the benefits of soft washing, how it works, and provide valuable tips for maintaining a pristine home exterior. Let’s dive in!
1. Understanding Soft Washing:
Soft washing is a safe and efficient technique for cleaning various surfaces of your home exterior without the risk of damage. Unlike pressure washing, which uses high-pressure water, soft washing utilizes a low-pressure spray of water, sanitizers, and a surfactant to eliminate biological debris such as mildew, grime, and algae. The fungicidal effects of soft washing continue to act as a deterrent against regrowth, ensuring long-lasting cleanliness and protection.
2. The Soft Washing Process:
To begin the soft washing process, it is essential to prepare your yard and protect any plants or vegetation. Overwatering the plants and applying a neutralizing agent to their leaves will safeguard them during the soft washing procedure. A soft wash solution consists of ingredients such as water, sanitizers, surfactant, and an optional odor masking agent. The proportions may vary depending on the material being cleaned, so it is advisable to consult instructions or use commercial surfactants available at home improvement retailers. Load the solution into a pump sprayer and apply it to the target surface. The soft wash effectively removes dirt, debris, and organic growth while protecting against mildew, moss, and algae.
3. Soft Washing vs. Pressure Washing:
While pressure washing is suitable for removing physical debris, soft washing is specifically designed to eliminate biological growth. Soft washing’s low-pressure approach ensures it is safe for delicate areas of your home, such as windows and lights, which can be damaged by high-pressure water. Pressure washing is ideal for tasks like removing chipped paint, cleaning mud-covered siding or hard surfaces, and preparing a deck for staining. On the other hand, soft washing excels at killing grime on driveways, removing algae from siding, sanitizing windows and lighting, as well as eliminating mildew from gutters.
4. Benefits of Soft Washing:
Soft washing offers several benefits for maintaining the beauty of your home exterior:
a. Effective Biological Growth Removal: Soft washing eradicates mildew, moss, and algae, preventing their regrowth and keeping your home exterior clean and pristine.
b. Surface Protection: The application of a soft wash solution creates a protective barrier on surfaces, safeguarding them against further biological growth, stains, and deterioration.
c. Damage Prevention: Unlike pressure washing, soft washing poses no risk of damage to fragile areas, such as windows, lights, and gutters.
d. Enhanced Longevity: By regularly soft washing your home exterior, you ensure its longevity and reduce the need for costly repairs or replacements in the future.
5. Maintaining Your Home Exterior:
To maintain the beauty of your home exterior after soft washing, consider the following tips:
a. Vegetation Protection: Apply a plant wash neutralizing agent to vegetation near your home to counteract any residual solution that may harm plants.
b. Regular Cleaning Schedule: Establish a routine soft washing schedule to prevent the buildup of biological growth and maintain the cleanliness of your home exterior throughout the year.
c. Professional Soft Washing: While soft washing can be a DIY project, hiring a professional cleaning service ensures optimal results and saves you time and effort. Professional soft washing services typically cost around $275 to $400, depending on the size of your home.